School Cuts Too Deep And Poorly Timed, Say Education Unions

Education union leaders responded with alarm to Governor Paterson's proposed $5.2 billion in state cuts, which were concentrated on education and Medicaid, with United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten warning, "We cannot simply cut our way out of this situation."

RANDI WEINGARTEN: Need a broader solution.

His proposal included statewide reductions of $585 million in school aid for this fiscal year, the first time since the early 1990s that cuts are being made mid-year. The city's share of this would be $255 million, which the Department of Education would decide how to impose if state legislators sign off on it.

A further $844 million would be slashed next year, with $385 million of that coming from DOE. Along with reducing school aid, the cuts would affect math and science grants, libraries, arts grants and special Teacher mentoring programs.

UFT: Need Federal Help

"I firmly believe we need a tripartite solution that includes not simply cuts, but a Federal economic stimulus package with state and local subsidies, additional revenues and a careful review of expenditures," Ms. Weingarten said in a statement. "It won't be easy. It won't happen overnight. But we are committed to working with the Governor and the Legislature as this process moves forward."

RICHARD IANNUZZI: Hurts kids who need help most.

The UFT leader conceded cuts are necessary but said that mid-year budget reductions were a bad idea. "There is a difference between cuts you can absorb as you plan for an upcoming school year, and mid-year cuts, which have a geometrical effect," she said. "Education is already taking a city mid-year hit to the tune of more than $180 million, which translates into reductions in pre-K, custodial services and summer school. Further mid-year cuts will inevitably affect core programs and services, and could reverse years of gains in student achievement."

New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi concurred, saying in a statement that "Mid-year cuts would have a concentrated, painful impact on students ... and the neediest New Yorkers who rely on public services and who are already feeling much of the pain from the current crisis." He proposed that the Governor raise taxes on those with high incomes to close the budget gap instead.

'Make Rich Pay Fair Share'

"Asking the richest New Yorkers to pay their fair share of the solution makes greater sense than compromising services the most vulnerable New Yorkers depend upon," he said. "Striking the right balance between raising revenue and providing essential services is key — this is an issue facing every local community, our state, our Federal Government and, soon, our President-elect."

In a phone interview, Mr. Iannuzzi said he feared the timing of the cuts would be particularly harmful. "The major problem with mid-year cuts is that for schools to absorb them, they have to go into services that hurt children, such as remedial and intervention services, after-school or Saturday programs, or children who need extra help," he said. "The students that can afford it the least are likely to be the ones most hurt."

He added that he was worried about the impact the cuts would have on the State University of New York and the City University of New York, which have already weathered reductions, and that he had conferred with United University Professions President Phillip H. Smith and Professional Staff Congress President Barbara Bowen in recent days.

'Serious' Impact on Higher Ed.

"Obviously, the impact on CUNY and SUNY, which have already taken the cuts, is a serious one," he said. "There's some discussion of cuts offset by tuition increases. That's passing greater pain on to those who are suffering the most."

In announcing the cuts, Governor Paterson said that the plan "represents a series of difficult choices," and acknowledged that "many worthy programs with laudable goals, some of which I have supported in the past, will have to experience reductions in funding."

In his statement, the Governor's office pointed out that the state spent $14,884 per pupil on its public schools in 2006, "the highest amount of any State and 63 percent above the national average." He called the cuts "tough but necessary choices" that "put the public interest ahead of special interests."