The fiscal year 2009 budget bill now with the governor proposes a $36.4 million spending ceiling for PSS. The governor’s original proposal was $38.6 million.
“I am curious though on what basis the [House-Senate conference] committee made the determination that the schools would not be impacted by the budget reduction,” Blanco-Maratita said. “I have not seen the report but I wonder: Do the committee members know what the teachers are faced with each day? How can they say that the children’s education will not suffer by the budget cut they imposed?”
She added, “Have they sat in a classroom and watched a teacher deal with an overcrowded classroom?” she asked. “Have they shadowed a teacher to see what he or she must deal with to get the children to learn their lessons? Have they talked with a teacher who has so many students who lack basic language skills? These teachers must also provide much-needed after-school tutoring. Have they tried to use a school bathroom that is in disrepair because there are no funds available to repair them?”
She urged lawmakers to visit the schools and see for themselves what the teachers and students have to cope with.
“I am willing to bet that some of those same legislators who say that our schools would not suffer have never even visited our schools,” Blanco-Maratita said. “They speak of education being their priority but then they buckle to the pressure and forget about the kids.”
She added, “I wish that if they have any questions, they’ll call on PSS, call on the board, ask for whatever data or information they need to make decisions and we will supply them with the information they need to make informed, factually based and data-driven decisions. I feel that some of our legislators even take pleasure in cutting the PSS budget just so they can see PSS or BOE ‘suffer’ with reckless disregard for how it actually affects our children, their education and future.”
The board, she said, will be meeting this week to discuss the impact of the FY 2009 budget bill on PSS.
