NYSUT has mixed reaction on 'one-house' budget bills
Seeing the "one-house" bills as giant steps in the right direction for K-12, NYSUT welcomed the legislature's call to add $1.6 billion in school aid, including $1.2 billion in Foundation Aid. However, much remains to be done to rectify the chronic underfunding of public higher education.
"This begins the next phase of negotiations on a budget that is due in two weeks," said President Pallotta, shown with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins during a recent visit to NYSUT headquarters. "It reflects progress."
Both the Senate and Assembly bills would restore Teacher Center funding eliminated by the governor, with the Senate allocating $10 million and the Assembly earmarking $14 million. The Assembly rejects the executive proposal to make the Tax Cap permanent. The bills also respond to the union’s call for increased support to specialty schools that serve students with disabilities.
The union is pushing to restore the subsidy for SUNY hospitals and resources to close the TAP Gap to enable wage justice for adjuncts at CUNY. The bills boost flatlined community college aid — $50 per FTE in the Senate and $100 in the Assembly — but much more is needed. Both UUP at SUNY and PSC at CUNY have launched television campaigns to urge appropriate funding in the budget.
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Don’t miss this inspiring video about the power of teaching
Check out this video of state teacher-of-the-year finalist Billy Green, who returned to Spanish Harlem to unlock the potential of his inner-city students. #TakeALookAtTeaching
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- Deadline looms for $5,000 Excellence in Teaching grants.
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