By Norman Gersman
Last year the Governor and our state legislature passed what is known as "The Contract for Excellence". This legislation called for a $5.5 billion increase in educational funding over the next four years. Less than a year later it is being ignored.
Perhaps our family of legislators can use this strange moment in our political history to act on behalf of our children and not the political one upmanship.
The Contract for Excellence called for the 2008-2009 budget to contain a $1.25 billion increase in educational funding. It contains an increase of only $900 million....a shortfall of $350 million.
We may properly ask: If the legislation was passed last year is not the state government legally obligated to fulfill the requirements of the legislation ? I would think so. But I guess those big moments when a popular piece of legislation is passed is just another photo opportunity for the politicians and nothing more.
More than our local school districts are going to be shorted by the lack of educational funding. The proposed budget for 2008-2009 budget will cut $34.2 million for the SUNY system, and $16.7 million from the CUNY operating budget. There is no doubt that the loss of funds will have a financial and educational impact on the record number 427,398 students. The 18,000 plus students attending Nassau County Community College will face tuition increases and Nassau County taxpayers will have to make up any further shortfall of funding.
I am always amazed how our politicians in Albany hold up the SUNY system as the pride of the State of New York and then go ahead and promptly cut its funding. Thanks.
Please contact your state senator and assemblyperson by email, fax, snail mail or telephone and tell them to restore the aid to education to the level required by the Contract for Excellence. If they don't I will propose a Contract Not To Vote For Any Incumbent that will be enforced.
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