Dear Governor Spitzer,
We write to you as and on behalf of the students, parents, families,
educators and taxpayers of Albany. We applaud your commitment to changing
education funding formulas to help ensure that every child in New York
State receives a high quality education. However, the "charter
school transition aid" provided in your proposed budget
does not even begin to adequately compensate the City School District
of Albany for the drastic and unique impact charter schools are having
on our students, our District schools, and our community.
We have been impacted by the unfair charter school funding process more
than any other district in New York State. Well over $50 million has
been taken from our District schools, for example, for one of the most
poorly performing charter schools in New York State, a school that underperforms
all of our District schools. We - our children - deserve, and need, far
more than the aid provided in your proposed budget to prevent us from
having to cut more programs and services for Albany's children, the overwhelming
majority of whom attend our District's schools. Additional funds - far
more than the 2.5 million in "transition" aid - are required
for our public schools to stay on track with all the improvements we
are making to our facilities and our programs. |