Smithtown schools may get aid restored

The State Senate has taken the first step toward restoring $3.1 million in construction aid to the Smithtown school district.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously passed a bill that effectively wipes out errors that had caused the state to withhold the money. Smithtown officials in 2004 missed four deadlines for filing reports related to a $150-million construction project.

The flap embarrassed Smithtown officials, who hired an outside auditor earlier this year to investigate how the deadlines were missed.

State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport), who sponsored the bill, said Thursday students should not have to suffer for the error, which he called an "honest mistake."

"We're trying to do everything possible to help the school district," Flanagan said. "If there were something nefarious or illegal, it's a different story."

Flanagan's bill said the lost financial aid would "impose an additional, unanticipated hardship on district taxpayers" and said the aid should be "legalized, validated, ratified and confirmed, notwithstanding any failure to comply" with the deadlines.

Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said he expects the Assembly to take up the bill before the legislature ends its session June 20.

"I believe it will pass because it's important to the school district," Fitzpatrick said. "It doesn't matter what the political party -- nobody wants to see the school district hurt."

District Superintendent Edward Ehmann said he was "hopeful that we can get that issue resolved."

School officials had feared the lost construction aid would result in reduced state aid in future years; each's year's aid is based on how much a district received in previous years.