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For Immediate Release: June 16th, 2004 Contact: Contact: Jordan Isenstadt (c) 516.991.3842 (w) 212.490.9535 (f) 212.490.2151 ***PRESS RELEASE*** State Senator Liz Krueger Demands Equitable Funding for All New York City Public School Children New York, NY – State Senator Liz Krueger
(D-Manhattan) harshly criticized Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, the
Senate Majority Conference and Governor George Pataki for proposing
“inadequate” plans to address the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE)
decision. “The simple fact is that the numbers
proposed by the Republicans do not accurately reflect what is truly needed to
reform New York State’s unjust school finance system,” said Senator
Krueger.
“To provide students throughout New York City and State with the
opportunity for a sound, basic education, the State must implement an
adequate funding system that emphasizes fair and transparent
distribution. The Republican plan is
inadequate and does not address those districts that are most in need.”
Last summer, New York State’s highest court ordered the
State Legislature to address the inequitable public school funding formula
and imposed a deadline of July 30th to come up with a new
one. In the past few weeks, Governor
Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Bruno, Speaker Silver and Senate Minority
Leader Paterson have released their own funding proposals. Both Pataki and Bruno’s plan would offer
about $4.5 billion in new State money over 5 years, while the Assembly plan
proposes $6.1 billion and the Senate Democrats propose $10 billion. The Republican plans rely heavily upon
revenues from Video Lottery Terminals (VLT’s) and also assume that additional
Federal aid will materialize. The
Senate Democrats plan would give the most State money to New York City – a
total of $5.6 billion. “New York City public school children
need and deserve equitable funding now not when Pataki and Bruno feel like
dealing with it,” stated Senator Krueger. “Even for schools on the Eastside, which
have a reputation of excellence, there are still very real needs that
increased funding could help to fulfill.
I have visited public schools in my district where chipping paint fell
from the ceiling onto children as they work at their desks. I also know of elementary schools that
have been forced to partition their auditorium into extra classrooms due to
overcrowding. And as unacceptable as
these conditions are, public schoolchildren throughout New York State have
had to deal with far worse because of the unfair distribution of funds.”
“We have 43 days left to come up with a plan or else we
will hit the court-imposed deadline,” said Senator Krueger. “If Bruno and the Republicans continue to
play these games, then we will end up without a CFE resolution. The time has come to stop this foolishness
and to come together across party lines to ensure that the next generation
receives a quality education.” There will be a “March for My School” rally on June 17th,
at 4:00 PM in Madison Square Park (23rd Street & Madison
Avenue). For more information, go to www.cfequity.org. |
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