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About 25 people showed up for a community Forum at Lansing High School to learn about the budget and school taxes, and to learn about Acting Superintendent Chris Pettograsso.  The Lansing Board of Education is expected to vote on whether to make Pettograsso the permanent superintendent at the April 8th school board meeting.  The purpose of the forum was to provide information to and get feedback from the community.

Pettograsso began with a presentation on why she wants to become the permanent superintendent, stressing the importance of the school culture and community.  She talked about where she sees the district going, stressing data that shows that while the district is successful academically, it has work to do on its culture.

"When it says that 40% of your students feel sad or depressed, or feel they don't have support from home, school, or community... even if we're at the top and we're better than other schools we take the regents out of that picture and ask how we are going to address that," she said.  "This is where school culture matters, because you are trying to set up systems not only for the students, but for faculty and staff that exemplify support systems.  We're focussed on doing that this year and I'm hoping it starts to come through."


Pettograsso also stressed community input and the skills she brings to the table to lead an inclusive administration.

"Taking those skills and combining them with the core beliefs a good leader should creates a shared vision it goes beyond people," she said.  "A true shared vision is attached to the community and what the community stands for."

The forum was rescheduled for Thursday after a snow storm on Monday, the original date.  That may have resulted in half the attendance of a similar forum held last month, and seemed to thwart a plan to try to get taxpayers who do not have children in the schools, or a direct stake in the district.  While last month's forum was considered to be successful, it attracted mostly people who are already engaged in the schools.


Representatives of Town, County, and State government were present to be part of the conversation and to provide information.  Lansing Supervisor Kathy Miller and Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins, County Legislator Pat Pryor, and State Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton's Chief of Staff Linda Smith were present to talk about how their governments are impacting school budgets.

Smith said that Democrats support funding for schools, and presented a thick packet of New York State school funding statistics.  Miller spoke of town initiatives to increase the tax base to help relieve taxpayers overwhelmed by school taxes.

Business Administrator Mary June King outlined the budget being considered for next year, and explained possible tax rate increases that could rise to double digits in the next few years.  She noted that 'crazy increases' in benefits costs the district has no control of inflate the budget.  She said that state aid accounts for about 40% of the district's revenue stream.

Pettograsso noted that despite a state push to get school districts to merge, that it would not be a good deal for Lansing.

"We have considered merging w Groton -- it is not a good deal for us," she said.  "Annexing to Ithaca has also been discussed.  Superintendents in New York State are adamantly against merging.  There is too much detriment to the community.  We haven't seen the cost savings."

Pettograsso also stressed advocating for the Lansing schools, noting that gun laws are passed quickly when there is a perceived urgency, but that people don't see school funding in the same way.  She said the urgency is there and it is up to district taxpayers as well as school officials to make the urgency felt in Albany.

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