UFT: School Budget Update

Dear colleagues,

I am writing to update you on where we stand in terms of school budgets, and urge you to make a commitment to the March 5 "Rally for New York."

While the federal stimulus package has now been signed, with significant funding for education, the fiscal crisis that threatens our schools is far from over.

We are still in a deep fiscal crisis and facing hundreds of millions in education cuts that could directly affect programs and services on which students depend. Of equal concern is the need to press local officials to do the right thing with the federal funds. We need to drive that money directly to the classrooms and student services.

UFT members played an important role in getting the federal stimulus package passed, and we will play an even bigger role in next few months as the state and city budgets take shape.

That is why we are asking every educator and parent to come out on March 5, 4 p.m. at City Hall. It starts with UFT members. No one will help us if we don’t help ourselves. And while we are at it, tell everyone you know and urge them to come, too.

The federal stimulus was a big win for all of us – the largest federal commitment to education ever – but our crisis is far from over. Please join us on March 5. Help us protect our classrooms and our communities.

Yours sincerely,

Randi Weingarten