New York City Council members protestedschool spending cutson Friday — less than a month after44 Of the 51 councilwho voted to approve a controversial spending plan in which members of the group participated.
Several council members, including Chair Adrian Adams, Chairman of the Board of Education Rita Joseph, and Chairman of the Supervisory Investigation Commission Gale Brewer, have joined the city hall's supporters and union leadersHas been reduced by at least $ 215 million. School budgetbefore the supervisory meeting.
The hearing considered using the federal COVID Stimulation Fund to fill these gaps and urged the Ministry of Education to redirect spending from the central office to the school building.
"I want to clarify that this distinction must be made," said Adams, who was in a group of lawmakers who voted for a budget that included cuts, along with Brewer. They do DOE regarding their effect.
"The immediate problem is not the entire city budget, but the issue related to the DOE's decision on the school budget. The school budget and the city are not the same."
Council members point out recent local investments in public schools, including a $ 700 million increase next year, to several educational programs from student work tosummer programs.
Nevertheless, the budget for individual schools in New York City is at risk of losing money in the next fiscal year, "Joseph said.
"Our students and educators have experienced hell over the last few years, because I was in hell with them," the former teacher added. "We should now focus our investment on youth. Instead, we are weakening it."
The Union Teachers'Federation and its national federation, the American Teachers' Federation, are both in the morning. He attended the rally and hosted another protest on Friday after school. Union leaders, including AFT President Randy Weingarten, encouraged the city to continue to fund schools at this year's level, using federal funding allocated to schools.
Mayor Erik Adams and City Councilsubmitted an early budgetthis year, but members of Congress said Friday stagnated negotiations on school allocation issues. ..
"Final plan," said Adams.
At the director's hearing, more than 50 students, parents and advocates appeared during school days, and more students were able to watch online. In addition,testified at the City Education Panel Conferenceon Thursday night, but the DOE meant that the initial budget had already been approved, so the final vote was just a functional measure. I suggested that it was nothing more than.
Council members continued to blame DOE for lack of transparency and even dishonesty.
"This budget has passed with the implicit understanding that we will continue to work together to address this issue to remedy the cuts to local schools." The district is from Boa Ram Hill to Green Point.
Restler told the council members that the DOE had already vacated school staff positions that were planned to be reduced, but instead his district lost bilingual and art teachers. Said that.
"These cuts are not flesh wounds," the councilor said. "They are struggling."
Educators commented that school budgets are not final and could increase as schools see more students this fall. I told the members of the meeting.
DOE also released figures suggesting that 46% of the budget goes directly to schools and 2% is reserved for central and outdoor activities.
According to the latest figures on overall spending per student, DOE expects to spend $ 31,434 on each child next year, even before the pandemic. At the same time, a recent post survey shows that the major funding that is sent directly to schools perstudent is expected to decline next year.
The Federal COVID Stimulation Fund for schools is expected to expire by 2025, so DOE authorities have said they have begun to abolish these support. At least $ 4.3 billion remains in spending, according to city statistics.
"You can mitigate and mitigate some of what you are seeing, but you cannot avoid reality," said Dan Weisberg, the first deputy prime minister of . I am saying. DOE.
"If we can achieve our ideals, if all teachers want to stay in their current location, they can stay in their current location. We are not ideal," he said. I added.
