Faced with the prospect of no state school aid and possible loss of licenses and jobs for teachers and administrators, the Kenmore-Tonawanda School Board held off Tuesday night on refusing to administer standardized exams on the youngest test-takers.
As state aid has slowed and nearly $40 million was promised and kept back, district officials and parents are very angry.
Board President Bob Dana wants to refuse to give the exams for 3rd through 8th graders. He said three different lawyers warned of the risks during a closed session just before the school board meeting.
Eventually, the board voted to wait two-weeks and hold a protest meeting March 23.
"Albany is already aware of what is going on here. The commissioner is already aware of what is going on here," Dana said.
"Consequently if he thinks this gains too much momentum, he can begin to take some consequences sooner rather than later. I don't know. At this point in time, I'm just saying I've had enough."
Parents and taxpayers are angry and also worried Albany might cut off tens of millions of dollars in school aid in retaliation, leading to massive layoffs and massive property tax increases to maintain some semblance of a school district.
