City Wide Council on High School -- Opposes School Based Budget Cuts

Passed Unanimously, Meeting of January 13, 2008

THE CITYWIDE COUNCIL ON HIGH SCHOOLS

RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO SCHOOL-BASED BUDGET CUTS AND TO JOIN THE “KEEP THE PROMISES COALITION” FIGHTING TO OPPOSE BUDGET CUTS

WHEREAS the Citywide Council on High Schools is a body of 10 elected parent members and one appointed student member created by Chancellor’s Regulation D-160 to “advise and comment on educational and instructional policy involving high schools;”

WHEREAS New York City has imposed an immediate 1.75 percent cut to schools;

WHEREAS a $100 million, mid-year cut will disrupt schools’ programs, schedules and staffing;

WHEREAS even if mid-year cuts were a last resort, opening the NYC Department of Education books would demonstrate whether the Central Administration could take these cuts, rather than imposing them on the schools;

WHEREAS the Mayor’s 2009 budget proposal cuts NYC education by $324 million;

WHEREAS the state budget proposes to give city schools nearly $200 million less than was expected in the Contract for Excellence, stalling progress in class size reduction, full-day Pre-K expansion, improving middle schools, programs for English language learners and other programs and services; and

WHEREAS the state is also proposing to cap building aid, which will slow school construction; thus be it

RESOLVED that the Citywide Council on High Schools opposes mid-year budget cuts to New York City’s public schools; and be it

RESOLVED that the Citywide Council on High Schools opposes school-based budget cuts already planned for next school year; and be it

RESOLVED that the Citywide Council on High Schools joins with other parents, community organizations, advocates, clergy, and labor in the “Keep the Promises Coalition,” in order to fight city and state education budget cuts now and in the foreseeable future.