East Moriches Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles T. Russo said the district may file a lawsuit against Westhampton Beach seeking a refund of $175,000 for 2007-08 school year tuition fees. BRYAN FINLAYSON
Three area school districts that send students to Westhampton Beach High School might join together to sue the Westhampton Beach School District for charging too much in tuition payments for the 2007-08 school year.
Westhampton Beach collectively owes about $550,000 in tuition refunds to the East Moriches, Remsenburg/Speonk and East Quogue school districts, according to New York State officials.
Westhampton Beach is refusing to refund the money, pending the outcome of a lawsuit it filed against Richard Mills, commissioner of the New York State Department of Education. The suit claims that changes Mr. Mills made to the so called Seneca Falls formula, which the state uses to calculate how much school districts should charge for tuition for out-of-district students and which took effect this year, were not in compliance with existing state regulations. It also charges that the state department should have been required to hold public hearings on the changes.
A spokesman for the Department of Education did not return calls for comment.
The East Moriches School Board at an emergency meeting on Monday morning authorized the district’s attorneys to file a lawsuit against Westhampton Beach seeking a $175,000 refund. Remsenburg/Speonk and East Quogue officials are considering joining East Moriches in the suit. Remsenburg/Speonk and East Quogue claim they are owed $115,000 and $260,000, respectively.
“We have no hard feelings against the district. It is just that business is business,” East Moriches School Board President Gary Grunseich said during Monday’s meeting.
Mr. Mills made changes to the way tuition payments are calculated, basing those payments on student enrollment rather than average attendance, similar to the way the state calculates state education aid. The new formula lowers the amount a district can charge sending districts in tuition. This hurts Westhampton Beach financially, but benefits its sending districts. Under the new formula, Westhampton Beach’s tuition rate was decreased from about $18,000 per student to about $17,300 per student.
Westhampton Beach Superintendent of Schools Lynn Schwartz said that his district has a hearing scheduled in New York State Supreme Court in Riverhead on May 29, where district attorneys will challenge the new formula.
Westhampton Beach has already refunded about $900,000 to its five sending districts—the three considering the lawsuit plus Quogue and Tuckahoe—for overpayments in tuition fees that were based on rates established before the formula change took effect.
If the court upholds the changes to the tuition formula, “the district would lose in the area of $600,000 per year in tuition,” Mr. Schwartz said. “In a $47 million budget, that is significant.”
East Moriches Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles T. Russo described the changes to the formula as “fair,” and said that Westhampton Beach owes his district $175,000. In the 2007-08 school year, 236 East Moriches students attended Westhampton Beach.
“It’s protecting the East Moriches taxpayers’ rights to say that we believe we are owed more money and we want a refund,” Dr. Russo said of the board’s decision to file the lawsuit. “Both districts, we have a great relationship and will continue to have a great relationship. This is just a matter of doing business.”
Remsenburg/Speonk Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathy Salomone said her district is owed $115,000 as a result of the change to the formula and is considering joining East Moriches in the lawsuit. About 145 Remsenburg/Speonk students attended Westhampton Beach in 2007-08.
“If we are owed money, then we need to follow through with getting a refund,” Dr. Salomone said. “I think what’s fair is that the taxpayers get reimbursed, according to the state’s decision.”
The East Quogue School Board was expected on Tuesday to adopt a resolution allowing it to join in a lawsuit with the other school districts, Superintendent of Schools Les Black said. He said East Quogue is owed $260,000 and had about 450 students enrolled in Westhampton Beach two years ago.
Last month, “we sent a letter to Westhampton that refuted the tuition rate,” Mr. Black said.
Quogue School officials have yet to take a stance on the suit, according to Superintendent of Schools Richard Benson. Officials from Tuckahoe did not return calls for comment.
Westhampton Beach School Board President Aram Terchunian said relations would not be negatively impacted were East Moriches and other districts to file suit.
“I have the greatest respect for the East Moriches School Board and I am sure they are operating in the best interest of their taxpayers,” Mr. Terchunian said. “The relationship with East Moriches has been very strong, it is very strong and it will continue to be very strong.”
New York State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. said he agreed with Westhampton Beach’s argument that the Department of Education did not properly seek public comment on the changes.
“I don’t think that they had enough notice,” Mr. Thiele said. “When you change a regulation like that, you have public notice, there is a comment period. None of that happened.”
The district, however, will probably have to refund the money, Mr. Thiele said, noting that he will seek to get the district additional state aid to help fill its $600,000 budget gap. “I think that in the interim, the state has the responsibility to make up the difference,” Mr. Thiele said.
