School Aid Reform Draws Parents, Schools Chancellor To Community Meeting

The public forum, sponsored by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity was put together to inform the public of the ruling and how it will impact Queens students.
Norma Paupaw, treasurer at PS123, attended because "Education is very important to me. I want to know whats going on. And I dont want a parent to come into the school and ask a question and I cant answer it." Paupaw, a former graduate of John Bowne in 1981, said her main problem is overcrowding. "You cant work like that with one person in a classroom. Its impossible," said Paupaw.
Panelists, including Schools Chancellor Harold Levy and Queens Board of Education representative Terri Thomson echoed similar sentiments about why she had attended the meeting. "It is all about the students," said Thomson at the meeting. "The issue of overcrowding, smaller class sizes, better textbooks and modernized buildings involves money. Theres no getting around it."
"Its about getting our fair share," said Levy. "Every child is entitled to an education. Which is why were here. Simple fairness."
Thomson mentioned the situation will only get worse especially overcrowding three years from now. Based on projections, Queens will fall short 32,000 seats. Right now John Bowne High School is working 141 percent over its capacity.
However, the panelists insisted that state aid has been severely lacking not only in Queens, but in the entire New York City public school system. Thirty-eight percent of the states public school kids comes from New York City and the City receives only 36 percent of the aid. That two percent, according to Levy, shortchanges the city billions of dollars.
Which is the reason a lawsuit was brought by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE) back in 1993 to reform the school finance system. Earlier this year, a judge ruled that the state was indeed shortchanging students and using an esoteric formula to determine how money is split throughout the state. Judge Leland DeGrasse ordered the state to come up with a formula by Sept. 15 of this year that is both understandable and fair.
In addition, a definition as to what determines a sound basic education was defined as "consisting of the foundational skills that students need to become productive citizens capable of civic engagement and sustaining competitive employment."
However the State appealed the decision, according to Michael Rebell, attorney for the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, because he believes Governor George Pataki "Doesnt want to live with this definition. This is permanent." The Governor wants to appeal because a standard has been adopted and he doesnt want this definition in the books.
Though the fight doesnt end there. The Alliance for Quality Education wants education advocates to continue their fight by sending out pre-made postcards to Pataki, their state senator and assemblymember reading "Our Children Cant Wait to Receive a Quality Education"
Dina Pinckney, a mother of two from Jamaica, was already in the process of signing and sending out her postcards. She took extras with her to hand out to other parents and friends. Until tonight this was an issue completely unknown to her. She said the news never informed her of the court decision."The children need more than what they get and when I found out about this meeting of course I wanted to be here to see what information I could find out and bring back to my school," said Pinckney.
Parents, educators and the CFE can only wait until the appeal is dealt with since the Sept. 15 deadline has been stayed by the courts. "Justice is delayed," said Borough President Claire Shulmans Chief of Staff Alexandra Rosa. "And an opportunity lost for our children."