May 22, 2008 7:17 am US/Eastern
Big Budget Cuts To Hammer NYC's Best Schools
Teachers Union Livid; Dept. Of Education Blames State
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Massive budget cuts are coming to hundreds of New York City schools. And the hardest hit will be the ones with the best academic scores.
The kids at Public School 9 – the Sarah Anderson School on the Upper West Side – go to one of the best schools in the city, and they're about to be penalized for their academic excellence.
"I think it would be painful," School Chancellor Joel Klein said. "I think it would be painful."
Public School 9 is just one of hundreds of top performing schools threatened with massive cuts because, says Klein, the city can't spend state aid the way it wants. Millions of dollars are earmarked for low performing schools.
Of the city's best schools, 68 would get budget cuts of up to 6 percent. Another 416 schools would get cuts of up to 4 percent.
Among those slated for the biggest hits are:
* Stuyvesant High School
* Millennium High School
* Bronx High School of Science
* LaGuardia High School
* Townshend Harris in Queens
* Brooklyn Latin
* Staten Island Tech
* Public School 9
* Public School 244 in Queens
"They'd have to probably cut some of their programs," Klein said. "I would hope they wouldn't have to reduce staff, But I can't assure you that they wouldn't."
The chancellor's move infuriated the teachers union, which has long fought for money for low performing schools.
"It really is the height of chutzpah," teachers union president Randy Weingarten said. "He has to go to the mayor and beg for money to make sure the schools are whole, not blame the state for wanting to keep the city accountable. That's really what's going on."
"This is a very underhanded political trick of this administration to try to pit parent against parents for scrambling over crumbs," parent advocate Leonie Haimson.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says that despite tough economic times the state gave the city an extra $600 million for schools. He says the city should do the same.
"Keep the promise to our kids," Silver said. "This is our future."
There are only a few weeks left in the legislative session, so Chancellor Klein will have to work fast if he hopes to succeed.
The Department of Education is preparing for a huge uproar when they release the full list of the hardest hit schools on Thursday.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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