Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teachers association officer warns board that charters are draining local school funding
Summary
Ryan Malone of the East Meadow Teachers Association told the board charter-school funding is a growing drain on district finances and urged trustees to advocate for fair funding; some community members echoed his concerns during public comment.
Ryan Malone, an East Meadow teacher and officer in the East Meadow Teachers Association, used the public-comment period to urge the board to act against what he described as an outflow of local tax dollars to charter schools. Malone said charter schools on Long Island have "taken more than half $1,000,000,000 from Long Island's public school districts" and asserted East Meadow has "by law, spent almost $1,300,000" since 2020 and is budgeted to send another $500,000 for the 2025–26 school year.
"Our tax dollars should stay here, right here, supporting East Meadow students," Malone said, calling for the board to "advocate for fair funding" and work with state lawmakers to stop the loss of local tax revenue to charter operators. He contrasted local public schools’ annual audits and community oversight with what he described as limited local accountability for some charter operators.
During public comment, community member Melnick said he agreed and added that public schools should not be disadvantaged by the structure of charter enrollment and funding. Board members acknowledged Malone’s remarks; Rosner thanked Malone for raising the issue and did not offer a policy response or vote at the meeting.
Next steps: Malone asked the board to be a voice for students and taxpayers; the board did not take formal action on charter funding at this meeting.
