March 1 is "Lobby Day," the annual event when New York City parents, teachers, and activists travel by the hundreds to the state capitol and legislative office buildings to make their case for more funding for the city’s public schools. This year budget cuts, teachers’ jobs, and school closings are very much on their minds.

According to City Comptroller John Liu’s estimate, Governor Andrew Cuomo's 2011-2012 Executive Budget will reduce support for New York City’s school children by $953 million.

In Mayor Michael Bloomberg ‘s pitch to the legislature earlier this month, he said that state cuts will force massive teacher layoffs. He is pushing the state to change its method of laying off teachers to allow principals to choose who to let go, instead of a last hired, first out policy that state law mandates. Bloomberg also seeks an end to unfunded state mandates on special education, particularly the requirement that the city's Department of Education pay for private schools for kids with special needs.

New York City parents are concerned about the effect of budget cuts on layoffs, especially their effect on class size and after school and arts programs. They also want attention to monitoring school closings and co-locations of programs inside school buildings and an increase in parent participation in policy development.

Video protests too

An additional Lobby Day is scheduled for March 9, sponsored by the Alliance for Quality Education,, which advocates for public schools statewide.  Billy Easton, Executive Director of AQE,  said that the governor’ budget drastically undermines education and that instead of such cuts, the state should continue an income tax surcharge on New Yorkers earning more than $200,000.

Actress Cynthia Nixon and the AQE are sponsoring a video contest asking for community members to submit videos that tell the governor why their school can't afford more cuts.  Watch her video right here.





How to get on the bus

The March 1 buses to Albany are funded by the teachers union (UFT), although the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee (CPAC) takes the lead in organizing parents borough by borough. Buses will depart at 6:30 a.m.  from the Brooklyn UFT office, 335 Adams Street. Contact: Betty Zohar, 718-722-6937 or bzohar@uft.org.   Manhattan buses leave at 6:30 a.m. from 52 Broadway. Contact William McDonald at whm6363@gmail.com or Sue Deitrich at sdietrich@si.rr.com For travel from other boroughs, contact Anthony Harmon at Aharmon@uft.org

Buses will arrive in Albany at 11 a.m. for a rally and lunch. Then parents and UFT personnel will fan out to meet their local Assembly representatives and State Senators.

For information on buses going to Albany on March 9 , contact AQE organizer Zakiyah Ansari at 212 328 9266 or email zakiyah@aqeny.org.

Parents: Will you be going to Albany?  Share your comments and concerns below.

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