12 December 2019

• NYSUT statement on Regents letter to RCSD board

  ALBANY, N.Y. Dec. 10, 2019 — New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta released the following statement today regarding the letter sent by the state Board of Regents to the Rochester City School District Board of Education:

  “After speaking directly with state Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa, we are confident that the board and the chancellor are in no way supporting mid-year layoffs of Rochester educators. We share their commitment to collaborating to ensure the long-term financial stability of the city school district, but not through mid-year layoffs that would have a devastating impact on the education of Rochester’s children.”

  New York State

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• ROCHESTER ACTION: Spare Our Students

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  Don't let the Rochester Board of Education rush mid-year cuts that would devastate our schools.

  Here are 4 ways you can take action to support Rochester students.

  1. Attend the Dec. 19 rally and board meeting.

  We need as many supporters as possible to turn out to urge the board to reconsider mid-year cuts that would have a devastating impact on our students.

  WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 19. Rally starts at 4:30 p.m. before the 6 p.m. school board meeting.
  WHERE: RCSD District Office, 131 W Broad St., Rochester, NY 14614 [MAP]

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• NYSUT applauds Regents education aid proposal

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  ALBANY, N.Y. Dec. 9, 2019 — New York State United Teachers today praised the state Board of Regents 2020 – 21 state education aid proposal, which echoes the $2.1 billion increase in aid that the union and other education advocates are calling for.

  “Our students don’t get a do-over because of inequitable state funding for education,” NYSUT President Andy Pallotta said. “Across the state, we’re seeing the very real impacts that chronic underfunding has on our schools. Today’s proposal from the Regents not only recognizes what needs to change, it also represents a positive step toward a solution.”

  “To achieve equitable funding for education, we can’t

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• Rochester parents and teachers call on district to 'Spare our students, chop from the top!'

  Hundreds of Rochester teachers, paraprofessionals, city school parents and families, and community members rallied outside the Rochester City School District Offices and packed the school board meeting Thursday to oppose mid-year staffing cuts that would increase class sizes, disrupt relationships and eliminate services for city students.

  They were supported by members of other NYSUT local unions in the region. Many protesters had to wait outside as the school board limited admission when the vociferous crowd surpassed capacity. The board also reportedly reduced the time each person was allowed to speak.

  Activists took to the streets as the district proposes personnel cuts in schools citywide, including 152 teachers and

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• Pallotta: We’re gonna need a bigger pie

  A true kid from Brooklyn, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta compared the debate over the state’s Foundation Aid for schools to a pizza.

  “It is not just about cutting a pie into smaller slices,” he told a joint hearing of the state Senate committees on education and budget and revenues Tuesday. “We need a bigger pie!”

  Foundation Aid — a formula for quantifying how much districts need to provide a sound, basic education, as required by the state constitution — was a significant public policy achievement when it was created in 2007, he said. “We believe the formula should remain the

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