Resolution to Support March 19th Rally to Protest Budget Cuts (3-08)

Mar 8, 2008 11:15 AM

Whereas, the Department of Education imposed an immediate 1.75 % budget cut for all New York City public schools – a midyear cut that is extremely disruptive because schools’ schedules, programs and staffing for the year are in place; and

 Whereas, these budget reductions have caused schools to cut after-school and weekend programs, tutoring services, textbook orders, extracurricular activities and safety supports and to increase class size; and

 Whereas, the DOE’s budget will be cut another $324 million in the next school year; and

 Whereas, the state budget also proposes to give city schools about $200 million less than was expected in Contract for Excellence funds, which will stall progress in reducing class size; and

 Whereas, the UFT is a founding member of the “Keep the Promises” coalition of educators, parents, labor, community groups and activists, clergy and elected officials that is fighting the state and city budget cuts and trying to raise public awareness of the harm these cuts are doing to kids; and

 Whereas, the coalition is organizing a rally on March 19th outside City Hall to call on the state and the city to keep their commitments to New York City public school children in both good economic times and bad; be it therefore

 Resolved, that the UFT fully support the “Keep the Promises” rally on March 19th and mobilize its members to attend.

 Passed at the March 5, 2008  UFT Delegate Assembly.