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PORT CHESTER, N.Y. The Port Chester-Rye Union Free School District is slated to receive an additional $375,000 in state aid, according to Assemblyman George Latimer. Latimer said Gov. Andrew Cuomo has agreed to switch $250 million previously set aside for performance-based grant funding to need-based state aid.
The extra $375,000 was not factored into the district's budget draft presented to the public on Thursday evening.
Superintendent Dr. Edward Kliszus said the additional aid is the result of a vigorous letter-writing campaign to Latimer, State Sen. Suzi Oppenheimer and Cuomo. Latimer alone reported receiving over 3,000 letters from members of the Port Chester community.
"It's the result of advocacy," Kliszus said. "I know Mr. Latimer and Ms. Oppenheimer worked hard for us, and it's thanks to them and the public that we got this extra money."
Kliszus said that when he was initially thinking about the 2012-13 school budget he anticipated a reduction in state aid.
"My prediction was we would get less state aid, but we got more," Kliszus said. "It was because of the advocacy. if it wasnt for that, we wouldnt receive a nickel more."
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