CM offers them discounts which they do not take advantage of, and WHB overcharges them and then refuses to refund..........to someone who is not drinking the EM kool-aid, it would be funny if it were not so pathetic.
CM offers them discounts which they do not take advantage of, and WHB overcharges them and then refuses to refund..........to someone who is not drinking the EM kool-aid, it would be funny if it were not so pathetic.
Who was supposed to "take advantage" of the discounted rate? East Moriches 8th Graders have the option of selecting one of three High Schools. If a student picked Center Moriches, then the District would have saved the $2,000 per student. But if they opted for ESM or Westhampton then the district doesn't get to "take advantage" of the savings.
Our students don't base their decision on the tuition rate...our Administration, Teachers and Board do not get to tell them where to go. If it were strictly a tuition based decision, then all our students would go to ESM since they are much less expensive than either of the other 2 choices...
If the discounted rate was meant to entice students to choose your school, then you are missing the point of why we hold on to school choice. Choice gives a student in public school the unique opportunity to select a High School that they feel will best match their desires...Size, academic programs, locations, sports and activities, facilities, etc. Our students choose Center Moriches because they feel it is the best of the three schools, not because of the tuition rate.
I wish more districts tried to give their students the advantage of school choice as opposed to our district looking to eliminate it.
While I agree with you, I think you are overstating that people know which school is better. How can they if less than 1/3 of the parents attend the open house to CM and ESM? This makes the argument that they know which school better suits their child baseless.
It means to keep complaining and do nothing. Just type away, watch your TV shows tomorrow night and then complain about what happens at the BOE meetings.
How many times does this forum ask "Does anyone know what happened last night?" the morning after a meeting? Too many times for such 'concerned' citizens.
Maybe, just maybe, if people went to the meetings and spoke up, things could be different. Instead, we all just sit around and complain while the same three/four people get up at the BOE meetings and speak their minds. And then we wonder why nothing gets done.
Yes, Wednesday morning will be like a box of chocolates, you never know what your lack of attendance and input just got you.
Do you want to make a difference? Stand up and speak out. Otherwise this forum is like a henhouse, lots of clucking and not much getting done.
It means to keep complaining and do nothing. Just type away, watch your TV shows tomorrow night and then complain about what happens at the BOE meetings.
How many times does this forum ask "Does anyone know what happened last night?" the morning after a meeting? Too many times for such 'concerned' citizens.
Maybe, just maybe, if people went to the meetings and spoke up, things could be different. Instead, we all just sit around and complain while the same three/four people get up at the BOE meetings and speak their minds. And then we wonder why nothing gets done.
Yes, Wednesday morning will be like a box of chocolates, you never know what your lack of attendance and input just got you.
Do you want to make a difference? Stand up and speak out. Otherwise this forum is like a henhouse, lots of clucking and not much getting done.
Perhaps the 4 or 5 people who get up and complain at meetings are the same 4 or 5 people who chat on this site.
I suppose my biggest beef with people is that they only know what they read on these sites and the Press (which is fairly biased and somewhat inaccurate in it's reporting and headline choice). Thus, they will vote down the budget just because they think they are making a statement that the BOE will hear. Who gets hurt? The children of course. But the voter feels justified in that they had their voice heard through the vote. What they really need to do is make their voice heard during the budget process and at ongoing board meetings. Basically, be a part of the process or stop complaining.
And yes, if you want to find out what happens at tonight's meeting, ATTEND!
CM offers them discounts which they do not take advantage of, and WHB overcharges them and then refuses to refund..........to someone who is not drinking the EM kool-aid, it would be funny if it were not so pathetic.
Who was supposed to "take advantage" of the discounted rate? East Moriches 8th Graders have the option of selecting one of three High Schools. If a student picked Center Moriches, then the District would have saved the $2,000 per student. But if they opted for ESM or Westhampton then the district doesn't get to "take advantage" of the savings.
Our students don't base their decision on the tuition rate...our Administration, Teachers and Board do not get to tell them where to go. If it were strictly a tuition based decision, then all our students would go to ESM since they are much less expensive than either of the other 2 choices...
If the discounted rate was meant to entice students to choose your school, then you are missing the point of why we hold on to school choice. Choice gives a student in public school the unique opportunity to select a High School that they feel will best match their desires...Size, academic programs, locations, sports and activities, facilities, etc. Our students choose Center Moriches because they feel it is the best of the three schools, not because of the tuition rate.
I wish more districts tried to give their students the advantage of school choice as opposed to our district looking to eliminate it.
When I said that EM did not take advantage of discounts, I was refering to the BOE, who have ignored all offers from CM to jointly reduce costs...not just the tuition rate.
