New York City public schools, which have fewer students than expected this fall, will not have their budgets cut and will revert to controversial pandemic-era policies, officials announced Wednesday.
If mid-year budget adjustments had gone as planned, about half of the 1,600 schools covered by the program would have seen a total reduction of $157 million, according to the city's Department of Education. The other half, which has increased student enrollment, is expected to receive a total inflow of $146 million.
“Our top priority is to ensure all school leaders have the resources and support to carry out the school's mission and set children on the path to lifelong success,” said Principal Melissa. Aviles Ramos said in a statement.
Individual school funding is allocated over the summer based on the city's projections of the number of students expected to fill seats. The city spends about $30,000 per student.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, City Hall implemented a policy known as “Hold Harmless,” which uses federal stimulus money to stabilize budgets and prevent schools from losing money even as fewer students enroll. It was intended to prevent the wearer from getting covered.
Mayor Eric Adams' decision to revert to the policy was slammed by critics as “rewarding failure,” with some noting that the move appeared purely political.
“The school system is structured to reward failure and penalize success, and this 'hold harmless' provision is a prime example. Instead of punishing failure, we reward it,” Eric Nadelstern, who served as deputy chancellor for leadership at the Department of Energy under Mayor Michael Bloomberg and then-Prime Minister Joel Klein, told the Post.
“This is a nod to the UFT, so fewer teachers will be fired mid-year,” Nadelstern said of the powerful United Teachers Union, which represents the majority of New York City's public school educators. .
Ken Girardin, research director at the Empire Center for Public Policy, a nonprofit government watchdog group, said “hold harmless” protects the status quo, not students or taxpayers.
“At some point, you're going to have to make the right adjustment between parents moving out of the city, the declining birth rate, and the popularity of charter schools. New York City is overdue in liquidation,” he said.
“This benefits everyone involved in the current school system, including school administrators and teachers' unions. The losers are the children and the taxpayers. It prevents a more efficient use of resources,” Girardin said. he added.
“This is a political decision, not a scientific decision,” he told the Post. “We must stop funding exclusive school systems and ensure that public funds follow our children.”
Campaign strategist Hank Sheinkopf said Adams is on the apple cart as he battles historic federal criminal charges, faces low approval ratings and a Democratic Party with numerous rivals in June's mayoral race. He said he could not turn the situation upside down.
“When you're in trouble, you can't make enemies,” Scheinkopf told the Post, adding that Adams appeared to be trying to befriend educational institutions and labor unions.
“He is absolutely deferential to the educational institutions, including all unions. Politically he is smart. He can say, 'We are not punishing your school,'” Sheinkoff said. added.
Last year, the city returned to making mid-year budget adjustments based on actual enrollment for the first time since the pandemic.
But as schools implement new programs, add staff and focus on complying with state class size laws, pressure is on Hitzner to return to a “hold harmless” stance. is on.
The mayor's office did not respond to a request for comment.
