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Our Town, January 13th, 2004 Pols Aim High in Their Hopes for City Schools Liz Todd Money is said to be the root of all evil, but Manhattan’s politicians are hopeful a large injection will boost the city’s public schools in 2005. Our Town and West Side Spirit asked several elected officials what would be top of their wish lists for the coming year, and found a clearly recurring theme. “What I really believe, if I could wave the wand, I would say that the state should fully fund public school education – that would be my total wish,” said West Side Assemblyman Scott Stringer. “It’s about having the tools in the classroom that kids need to learn, so that educators could make decisions based on what’s educationally best for children, without financial consideration.” Stringer said he was appalled by the lack of textbooks in the city’s school system. “I just think that the text book is the basis for learning,” he said. “Children should not have to learn from Xerox copies of text books in the 21st century.” Fellow Assemblyman Jonathan Bing agreed that the Campaign for Fiscal Equity should mean more cash for the city’s schools. “My wish for the more than one million students in New York City’s public schools is that the state would finally allocate to them the money they deserve,” Bing said. “For years, the New York City education system has been shortchanged, and I hope that 2005 is the year that the formula changes.” State Senator Eric Scheiderman, who had just left a meeting with educators to discuss what to do with additional state funding should it materialize, offered clear ideas on how he hoped the cash would be spent. “The one non-negotiable item in our public school system is the people,” he said, insisting on, “well compensated, highly skilled teachers and principals in every classroom, in every school, no matter what the cost.” East Side Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz also said she would spend the additional cash on staff, because “individual classrooms are where the rubber hits the road.” State Senator Liz Krueger said she was sincerely wishing for a resolution to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit and “a fair funding formula for schools throughout New York State.” Krueger said she wanted to see small class sizes through all grades, something City Council Speaker Gifford Miller also mentioned. “Reducing class size across the city would be one of the most significant changes we could possible make,” Miller said. “Reducing class across the city would be one of the most significant changes we could possible make,” Miller said. “Reducing class size would allow our children to receive the personal attention they need and deserve, provide our students with the resources necessary to succeed, and allow our teachers to do their jobs more effectively.” West Side Councilwoman Gale Brewer’s wish list for education included smaller class sizes, competitive salaries for teachers and administrators to attract the best and brightest staff, and more partnerships with the city’s cultural and arts organizations. Brewer also said she wished more fresh foods were
available for students. “Schools could
provide students with fresh ingredients and meals prepared and cooked on
school premises,” she said. “By doing
so, students would be served quality nutritious meals while increasing their
awareness of the components of a healthy diet.” |
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