New+York+State+Budget+Cuts


 * Definition: ** The act of reducing budgeted expenditures by removing or cutting down certain classes or programs.


 * Summary: ** Recently the Governor of our state, Andrew M. Cuomo, along with others in Albany decided that the best way to save money is to cut it from our students. In order to compensate for these cuts, schools are having to cut out programs and subjects to save money, which is resulting in many teachers losing their jobs. Some of the main areas that are getting cut first are art and music classes, followed by team sports. Other areas that are in endanger of getting cut are teaching positions, which will make classroom sizes bigger, taking away even more one on one time with the teacher for help and support. Support Staff who work with the teachers and students, as well as transportation is also endanger of getting cut, which could mean less field trips and more students on a single bus. Schools will have to reduce the amount they spend on materials which means reducing handouts and copies for students, making it much more difficult and more time consuming for students to get all the information down. People are outraged by all the cuts resulting in protests, newspaper articles, website articles, political cartoons, all against these cuts.

[|Cuomo's 2011 - 2012 Budget Proposal for New York State]


 * New York State Budget Agreement announced - **

Democrat and Chronicle reports NY 3/27 budget agreement "Gov. Andrew Cuomo put on display the full power of the governor's office in reaching a deal with lawmakers this week on a 2011-12 state budget."

NY Daily News announces NY States 3/27 budget agreement "Nobody who cares about students is celebrating this budget," said [|Billy Easton] of the [|Alliance for Quality Education]. "This budget will reduce the quality of education in [|New York]."

Washington Post announces NY State's 3/27 budget agreement "Among the details released Sunday was the restoration of $272 million in school aid from Cuomo’s proposed $1.5 billion cut to schools. The restored funding would benefit schools, including New York City schools, schools for the deaf and blind, and summer schools for special education students."

Click for the text from Governor Cuomo's Address to the State on January 5, 2011

Suggested Budget Proposals for Local School Districts:

Rochester City School District Proposed Budget Video of RCSD Proposed Budget Presentation

Greece Central School District Proposed Budget

East Irondequoit Central School District Proposed Budget

Fairport Central School District Proposed Budget

Hilton Central School District Proposed Budget

Webster Central School District Proposed Budget

How to Fight These Cuts: E-MAIL OUR REPRESENTATIVES [|Email Cuomo]

Email State Senator Joe Robach

Email State Senator James Alesi

Email State Assemblymen Morelle

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's official website The official website for the Governor of New York State.

New York State School Boards Association The NY State School Boards Association serves as the statewide voice of more than 700 boards of education. The collective influence of some 5,000 school board members, who constitute half the elected officials in the state, enables the Association to work toward the benefit of the elementary and secondary public school system in New York State. The website regularly addresses issues relating to budgets and budget cuts.
 * Websites - Professional Associations: **

New York State United Teachers New York State United Teachers or NYSUT is a federation of more than 1,200 local unions and consists of more than 600,000 people who work in, or are retired from, New York's schools, colleges, and healthcare facilities. Their website contains articles regarding budget cuts from the point of view of the teachers' unions.

New York State Council of School Superintendents The NYSCOSS is a professional and advocacy organization with over a century of service to school superintendents in New York State. The Council provides its more than 800 members with numerous professional development opportunities, publications and personal services, while advocating for public education and the superintendency.

American Federation of Teachers  The AFT is an organization that supports teachers across the country. Right now the website is focused on keeping the rights that the teachers currently have. In addition, this organization also discusses the issues that teachers are facing in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana.

Local Unions:
 * 1) The Association of Greece Central Educational Professionals or AGCEP This type of union supports the support staff in the Greece Central School District. However, they are heavily involved with NYSUT, which helps to build strength and unity for the professionals, and to make sure that the people who are members of this union receive good working conditions. This union has links to multiple resources on the budget.

