See letter below from Joel Klein to principals, in veiled terms telling them to be quiet about the cuts and not to get parents riled up.  Many principals are understandably upset about these mid-year cuts, which happened in the middle of the night, without any consultation or warning, as well as the even larger reductions that the administration plans for next year.  The mid-year cuts already have wiped out the CFE dividend at many schools.

 

We’ve also gotten multiple copies of the “Strategic Response” letter received by parents who sent emails of protest to Klein and the Mayor – making some of the same claims about how they’d already taken “$350 million from the bureaucracy” and sent it to schools – which, by the way, neither the City Comptroller nor the Independent Budget Office has ever been able to confirm.

 

The letter to parents includes the following words:  “As we work with our principals to make adjustments to their budgets, we are finding that this reduction is manageable.”

 

Perhaps Tweed finds these cuts “manageable”, since they aren’t planning on cutting much from their own already inflated budget – which include ridiculously high salaries, a huge PR staff, private couriers to each school to pick up bubble sheets, and data inquiry teams working overtime in every school as part of their  Accountability initiative, which is still growing in staff.  But principals who are working at the school level, which is critically underfunded, don’t seem to agree. 

 

How can you help?

 

1-We need to know what these cuts may mean for your school.  If you have any sense about what programs and services are being threatened, please let us know. If you don’t, ask your PTA or SLT, or even your principal – and also try to find out if it’s true, as the Chancellor claims, that no layoffs are expected. 

 

2- If you have ideas and suggestions about what might instead be cut from Tweed or elsewhere, with little or no cost to the kids, let us know that as well.  I’ve already suggested a few: a hiring freeze and salary cuts to the top officials at Tweed, and reduced testing and data crunching at the Accountability office.  And no more private couriers!  These guys must think they’re still working at Bertelsmann or Columbia Law School. Let me know if you agree, and what you would add to the list.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

From: Klein Joel I.

Sent: Mon 2/4/2008 11:03 AM

To: &All Principals

Subject: School Budgets

 

Dear Colleagues,

 

For decades, our schools received far less than they needed and deserved. The State put students outside of New York City ahead of ours, shortchanging our children and our students. Even within New York City, schools weren't on an even playing field. Some had far more resources than others.

 

Mayor Bloomberg and our partners in Albany have transformed this old reality, creating a new standard for school funding.

 

Since 2002, the Mayor has increased the Department of Education's funding by $4.4 billion, and we have cut more than $350 million from the bureaucracy and sent it to schools and classrooms. When the Mayor has had to cut other agencies' budgets, he has exempted education. The DOE has also leveled the financial playing field so that all schools are in the same position to succeed. And we have given principals more discretion over their budgets, in accordance with our deeply held belief that principals know what their faculties and students need to succeed and should be free to set priorities and make the right decisions for their schools.

 

More money is always welcome in education. Everyone in our City-from principals to parents to the Mayor and me-always wants to see budgets increase. But we also know that money isn't everything. Some schools in our City are literally doing more with less. They were shortchanged in the past-but achieving better results for kids.

 

As we face a budget cut, please keep in mind the following four things:

 

*   First, we are in a much better place today than we were only a few years ago. Under Mayor Bloomberg's leadership, we have increased funding in school budgets by 30%. While cutting back is never easy, these cuts come within the context of a major infusion of new resources.

*   Second, we are cutting in such a way that respects principals' decisions. Most schools have sufficient unscheduled funds to cover the entire cut. While some planned activities in the spring may have to be reduced or canceled, these reductions will not require any layoffs. They will not require any dramatic changes to existing programs.

*   Third, a major test of leadership is how we respond during the toughest times. At moments of uncertainty, parents, teachers, and others look to principals for reassurance. This is a time to reevaluate, reprioritize, and keep working.

*   Finally, and very importantly, we are here to help you. Over the past few days, we have received questions and we've offered guidance to principals through the Integrated Service Centers. I know many principals were understandably upset to hear their budgets were cut, but many have told us that we helped them-making what might have been a tough process tolerable.

 

Please keep in mind that no one-not me, not the Mayor-wants to cut money from schools. But sadly the economy is faltering and revenues are down. I have confidence that we will be able to weather this downturn, and that the quality of education we provide to our students will not be affected.

 

I look forward to hearing from you as this process evolves. If you have any specific questions or requests, please contact your ISC officer.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Joel I. Klein