Say Funding's Below Mandate
Charge DOE Shortchanging System's Neediest Schools

By MICHELLE FRIEDMAN

Hundreds of protesters filled the auditorium at the Fashion Industries High School in Manhattan June 17 to voice their unhappiness with the Department of Education's spending plans.

The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James MAKING DISPLEASURE KNOWN: United Federation of Teachers Staff Director LeRoy Barr tells reporters that the Department of Education is not giving the city's neediest schools their proper share of aid under the Campaign for Fiscal Equity court settlement agreed to by the state. Looking on to his right is CFE Executive Director Geri D. Palast.

Just before the hearing began, Geri Palast, the executive director of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, released a report ridiculing the city for mismanaging CFE dollars. It found that the 2008-2009 budget allocated only 59 percent - of the mandated 75 percent of available funds - to schools with the greatest need, with 41 percent going to higher-performing schools.

Coming Up Short

According to the CFE, the DOE is required to give $289 million of the $386 million to targeted students and schools, while the current allocation is only $173 million.

The Chief-Leader/Michel Friang KEEPING UP PRESSURE TO KEEP PROMISES: United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten calls on city officials to restore funding to the education budget during a June 16 rally sponsored by the Keep the Promises Coalition.

The report also claimed that while the DOE was supposed to provide detailed information on the investment of the entire amount in the contract, it had so far detailed only $231 million of the allocation.

"Flexibility on $63 million is not what this is about," Ms. Palast said, referring to Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein's plan to allocate that much in state CFE dollars evenly across all schools, rather than directing it to schools with the highest needs.

Inside, DOE officials - minus Chancellor Klein - testified to the success of the Contract for Excellence. Representatives stated that class-size reduction, the initiative granted the most CFE dollars in the 2007-2008 budget, had been achieved, while city funding on education has increased by more than $4 billion since Mayor Bloomberg took office in 2002.

According to the DOE, the majority of CFE funds is restricted by the state, and therefore beyond city control. The DOE also plans to continue its focus on class size reduction in the upcoming school year.

'Unfair and Outrageous'

"Every New Yorker who has a child in school, and cares about fundamental fairness, should be outraged," said City Councilman Eric Gioia of Queens, adding that with a budget surplus, it was unacceptable to cut education.

"They are telling public schools: there will be no more art, there will be no more music. It's completely unfair," Mr. Gioia added.

Bob Wilson, a school cleaner represented by Local 32BJ - which held its own rally protesting DOE budget cuts June 19 - said, "Over the past six years school cleaners have seen cuts nearly every year." He noted that without increased funding, children would be forced to sit in schools in unsanitary conditions.

Dorothy Young, a parent and plaintiff in the initial 13-year CFE lawsuit, said that she felt betrayed by the DOE's blatant disrespect of the contract. "It just keeps getting worse," said Ms. Young. "The money should go to children who most need the money. The government keeps saying stretch, stretch, stretch with the money. Where you gonna stretch to?"