*Video: https://youtu.be/V0uZH_C1JGQ*

Assemblyman Doug Smith (5^th Assembly District) is calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia, to release over $1.2 billion for the Smart Schools Bond Act. Smith recently attended a budget hearing and questioned a defensive Elia on the status of the funds promised to schools in 2014.

“The Sachem School District, which is my largest school district, has not received one dime of over $11 million in funding which will be used to upgrade school security systems to keep our children safe. Adding insult to injury, after not reviewing Sachem’s proposal in the first three years, about eight months ago the district was told they would need to resubmit under a new electronic application process, and still hasn’t received any feedback.” said Smith.

The state designated a 3-member Smart Schools Review Board to hold quarterly meetings to approve school district proposals. This board is comprised of the Governor’s Budget Director, the State Education Commissioner, and the SUNY Chancellor. In over 4 years, this committee has only met 11 times. During the budget hearing Smith confronted Elia on the meetings her office was assigned to hold and asked why SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson, who took office in 2017, was not even aware of this board or the Smart Schools Bond Act.

“I’m deeply disturbed that while I was in the budget hearing, the SUNY Chancellor who sits on a 3-member board that oversees disbursement of these funds said she was not only unaware of these meetings but asked if I was certain that it was her responsibility and not the NYC Schools Chancellor or Regents Chancellor. I was hoping for affirmative answers but was saddened learn that our heads of education are left in the dark the same way my district is,” said Smith.

When questioned why there is no upcoming date set for the next meeting of the Review Board, Commissioner Elia stated that it is the responsibility of Governor Cuomo’s Budget Director to set the dates for when the Review Board meets. “I hope you will join me in asking the Governor have his office set a new date for the next meeting,” said Smith, to which the Commissioner replied that she would.

Following this hearing, Commissioner Elia announced her intentions to join Assemblyman Smith at Suffolk County’s Annual Legislative Breakfast hosted by Longwood School District on Saturday February 2. Smith is hoping to continue his conversation with Elia regarding the funds for the six school districts he represents, and he will call on Elia and Gov. Cuomo to hold a meeting to discuss the release of the funds for the Smart School Bonds.