left: Erin Flanagan, phys ed teacher and chapter leader, Flushing HS: “We have a lot of programs in our school. The kids really need a lot of services. The worst scenario for us is cutting the sports programs and our extended school day. That will take the blood out of our system.”
right: Cornelia Gutwein, principal, Flushing HS: “We might be anticipating [cuts in] the extra classes that we offer students, more so for our at-risk students. We’re pretty rich in our instructional program. Most of our students have nine-to-10-period days, and we’re planning to go forward with that. But if we have to, this is where we’re going to cut because it’s over what is necessary.”

Frank Tucci, teacher and chapter leader, PS 81, Queens: “Next year, probably we’re going to have to cut back in per session. It looks like we would lose after-school programs, extracurricular activities, class trips. Probably our chess club would have to go.”

Phyllis Murray, literacy teacher and chapter leader, PS 75, Bronx: “I just hope we can prevent these cuts because I was here in the 1970s [during the fiscal crisis] when the cuts occurred and it really strangled the budget and a lot of teachers were laid off, a lot of bumping took place, a lot of paras left the system and never came back. It’s the kind of thing that can create chaos and that’s not good for the kids. They need stability, not instability.”

FRAN MILLER, math teacher and chapter leader, Brooklyn Academy HS: “This year, we cut some of the p.m. school, track team, bowling team. Next year, we’d probably cut all of the p.m. school, SAT prep and, I’m sure if anybody leaves, the principal won’t replace them. The building needs an upgrade on electricity; we need air-conditioning. We couldn’t afford that before, so now it probably won’t happen. So we can’t have summer school.”

Brunilda Santiago, special ed teacher and chapter leader, MS 144, Bronx “My school expects a $500,000 cut in the fall. That will affect between five and seven teaching positions, after-school programs, Saturday academy and para workshops that we have been offering in the evening. For the last couple of years, we’ve been working hard to reduce class size in our school. Finally we’ve got it the way we want it, but if we lose teaching positions, we can’t continue. Class sizes will have to increase.”

Michael Santos, para and chapter leader, PS 811 (District 75), Manhattan: “We’re especially concerned with class size getting larger, being a District 75 school. Right now we have a maximum of 12 per class; that’s a lot right there for special ed. To have more than 12 in a classroom would be extremely rough.”

Carrie Malernee, dance teacher, PS 154, South Bronx: “They’ve already taken away before- and after-school tutoring programs. They’re talking about, next year, having to scale back on the breakfast program. Our kids need a lot of services.”