RUMORE BLASTS JACOBS' ATTACK ON TEACHERS

BTF President, Philip Rumore, today, blasted Senator Chris Jacobs’ attack on the Buffalo School District and the teachers’ contract.

“Senator Jacobs, an anti-public school, anti-teacher, pro-charter school advocate has again shown his contempt for our schools and teachers.
To attack a contract for dedicated teachers who work under some of the most difficult conditions, who were twenty (20) thousand dollars behind their colleagues and who had been stone-walled for twelve years, shows Senator Jacobs contempt for Buffalo teachers.”

“He turns his back on our teachers and students while refusing to acknowledge the outstanding progress we are making despite severe underfunding from New York State in violation of its constitution” Rumore stated.

“He has somehow ignored the information which we provided him - such as:

• New York State is the second (2nd) worst in the USA in the funding disparity between rich and poor districts*.

• New York State is the sixth (6th) worst in the USA in funding disparity between high % of students of color districts and low % of students of color districts*.

• The Buffalo Public Schools are owed over a billion dollars in Foundation Aid – aid allocated for poor school districts.

• The Governor’s and Senate’s budget would do away with the current Foundation Aid formula thus further hurting our students.

• Lifting the Charter School tuition cap will cost the Buffalo Public Schools an additional $14 million dollars while the Buffalo Charter Schools have amassed over $80 million in unrestricted net assets.

• The Buffalo Public Schools send Charter Schools $70 million more than it would cost if those students returned to the Buffalo Public Schools.

• While Charter Schools have few, if any, ELL (ENL) students and students with special needs, they also expel “undesirable” students and send them back to the Buffalo Public Schools” Rumore concluded.

* The Education Trust, Washington D.C., www.edtrust.com – See “Funding Gaps” – “Too Many States Still Spend Less on Educating Students Who Need The Most”