Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent. P-J file photo

Even the smaller of two state budgets proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is good news for the Jamestown Public Schools District.

On Tuesday, Cuomo proposed two state budgets — one which uses $6 billion in aid from the federal government and one with $15 billion aid from the federal government. From a practical standpoint, Cuomo’s proposed budget only assumes the $6 billion in federal aid. In order to cover the rest of the $9 billion state budget shortfall, Cuomo said New York will need to borrow, raise taxes and slash state spending for local governments and social services. He said New York would spend $600 million less on Medicaid and continue $900 million in 5% across-the-board spending reductions.

Cuomo also threatened legal action against the federal government if it doesn’t provide New York $15 billion in COVID relief.

Dr. Kevin Whitaker, Jamestown Public Schools superintendent, told school board members Tuesday that the $15 billion federal aid package to New York would likely solve many of the district’s budget issues for a couple of years.

“I’ll shorten the $15 billion one just by saying that if we get $15 billion, all is right with the world for the next couple of years,” Whitaker said. “We’ll be fully funded, or very close to it, and our rocky road will be less rocky next year. There’s no guarantee it will be $15 (billion). We may get something less, but the governor and the budget director feel that the $6 billion the first budget presented is the least that we would get.”

A $6 billion federal aid package would be difficult for the state and many state agencies, but Whitaker said that may not be horrible news for the Jamestown Public Schools District. A $6 billion aid package means the district will receive roughly $1 million that the state has withheld in aid this year.

“They would still keep 5% of that aid,” Whitaker said. “But we would get 95% back, which is a significant boost this year.”

District administrators will use the rough numbers discussed this week as a basis for work on the district’s 2021-22 budget. A final budget should be created by March and approved in April. To have any impact on Jamestown’s budget, the federal aid package would need to be approved in March, Whitaker said.

“This is still a little foggy,” Whitaker said. “There is still a little bit of question marks. But there are some numbers now. We await what happens and what announcements may come from the Biden Administration and Congress. We’ll probably know in March. So we’ll have some late movement in the budget as we move forward. At least I feel as if we have a couple of handholds here as we climb up this wall.”

In other business:

¯ the board unanimously approved a Memorandum of Agreement between the Jamestown Public School District and the Association of Jamestown Paraprofessionals extending the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2022.

¯ accepted a $461 grant from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in from the Jane Fagerstrom Fund for Love School to purchase and distribute paperback books to young readers. Fagerstrom was the first woman to serve as Chautauqua County’s executive assistant, the first female director of the Comprehensive Employment Training Administration and was the county’s first female personnel director. She was also the first female chairperson of the Chautauqua County Legislature from 2000-02.

Fagerstrom also gave her time to several non-profit organizations, including serving as president of the Joint Neighborhood Project, member of The Resource Center Board of Directors, a member on the Research and Strategic Planning Committee, and the United Way.

“I just wanted to mention, what a thoughtful way to help out kids,” Whitaker said.

¯ accepted a $1,500 grant from the Rotary Club for books purchased for the 2019-20 Battle of the Books.