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Summer 2000 (v4#2)

The outcome of City Council budget negotiations
No Vouchers, and No Funds Earmarked to Create Sufficient Classroom Space

Antivoucher proponents may be breathing sighs of relief, but reduced class size activists may still be wringing their hands because of the outcome of the City Council budget negotiations for fiscal year 2001.

Mayor Giuliani had threatened to push for $12 million in "incentives" to experiment with vouchers for private and parochial schools. However, the mayor dropped the voucher issue in the face of City Council Speaker Peter Vallone's continuing opposition. Instead, he agreed to a $12 million pot set aside for special systemwide initiatives, such as public charter schools and research to examine various educational reform strategies and innovations.

In a memorandum of understanding dated June 6, 2000, Giuliani and Vallone agreed to spend the $12 million on the following:

"Research/consultation expenses associated with the contracting of universities, colleges, think tanks and consultants to analyze major education reform efforts and their transferability to New York City."

"Community outreach programs to better understand the imminent needs of the school community and to integrate the community into the process of establishing a new vision for the school system."

"Site visits conducted by New York City officials, parents, and community organizations to view how programs are being implemented."

"Pubic charter schools operating in New York City, including, but not limited to, capital related costs such as property acquisition, construction, renovation, leasing, and other start-up costs."

Facilities Funding

Class size reduction (CSR) activists may be wringing their hands because the lack of available classroom space in New York City may prevent city students from being able to take advantage of the state CSR funding. The benefits provided by small classes in the early grades are essential in enabling students to meet New York State's new, higher standards.

In May, the Educational Priorities Panel wrote to the mayor, the chancellor, the speaker and City Council members asking that $69.5 million be added to the Board of Education (BOE) Expense Budget over two years to provide immediate classroom space through leasing (see p. 9). This leased classroom space would allow New York City to take full advantage of $154 million in state and federal funding next year. EPP's recommendation was not adopted.

The City Council did add funds for school construction, earmarking $150 million to the Education Facilities Capital Plan for "pay-as-you-go capital." The funds will pay for constructing one new school in each borough (according to recent press coverage). The NYC Office of Management and Budget has confirmed that, although the funds are in the capital budget, no funds will be borrowed for these construction projects. The project is under the joint control of both the mayor and the speaker. The New York City Economic Development Corporation, an independent agency traditionally controlled by the mayor, will oversee the construction of the five schools (rather than the School Construction Authority). Further specifics of the project have not yet been outlined.

The City Council also included $24 million in "add-ons" to the capital budget for renovations. None of these "add-ons" have been delegated for leasing. "Projects include modernization and reconstruction of and improvements to schools, playgrounds, athletic fields and other educational facilities and the purchase of computers and other equipment, citywide."

Other City Council "add-ons" included the following:

Two Teachers in a Classroom
The Council restored $1.2 million for additional teachers to increase instructional support and to "help" reduce middle school class size to 25 in the Chancellor's District.

Teacher Workstations
Following last year's spending to create professional work areas for teachers equipped with telephones and copiers, this year, the Council provided $1.45 million to continue the installation process and maintain the machines and phones already in place.

NYC Teachers Education Assistance Program (NYC TEACH)
The Council funded the NYC TEACH initiative at $400,000 to continue to attract quality teachers to NYC public schools. The program pays for graduate school tuition and loans in return for a three-year teaching commitment to NYC schools, including SURR schools. (Schools Under Registration Review is the state program for the lowest-performing schools.)

High School Law Enforcement Academies
The Council provided $400,000 to expand the criminal justice and law enforcement career programs currently running in two public Brooklyn high schools.

Professional Development Leadership Center
The Council will fund a professional support center at $300,000 to provide school administrators with educational materials and information on the best practices to enable their schools and districts to meet high standards.

Conflict Resolution
$250,000 was restored to support violence prevention programs in 30 schools, including peer mediation, negotiating techniques and anger management.

The Educational Priorities Panel was hoping to see a visible commitment to creating classroom space as one of the outcomes of City Council negotiations. In response to a question from Women’s City Club member Ellie Stier at a June 16 forum, City Council Finance Committee Chairman Herbert Berman pledged that next year he would work to see that more leasing funds become available. As high standards are put into place, EPP hopes that the City Council will mount an aggressive campaign to ensure that New York City students are given every available resource to enable their academic success.

Money Doesn't Matter: State's Shameful Defense: Money Doesn't Matter
Class Size Summit Draws Influential Leaders
Outcome of New York State Budget Negotiations
Outcome of City Council Budget Negotiations
The First Year of Class Size Reduction in NYC Schools
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