State to Restore School Aid Lost in Paperwork Gaffe

Up to $7.5 million in school building aid from the state that was lost due a paperwork error will be restored to the Smithtown Central School District.

According to Newsday, the restoration is part of a bill that is expected to pass on Friday.

Initially, the state reclaimed $10.5 million, which was to be paid out over several years, because district officials failed to file the proper paperwork on time. That meant a $3.1 million loss just for the 2012 school year.

But such as State Sen. John Flanagan and Assemblyman John Fitzpatrick, and other state officials representing areas that had schools docked for these paperwork errors, eventually led to a bill.

The issue has been a hot one in Smithtown, with many parents directly blaming outgoing Superintendent Edward Ehmann for the screw-up. However, the school said the this year.

Read the Newsday report.