School Aid Crisis Meeting Next Monday

Assemblymember Jim Brennan is hosting a “school aid crisis meeting” on Monday, February 25 at 6:30pm at PS 230, located at 425 McDonald Avenue in Kensington. From Brennan’s office:

A law passed in last year’s state budget linked the distribution of vital school aid dollars to the successful resolution of a collective bargaining process–its goal was to determine the specific criteria for the controversial teacher and principal rating system. Because an agreement was not reached by the deadline dictated in the law, New York City’s children are losing $250 million in the current 2012-2013 state budget.

Here’s what that means: The elimination of 700 teachers and counselors; less art and music, and fewer field trips; slashed hours for school aides and substitutes and much more.

If no agreement is reached before next year, New York City’s children will lose another $250 million.

Here’s what that means: 1,800 fewer teachers; 700,000 hours of after-school gone; book and school supply budgets slashed, and more.

Without an agreement on teacher evaluations by Sept. 1, 2013, NYC will lose an additional $224 million in state aid, bringing the total loss in 2013-2014 to $724 million. Another $1 billion is at-risk unless there is an agreement on teacher evaluations. We must pressure Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature to fund our children’s schools NOW and not wait for the rating system impasse to be resolved!

Image via Google Maps