State Senator Patty Ritchie met with area school officials Thursday to discuss Governor Cuomo’s proposals for school aid in his new state budget, and how the state’s school funding formulas shortchange St. Lawrence County’s rural school districts.

Even though the Governor’s proposed budget includes a 4 percent increase in aid, the funds are not distributed evenly among all districts.

Under the Governor’s plan, 10 St. Lawrence County school districts represented by Senator Ritchie would receive an additional $2.5 million in state aid (exclusive of state aid for buildings and construction projects), for a total of $102.5 million in state funding.

For weeks, Senator Ritchie has been working with local school officials, as well as her colleagues from across Upstate, to help ensure that smaller districts are treated fairly in the final budget that’s due April 1.

"I’ve been meeting with local school officials, teachers and parents to listen to their concerns about the funding formulas,” Senator Ritchie said. “I’ve heard their concerns, and I’m working with my colleagues across the state to make sure our schools are treated fairly.”