Stewart-Cousins, Breslin and Tkaczyk push for school funding



They’re asking for non-specific increases in Foundation Aid, the main source of state money to schools, and restorations of cuts that were made through the Gap Elimination Adjustment — reductions in state funding to districts that began in the 2009-10 school year to help the state close it’s own budget gap.

Cuomo’s budget would increase spending on education by $807 million, but advocates and the Board of Regents have called for a $1.3 billion boost.

3 25 14 Letter to Governor and Leg Leaders on Upstate Schools by tulocalpolitics

  1. Sherman K. Wisely says:

    I understand NY schools are in dire straits. But what is the point of cutting educational spending in 2011 to the tune of $1.3 billion, if you are going to spend the next three budgets cycles raising funding, and then taking it to new heights (should this $1.3 billions of additional funding be appropriated in the current budget)? Didn’t we all agree that we fund education at hire rates than the rest of the country and get poor results and that “throwing money at the problem” has been a failed policy? When there was a quarter of a million table money the advocates seemed upset. #GIMEGIMEGIME

  2. Doh! says:

    Well, nothing like waiting for the last minute. Maybe Sen. Tkaczyk needed something for her next 10 mailers.

  3. knuckle dragger says:

    Why not call for mandatory health insurance premium sharing, income taxes on windfall pensions, and freezing all teacher contracts in addition to taxing the 1% to pay for this mess?

    Oh wait, because they AS-C is nothing more than a lackey of NYSUT and the Manhattan 1%. Darn it, I thought this was about the kids, silly Knuckle Dragger.

  4. hawkny says:

    Two-thirds of a loaf is better than none….

  5. billy says:

    If the state actually has this extra money to spend, why not try to reduce NY’s tax burden from being the highest in the nation?

    We could have a $135 billion budget and not many would notice the $5 to $7 billion not spent.

    These Democrats are all about spending and never about saving, why is that?

  6. Ulster County Indie says:

    If ever there was a one issue Senator, Tkaczyk is it. She has done absolutely nothing during this term. She is about as ineffective a Senator as there is. It is apparent that the bosses are worried about her re-election and they should be. If she was so worried about this, and this is how she spends all of her time, which both are true, why did she wait until now to raise a stink?

    It would not take much for the taxpayers to do better with this Senate seat. One and done.

  7. Albany Resident says:

    It’s not about the “kid’s” it’s about changing the lining from silver to gold for the overcompensated teachers and administrators in our failed government schools. It’s about securing a seemingly robotic voter base for these so called public representatives. It’s about sicking it to anyone that may not agree with the progressives “educational” mantra. It stinks and it’s just plain wrong!
    Hey Breslin, you are my state senator, when are you going to look out for MY best interests instead of your own and only those that stuff your pockets full of cash?

  8. Joe says:

    We obviously don’t have the funds for a new pre-k program if we are not adequately funding the current grade 1-12 schools. Just plain stupid legislating, pandering to a special interest group in NYC.

  9. In the know says:

    CC is trying to take attention away of her support for the Dream (Nightmare) Act. Your constituents aren’t fooled. Bye Bye……

  10. actually says:

    @Sherman K. Wisely,
    There has been over 8 billion dollars lost in the public schools over the last 4 years. Schools are in dire straits just like you said. We do not have poor results. It is a lie that our governor keeps telling so that you will believe it.
    @ knuckle dragger
    Where do you think the 8 billion over 4 years has gone? No middle-class tax payer has it. It went to the 1%. The only connection is the governor has taken it away from NY children and given it to the rich. BTW there has been cutbacks, freezes and furloughs. Look it up!

  11. sammy says:

    First close Corporate Loopholes.
    Then cut Corporate Welfare.
    Then stop sending nonviolent drug offenders to prisons.
    THEN complain to me about all the money going to educate our children, about middle class teachers’ salaries & benefits.

  12. knuckle dragger says:

    Sammy i’m with you 100% on 1-4. Here is 5 Tax teacher pensions like everyone else. 6 Close the exemption from criminal conspiracy laws for public unions. 7. Make a law that any program cuts will only come in years when school admin/teachers get no raises.

  13. andrew scott says:

    That’s it, throw more money at it, that’s just gotta fix it.

  14. jackiebass says:

    After reading the comments it has depressed me. There are so many people that don’t have a clue. It reminds me of elementary students arguing on the play ground. How has the education system failed so many? I think it’s just the opposite. Many have failed the education system.

  15. Responsible Liberal says:

    Of course they are. They’re good at taking money from REAL working families and giving it to the teachers union.

  16. knuckle dragger says:

    Jackiebass, its hard to see the problems when you are on the public payroll raking it in, while comparing your effort and education to wall st barons and nba/nfl players. Sadly nearly every teacher goes k-16 right to teaching and never lives outside the bubble. Thus they become emotionally and intellectually stilted. Surrounded by nothing but thumb sucking statists, anyone who dares blow a wiff of reality in their face must be an extremist-teaparty-hater-bigot-racist-sexist… So then when our children are assualted by their ignorance and extorted out of our wages, yes we seem extremist, but thats only because your sort are so out to lunch.

  17. billy says:

    Everyone should just be glad these Senators sit with the minority and really have no say in the matter.

  18. tville eagle says:

    Indie:”one issue”,”ineffective”, “done absolutely nothing”? Really.
    How about the several millions of dollars she quietly got for school districts throughout the district? Or the broadband legislation she supports so that this mostly rural district can leap and compete into the 21st century? or the Scenic Byways legislation so we can further develop our tourism?
    Not bad for a first term senator, from the minority caucus, who got a late start due to futile challenges by the desperate Republican party bosses.
    But then it is impossible to see any of that with your mind closed.

  19. steve says:

    Ha! I would put Marchione high on that list too. Remember her campaign was run on just one issue. and the voters spoke, just like in the 46th. So yeah,

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