Millions of dollars have been spent during the past two years to refurbish the long-neglected Tuscarora Indian School, but more is needed.
For the third year in a row, Gov. Kathy Hochul has proposed considerable aid for Tuscarora and two other Native schools owned by New York State.
The governor put $20.1 million for the three schools in her executive budget proposal for 2024-25, but it is not clear how much would be allotted to each school.
“This amount that is in the governor’s budget is a small percentage of what the three school school districts asked for,” said Daniel G. Ljiljanich, superintendent of the Niagara Wheatfield Central School District. “However, New York State has come a long way in funding for Native schools on Native lands.”
The school is on Tuscarora Nation territory in the Niagara Wheatfield District. About 70 Indigenous students from prekindergarten through sixth grade who live on the territory attend the school, where they maintain a strong connection to their language, culture and history.
Tuscarora Indian School in line for more state funding
The inequality was stark two years ago, before the governor started boosting aid: The average spent on repairs and capital projects at five Niagara Wheatfield schools in the seven prior years was $11 million apiece. Over the same period, less than $200,000 was spent at the Tuscarora School.
Building repairs to public schools usually are funded through capital projects that are voted on by residents. But capital projects at the three Native American schools are the responsibility of the director of facilities in the state Education Department.
Niagara Wheatfield asked for $14 million from the state this year, and the three schools asked for a total of $100 million, although much of that was for a new St. Regis Mohawk School in Franklin County, Ljiljanich said.
He said more money is needed because costs have…
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