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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
February 4, 2008
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
PA Gotbaum: DOE Budget Cuts Must Be Reversed
Public Advocate Gotbaum urged the city to reverse the DOE's planned budget cuts. In a letter sent to Chancellor Joel Klein today, Gotbaum said, "I am aware that the city must prepare for upcoming changes in the financial landscape, but, given the current budget situation, a mid-year cut to schools appears as unnecessary as it is unjust. Principals base plans for their schools on a set budget for an entire school year. Announcing cuts with little to no notice given to the principals is unreasonable and counterproductive."
The Public Advocate also asked the Chancellor to provide a detailed accounting of what the DOE’s central administration is doing to share the burden and cut costs of its own.
The full text of the letter is below.
February 4, 2008
Joel I. Klein
Chancellor
NYC Department of Education
52 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
Dear Chancellor Klein:
I am writing to express my deep concern about the Department of Education budget cuts that were announced last week. These cuts are being absorbed heavily by the schools, at the average cost of about $70,000 per school and must be reversed.
I am aware that the city must prepare for upcoming changes in the financial landscape, but, given the current budget situation, a mid-year cut to schools appears as unnecessary as it is unjust. Principals base plans for their schools on a set budget for an entire school year. Announcing cuts with little to no notice to the principals is unreasonable and counterproductive. This administration needs to stop treating students like commodities. I urge you to restore the cuts.
We have heard from parents, schools, advocates, and other stakeholders who are outraged by these cuts. The cuts will no doubt affect many important programs such as art, music, sports, and after school programs and, coming as they are in the middle of a school year, will likely be a disruptive force in the lives of the many students and parents who depend on these programs.
While the schools are being asked to tighten their belts, salary levels at Tweed are now topping $190,000 for eighteen employees- more than at any other city agency. Additionally, the DOE has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on high-stakes testing, tens of millions on outside consultants and over $300 million on no-bid contracts since 2003. Surely, there are more cuts that can be made within the DOE central administration.
Please provide my office with a complete, detailed accounting of what exactly the DOE’s central administration is doing to share the burden and cut costs of its own. Kathleen Grimm’s letter to principals states that Tweed will absorb cuts to transportation, food, repairs, IT initiatives, assessments, and purchasing. These are hardly administrative costs, however. Transportation—already suffering from last year’s cuts—food, and repairs all have a direct impact on students and schools.
Cutting school budgets should be a last resort. It is imperative that school budgets be restored and that the DOE consult with stakeholders about any future changes that have an impact in the classroom.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
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