Dear Editor,
Perhaps you heard the Governor’s State of the State address or perhaps you heard reactions from educators, associations and union leaders, whom were counting on the $1.4 billion dollar increase in Education Funding to cover their salary and benefit increase for the 2015-16 school year.
The Governor put the $1.4 billion out there, however over $850 million is a “carrot” being offered at the end of the stick!
Now we hear – “The Governor is being mean spirited,” “He cares little for the education of our children,” “He has set himself up as a self-appointed dictator,” etc. Well I say BRAVO for the Governor.
It is time for change in our education system New York State. State taxpayers are number one in spending on education, yet we rank 47th in delivering quality education to our students.
Last year Gov Cuomo held back funding until school districts installed a Teacher Evaluation System of their choice! WOW, SURPRISE, 95 percent of our teachers were ranked as being “Effective or Highly Effective” while only 37 percent of our students scored proficient in English and Math.
I ask you, how can that be? How can teachers and administrators rate only 5 percent of our teachers as “needing improvement” while 63 percent of their students cannot pass a standardized English and Math test?
I agree with the governor – “THAT IS BALONY!” It is time to stop throwing money at the problem. It is time to get real, as the Governor outlined. If the educators and unions want the additional dollars, then the governor wants the approval of the legislature to: 1) close the failing schools, 2) increase the number of Charter schools allowed to open across New York State, and 3) change our work rules to allow the firing of ineffective teachers after two years of extra training and coaching to make them competent and effective teachers. This needs to be done “FOR THE CHILDREN.”
As of today, school districts in the Southern Tier are “delaying” the budget process. Get ready for these same administrators to “cry foul” and then “lean heavily” on local taxpayers to make up their political shortfall. When this happens, I would urge taxpayers to vote down any proposed budget, which exceeds the 2 percent New York State tax cap. Your vote is the only club in your bag. If you fail to use it, then expect “education as usual” with 80 to 85 percent of students passing and graduating while more than 60 percent will not be capable of passing a “standardized test”
Is this truly what we want for our students? The Governor does not believe so and neither should YOU! Watch closely your schools budgets this season. If it exceeds your districts tax cap – VOTE IT DOWN.
Sincerely,
Joe Chartrand
Tioga Citizens for Affordable Education and Excellence
Owego, N.Y.
