Schools to receive millions in aid

Two school districts with strong ties to Fort Drum soon will receive millions in overdue federal aid.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Thursday that 20 percent of the current year’s federal impact aid will be sent to Indian River and Carthage central school districts, according to a press release.

“Carthage and Indian River count on these funds to provide a top-notch education to North Country students, and bureaucratic red tape was standing between our kids and a brighter future,” Sen. Schumer’s release stated. “Today, I’m pleased to announce we’re slicing through that red tape and putting resources right where they belong — in Jefferson County classrooms.”

Carthage will receive $1.1 million while Indian River will receive $3.3 million, 20 percent of this year’s impact aid. Indian River received 65 percent, $10.3 million, Thursday.

Watertown City School District, another district that enrolls military-dependent children, was not mentioned in the press release. Dale M. Morrow, district business manager, was informed the district is receiving $4,000.

James R. Koch, Indian River’s business manager, said this is not the first time this aid was tangled in red tape.

“We’re in the second half of the year. Last year it was in May,” he said. “I’m trying to build a budget, and I’m getting frustrated.”

Although Indian River has one of the lowest wealth ratios in the north country, the district continues to receive hefty aid packages, because 65 percent of the student population is military dependents. According to the press release, these two schools “would not be able to stay afloat without the funds from the Impact Aid program.”

Mr. Koch now expects the latest allocation of aid to be awarded by the end of February because 1,300 other school districts throughout the nation are also being processed.

Sen. Schumer, in addition to 24 other senators, sent a letter to Arne Duncan, secretary of the Department of Education, last Friday asking that the aid be released.

Mr. Koch said the Department of Education released a statement in October that the initial allocations would be set at 65 percent of the full amount of the impact aid. This would be bumped up to 85 percent as soon as Congress voted on the bill. The final 2012 appropriations bill was passed by Congress in January, but aid was still not being doled out. He credits the senators’ letter for helping the money move.

“We’re thrilled. We would have been in dire straits if we haven’t received any of it up until now,” said Amy M. Marrocco, Carthage business manager.

She has been preparing the budget for Carthage’s Board of Education in the last month.

She said the $1.1 million is still $800,000 short of the $7 million the district is expecting, but it will still be useful for what the money was planned for: instructional salaries.

Mr. Koch said the money he will receive is going into the general fund balance rather than to cover something specific.

“Receiving impact aid is critical to our mission, and receiving it in a timely fashion means that we have the funds to meet the expenses without having to resort to temporary borrowing measures,” he said. “ We truly appreciate Senator Schumer and his colleagues in taking the lead role on very short notice in making this request of Secretary Duncan.”