[|Citizen Action of New York] Citizen Action of New York is a grassroots membership organization taking on issues related to education in New York State. Alliance for Quality Education Founded only in 2000, the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) has quickly become New York state’s lead community-based organization in the fight for high quality public education. A statewide non-profit, AQE unites a coalition of over 230 organizations of parents, children’s advocates, schools, teachers, clergy, and others.
 * Websites - Grassroots Citizen Organizations: **

[|Proposed 900 Job Cuts] Article discusses the potential threat of losing 900 jobs within the city school district
 * Online News Articles: **

[|A Day of Protest] Thousands of people come together to protest budget cuts in NYS, ranging from education to health care.

[|New York Times - Governor Cuomo] This New York Times article describes Cuomo's career as governor of New York so far.

Governor Cuomo's Budget many cut Deaf Schools This article discusses that the proposed budget will close schools who service the Deaf, Blind, and the Physically Impaired.

[|Possibly losing a hockey team] The Democrat and Chronicle look at how schools such as Hilton may lose their sports due to budget cuts.

NPR Budget Cuts Put School Sports on Chopping Block This editorial discusses how budget cuts will affect SAM (Sports, Art, and Music) in schools.

[|Close to home cuts] This article looks at potential budget cuts within Greece, the article discusses the mass of residents, educators and students that attended in protest of these cuts.

New York Times - Teachers’ Union TV Ad Attacks Cuomo’s Budget Cuts This New York Times article reports about the NYSUT ad campaign.

[|Special-needs students protest proposed cuts] Special-needs students in New York City protest Cuomo's proposed state-wide cuts.

When art goes beyond schools This Democrat and Chronicle article discusses the the options for art education outside of school locally when and if budget cuts affect the arts.

Webster schools to dip into reserve funds again This Democrat and Chronicle article reports on the budget challenges of the Webster School District.

States in Crisis - Cuomo's budget hits NY schools CNN Money gives an overview of how Cuomo's proposed budget will affect New York.

Town/Village Systems, not schools are where to save This local Messenger Post letter to the editor discusses the idea that consolidation of government and cutting of other non-essential areas is a better idea than making cuts in education.

[|City Newspaper- Rochester NY] This is an alternative newspaper that allows people from the city of Rochester to write and read concerns that they have in regards to the budget cuts and how it will impact the City School District.

Greece Schools to Cut 89 Teachers This is the community newspaper that serves the Greece Community. This article discusses the cuts that are being proposed, as well as when the community has the chance to speak about the budget.

Greece Residents Speak Up This articles tell how many people showed up to the public forum on the proposed budget. It also discusses alternative ways to not make cuts in the classroom.

[|5th Grader Speaks Up] This article discusses a 5th graders feelings when it comes to budget cuts. media type="custom" key="8828736"media type="custom" key="8839534" width="80" height="80"
 * Videos: **
 * A beautiful example of how smart and talented students are. Contest Winner protesting school budget cuts. Must See! **

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 * School Of The Arts students in Rochester New York created a video and put it on youtube, in hopes to get attention and make people realize that the budget that the City School District is purposing is not okay. They use great examples to show why the Arts are important and should not be cut. Check it out!! **


 * Cartoons & Images: **



[|NY Times on Budget Cuts] Carol Boyd voices her grievances about Cuomo cutting school budgets in order to "cater to special interests"
 * Blogs: **

Parents and Citizens with Questions Concerned parents and citizens are blogging and answering questions in regards to budget cuts and how it will impact schools.

EdVANTAGE Blog New York State Council of School Superintendents blog discussing issues surrounding balancing what schools need and what taxpayers can afford. The page includes links to other related blogs.

Mineola Patch Blog This blog contains a statement made by a New York Senator. He blogs about his thoughts on Governor Andrew Cuomo's proposed budget.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Related Information: **

Compare The U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics compares data from different U.S. states.

New York State Education Department The New York State Education Department website contains information regarding education in New York State grades p-12, higher education, and cultural education. The NYSED website also contains links to school reports cards.