Onondaga Nation- On Tuesday, August 31, 2021, representatives from three school districts and the Onondaga Nation Council met to highlight the need for the State to increase funding for native schools.
Superintendents Jeremy Belfield of the LaFayette School District, Dan Ljiljanich of the Niagara Wheatfield School District, and Dr. Stanley Harper of the Salmon River School District are in charge of the schools which solely teach native children in the state of New York. These Superintendents have united to advocate for more funding for the general maintenance of the schools.
“We are here because we need more aide from the State,” said Superintendent Belfie
ld. “Schools that serve non-Native students in New York State receive regular funding to address improvements to the school facilities such as: fire alarm upgrades, upgrades to school security elements, building infrastructure systems including heating, plumbing and electrical systems. This doesn’t occur for schools serving our native students.”
The issue that Superintendents are facing is that they do not have a way to acquire funds to maintain their school. Currently the state allocates 3 million dollars annually that is disputed among 17 buildings which include facilities serving Native children, the Rome School for the Deaf, Batavia School for the Blind, and other facilities. Often the native schools will have to wait for funding until it reaches emergency status and when major building systems fail.
The superintendents are proposing a change. They are proposing the state allot an immediate 20 million this year and create a new method to sustain funding to address capital needs.
“Our other schools have a state funding system in place where we are able to obtain funds to address building infrastructure needs and capital improvements,” said Jeremy Belfield. “Based on recent improvements in other school buildings in these three school districts, our data shows that for every $5 spent to improve other school facilities in our district, the state only spent $1 on improving our Nation schools.”
The current funding system is inequitable and needs to be fixed.
“The Nation Schools must be a part of a fair and equal system to ensure the buildings are safe, efficient and modernized for today’s education demands.” said Superintendent Dr. Stanley Harper of the Salmon River School District.
For the Onondaga Nation School, new funding would allow the state and the district to address several critical building issues such as the replacement of the outdated fire alarm system, improvements to classroom HVAC units, replacement of exterior doors, upgrades to school security systems, along with many other needed improvements.
The superintendents plan to take their proposal to local state officials and the new Governor of New York State so that adequate funds can be included in the upcoming state budget. Local Assembly member John Lemondes and Pamela Hunter have pledged letters of support along with New York State Senators Rachel May and John Mannion.
“We would fix the roof, doors, aging plumbing system and windows” said Principal Simone Gonyea. “We love our school and this will help us provide a safe educational environment for our students.”