New York (State). Governor. Deputy Secretary to the Governor.

In October 1969 Governor Rockefeller and the State Board of Regents created the New York State Commission on the Quality, Cost, and Financing of Elementary and Secondary Education, chaired by Manly Fleischmann. School financing recommendations made by the "Fleischmann Commission," which would have increased school taxes in upstate New York and reduced school expenditures in a significant number of downstate surburban districts, were never implemented.

Governor Rockefeller approved the creation of the Task Force on State Aid to Elementary and Secondary Schools based on a decision memo submitted to him by T. Norman Hurd, secretary to the governor. Lois Wilson, who served as deputy secretary to the governor from March 29, 1973 until december 31, 1974 and as special assistance to the governor for education from January 1 to July 24, 1975, assisted in preparing the memo. The first meeting of the Task Force was held in early July 1973, and a five-member study group was established including one representative from the governor, the senate, and the assembly.