NYC Schools Await Funding

New York City public schools might get some things taken off of their wish list this year.

In the wake of last week's New York State Court of Appeals ruling, the state is required to give New York City $1.93 billion annually in funding for public schools The ruling was the last in a series about the distribution of funds of public school education in New York City.

Though the ruling was a victory for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which was party to the case, the number was drastically lower than what the organization had asked for. CFE argued that the New York City public schools were under-funded and that students were being denied their New York State constitutional right to a quality education.

Some have still expressed skepticism that the city will see the money that has been the center of court battles for over a decade anytime soon.

"I don't know if we are going to get it now," Harriet Barns, the president of the District 5 Community Education Council, said. "I'd have to see the money first."

But that didn't prevent Barns from listing her top priorities for funding in the district that includes much of West Harlem. "Smaller-size classrooms is what we really need. That would be number one on my list," she said.

But that's only the beginning, she said. "We need books. We need children to have proper gymnasiums. Some of the lunchrooms need to be reformed. We need proper after-school [programs]."

The schools may see some of those improvements in the next state budget negotiations with current attorney general Eliot Spitzer assuming the governorship.

"I expect some amount [of money] will start to flow [into the schools] by the next school year," Michael Rebell, counsel for CFE and director of Teachers College Campaign for Educational Equity, said. "I think it's crucial for the future of CFE and for educational progress that this money be targeted to make a difference."

"I really believe that Spitzer is going to come through and do the right thing for the city," Ester Fuchs, a professor of political science and former adviser to Mayor Michael Bloomberg. "It's not about big spending or about small spending, it's about smart spending ... It's in the economic best interest of the state to get New York City a quality education."

Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign focused in part on the funding of New York City public schools and he promised more than the amount demanded by the court in last weeks' ruling.

"It will really be a question of how effective ... [the teacher's union, the Department of Education, and the Mayor's office] are in making the case to Spitzer that there is no trade-off here," Fuchs said.

Bloomberg created a plan that would have used the larger amount the CFE had asked for to fund a wide array of programming including universal pre-K programs, merit bonuses for teachers, and capital for the public school system that would ultimately allow for smaller class sizes.

"The important thing now, after 13 years of litigation, is for the State to get the money to us so we can provide the services to our students," Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said in a statement. "Universal pre-K, along with funding lead teachers in math and science in our high-needs schools, are at the top of the list."

"If we don't get the lion's share of the what was originally defined as the money needed for a quality education, we can't really reduce class size, " Fuchs said, noting that class size cannot be reduced if there is no space for classrooms.

How much money the schools receive is dependent on budget negotiations with the governor, State Assembly, and State Senate.

"It's not clear how the negotiations will go and who will side with whom on which issue," Fuchs said. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Lower Manhattan, has stood behind increased funding. It may be up to Senate Majority leader Joe Bruno, R-Rensselaer County, who has not committed to going above the court's ruling.

"I look forward to working with the Governor and the Assembly on a new State budget that meets this court decision, that includes fair and equitable school aid to every district in the State and ensures that our schools have all the resources they need to provide a quality education for our children," he said in a statement.

Amanda Erickson contributed to this article.