Brennan Drafts Petition to Restore School Funding

Assemblyman James Brennan, D-44, has created a petition to be sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo that asks for a restoration of funds to the school budget. 

"Tell Governor Cuomo you want to restore the money cut from the school budget and give our children back $250 million in funding that is being taken away this school year and insist that there be no additional cuts next year!" Brennan wrote in a letter explaining the purpose of the petition. 

The petition, which was published on Brennan's site on Feb. 19, asks Cuomo: 

Don't hold 2012-2013 and 2012-2014 New York City School funding hostage to the teacher/principal rating system. It is wrong to penalize New York City school children because the failed collective bargaining process prevented an agreement from being reached in time. Halt mid-year budget cuts, reinstate last year's increase into New York City's base aid, and ensure next year's funding!

Brennan will host a school aid crisis meeting on Monday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the P.S. 230 Lower School Annex located at 425 McDonald Ave. 

In an statement announcing the meeting, Brennan noted that the cut in the school budget will mean "the elimination of 700 teachers and counselors, less art, music and field trips, slashed hours for school aids and substitutes."

If the budget sees an additional $250 million cut, Brennan said the school system will see "1,800 fewer teachers; 700,000 hours of after-school gone; [and] book and school supply budgets slashed."

"We must pressure Governor Cuomo and the NYS Legislature to fund our children’s schools NOW and not wait for the rating system impasse to be resolved!" the note continued.