" Our students don't base their decision on the tuition rate.....our Administrators, Board and Teachers do not get to tell them where to go"
Here is a qoute to me from an EM parent..." I was told that CM would be the best choice for my son because he has disciplinary problems and CM is better equiped to handle kids with issues like that"
I wish I had a dime for every EM parent who has said to me that they would like their child to attend a school other than WHB but intense peer pressue is put on any kid that does not go to the "cool" choice - WHB.
Finally, since you are so in favor of high school choice, I assume you would oppose a merger with WHB?
I suppose my biggest beef with people is that they only know what they read on these sites and the Press (which is fairly biased and somewhat inaccurate in it's reporting and headline choice). Thus, they will vote down the budget just because they think they are making a statement that the BOE will hear. Who gets hurt? The children of course. But the voter feels justified in that they had their voice heard through the vote. What they really need to do is make their voice heard during the budget process and at ongoing board meetings. Basically, be a part of the process or stop complaining.
And yes, if you want to find out what happens at tonight's meeting, ATTEND!
Agreed. Most people base their decisions on hearsay and website rumor rather than any facts. I do think there is a big block out there that votes NO just to make a statement.
CM offers them discounts which they do not take advantage of, and WHB overcharges them and then refuses to refund..........to someone who is not drinking the EM kool-aid, it would be funny if it were not so pathetic.
Who was supposed to "take advantage" of the discounted rate? East Moriches 8th Graders have the option of selecting one of three High Schools. If a student picked Center Moriches, then the District would have saved the $2,000 per student. But if they opted for ESM or Westhampton then the district doesn't get to "take advantage" of the savings.
Our students don't base their decision on the tuition rate...our Administration, Teachers and Board do not get to tell them where to go. If it were strictly a tuition based decision, then all our students would go to ESM since they are much less expensive than either of the other 2 choices...
If the discounted rate was meant to entice students to choose your school, then you are missing the point of why we hold on to school choice. Choice gives a student in public school the unique opportunity to select a High School that they feel will best match their desires...Size, academic programs, locations, sports and activities, facilities, etc. Our students choose Center Moriches because they feel it is the best of the three schools, not because of the tuition rate.
I wish more districts tried to give their students the advantage of school choice as opposed to our district looking to eliminate it.
When I said that EM did not take advantage of discounts, I was refering to the BOE, who have ignored all offers from CM to jointly reduce costs...not just the tuition rate.
" Our students don't base their decision on the tuition rate.....our Administrators, Board and Teachers do not get to tell them where to go"
Here is a qoute to me from an EM parent..." I was told that CM would be the best choice for my son because he has disciplinary problems and CM is better equiped to handle kids with issues like that"
I wish I had a dime for every EM parent who has said to me that they would like their child to attend a school other than WHB but intense peer pressue is put on any kid that does not go to the "cool" choice - WHB.
Finally, since you are so in favor of high school choice, I assume you would oppose a merger with WHB?
1. When I said that EM did not take advantage of discounts, I was referring to the BOE, who have ignored all offers from CM to jointly reduce costs...not just the tuition rate.
Has CM tried working with any other neighboring Districts, like William Floyd?
2. Here is a qoute to me from an EM parent..." I was told that CM would be the best choice for my son because he has disciplinary problems and CM is better equiped to handle kids with issues like that"
OK. One of the factors I will weigh in HS choice is the disciplinary record. So, if I am hearing that you run a tight ship, that is a positive in your column for me.
3. I wish I had a dime for every EM parent who has said to me that they would like their child to attend a school other than WHB but intense peer pressue is put on any kid that does not go to the "cool" choice - WHB.
I can't comment on parents who let their children make a decision based on peer pressure rather than sound parental advice. I can counter your observation with plenty of families I know who have seen circles of friends go to different high schools, siblings choose different high schools, etc. Peer pressure is not enough argument for me to eliminate choice.
4. Finally, since you are so in favor of high school choice, I assume you would oppose a merger with WHB?
You assume correctly. Choice is best!
If EM decides to study a merger with WHB, they would have to convince us that the new merged district would be better than choice. That is a very tough sell.
Here is a similar question for you: If you think merging is such a great idea, why didn't you merge with ESM and why don't you look into merging with William Floyd? Or are there legitimate downsides to those ideas that make maintaining the status quo a better choice?
![[Feature Photo]](http://centermorichestaxpayerscommunitydiscussionforum.activeboard.com/gallery/articles/3.jpg "East Moriches Superintendent of Schools Dr. Charles T. Russo said the district may file a lawsuit against Westhampton Beach seeking a refund of $175,000 for 2007-08 school year tuition fees. BRYAN FINLAYSON")
