Budget hits hard where it hurts most

Mayor Michael Bloomberg threatened to lay off teachers, close fire companies and slash funding to agencies devoted to children, the mentally disabled and seniors. On May 6, he followed through, with the release of his executive budget.

District 10 Community Education Council President Marvin Shelton said he thinks District 10, which includes Riverdale and Kingsbridge, stands to lose more than 300 teachers if the budget is approved. 

He said he is particularly concerned about AmPark Neighborhood School, PS 344, a new, small, school. In February, the DOE released a “doomsday” list outlining how many teachers schools will lose if the current formula for layoffs stand. 

AmPark was projected to lose 27 percent of its workforce — or three teachers. 

Mr. Shelton said 156 schools citywide will have a more than 20 percent reduction in teachers.

Mr. Bloomberg’s executive budget for the Fiscal Year 2012 eliminates 4,278 teaching positions through layoffs and 1,500 through attrition, eliminating 5 percent of all schoolteachers. It would also close 20 firehouses and make severe cuts to the Department of Mental Health, the New York Public Library and the Department for the Aging. 

The budget will go into effect on July 1 after the City Council weighs in and approves it.  

Teacher layoffs will not affect special education, speech improvement or English as a second language teachers. Those who teach core courses such as math, English and science are less likely to get axed than those who teach reading, physical education or technology.

Under the current “last in, first out” law, or LIFO, the most recently hired teachers will be the first fired. However, the DOE and Mr. Bloomberg are fighting to exchange LIFO for what they call a “merit” based formula for layoffs, arguing that the current system disproportionately affects low-income neighborhoods, which attract newer teachers. 

Meanwhile, the United Federation of Teachers contends that the mayor’s plan will lead to arbitrary firings under a faulty teacher evaluation system.