Resolution To Oppose Provisions In The New York State Budget For 2014 – 2015 Requiring The Department Of Education To Provide Space For Charter Schools At The Public’s Expense
WHEREAS, charter schools in New York City have been shown by the City’s Independent Budget Office to receive more public funding per pupil than public schools; and
WHEREAS, charter schools in New York City receive backing from wealthy investors who benefit from federal tax credits valued at millions of dollars under the Federal New Markets program; and
WHEREAS, charter schools have resources and means to find their own facilities outside of the Department of Education’s building inventory; and
WHEREAS, District 17 and community stakeholders have showed on numerous occasions dissatisfaction with charter schools taking over public schools’ space and preventing public schools’ students from getting the required and needed services covered under Federal Title I Laws and requirements and/or programs due to space limitations; and
WHEREAS, the New York State Budget for 2014-2015 requires that the New York City’s Department of Education provide space at no cost to charter schools, thereby severely curtailing local control of city schools and placing public schools’ students at a distinct and unfair disadvantage; and
WHEREAS, charter schools in New York City frequently displace public schools’ students from existing schools’ facilities and deny the students of District 17 and it’s School growth preventing the implementation of College and Career Ready Standards
WHEREAS, charter schools in New York City have spent over five (5) million dollars in fees to public relations and advertising firms in their campaign to demand public space clearly demonstrating Charter Schools have the financial ability to pay for its own space and
WHEREAS, Charter Schools co-located in District 17 Schools be required to pay equal scale for space costs, utilities, janitorial services, or school safety agents and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Community Education Council District 17 opposes to these provisions and calls upon the Senate to introduce a new legislation rescinding the provisions requiring the Department of Education to provide free space to charter schools, thereby restoring local control of city schools; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Community Education Council District 17 hereby calls upon Governor Cuomo to allow the Mayor to oversee the usage of the New York City public schools’ space in accordance with the State Education Law on mayoral control.
Nicole Job, President
Kenneth Wright, 1st Vice president
Ann Marie Williams, 2nd Vice President
Cherylann Welch, Recording Secretary
Faguenston Gilsaint, Treasurer
Latasha Nash, Member
Marvin Wheeler III, Member
Tammara Johnson, Member
Natasha Welsh, Borough President’s Appointee