A judge in the State Supreme Court decided to free up the New York City education budget on Friday. Authorities urged to appeal against a special decision to send the $ 37.6 billion allocation back to the drawing board.
Judge Lyle Frank's decisionreturns funds to last year's level until the city council can negotiate and cancel the education budget.
“Students, teachers and parents need a final budget to keep things going for a smooth opening next month,” said a city hall spokeswoman.
"We are disappointed with the judge's decision and will take immediate steps to appeal," she said.
Mayor Eric Adams and his administration need new budget cuts asstudent enrollment plummetsand federal COVID aid runs out in a few years. Insisted.
According to court documents, this decision should and cannot reflect "what level of funding" in the DOE budget.
Court battle itself — budget cuts of hundreds of millions of dollars Parents and teacherswho filed proceedings to correctrely on state law to outline the education budget process.
The law requires the city's school board to approve the DOE budget before moving to the city council to vote for the entire city. The judge ruled that the city had circumvented the requirement when School Secretary David Banks issued a state of emergency. He said this was not "the effective exercise of the prime minister's powers."
Following a court order, some council members suggested that redoing could lead to changes in the education budget.
"This decision is great for correcting mistakes. It's an opportunity, with a budget for 2011 that is already affecting schools and families in New York City, "said a New York City Progressive Caucus leader in a statement," quickly funding our school. I will recover. "
Council members Shekar Krishnan and Gale Brewer, who represent parts of Queens and Manhattan, also "re-voted" the DOE budget to restore the principal's quota on Thursday. I fully support. "
Congressmen accused DOE of stealing "important information" revealed during public comments in a school board vote. Over 70 families, teachers and supporters were awake after 11 pm. Express their budget concerns at the meeting.
Reductions are a small part of the DOE's overall budget, but a large part of the principal's individual allocation. City Comptroller Brad Lander's office found that the initial savings averaged $ 402,456 per individual school budget, equivalent to 8% of the principal spending on staff and programs. did. As a result, the school had to let go ofhundreds of teachers,still in danger of taxpayers, andreduced art and other programming.
"If this information was provided accurately, completely transparently and in compliance with the law, it would definitely have had a significant impact on the budget negotiation process," Krishna and Brewer said. Is writing.
Friday's court order interfered with Mayor Adams'dyslexia program, which was introduced this spring, sought by plaintiffs' lawyers, according to class-sized Leonie Heimson. Matters, an advocacy group involved in the case that showed that it should not be done.
Heimson first decides on Judge Lyle Frank About a month away from the school that blew up the city for complaining.
"The mayor continues to be uncertain, and appealing the proceedings further delays the principal's ability to budget and plan for next year," she said.
However, city officials continued to oppose the lower court's orders.
"We are disappointed with the court's decision and disagree with its analysis," said a spokesman for the City Legal Affairs Bureau. "We are taking steps to sue immediately."
