ithaca city school district

The university currently contributes $650,000 annually to the Ithaca City School District. The Ithaca Teachers Association is calling for an increase to $10 million.

Three school districts in the Southern Tier successfully passed new school budgets on Tuesday.The Newfield, Ithaca, and Corning Painted-Post school districts all brought forward updated versions of the budget for a revote after their original proposals failed to pass in May. These revamped proposals cut spending and lowered proposed tax levies.

The new budget cuts administrative costs and asks for a lower tax levy. If it fails, the district will adopt a contingency budget that won’t raise the levy at all.

The EPA awarded the district $800,000 to buy four new electric school buses, but voters must authorize the purchase.

School district officials are now seeking alternative budget options.

Proposed spending would increase by $10 million, leaving some residents concerned about costs.

"But, there's been a lot of loss in confidence around him, around the Board of Education, around the integrity and judgement of both the board and the superintendent himself."

"And across the country we prioritize bars and restaurants over young people. How dare we do that."

Even after the closure is over, specialists say many students with special needs still won’t be in the classroom.

"I have to facilitate everything and doing that on top of the physical care taking of Oliver is almost impossible.”