Parents Protest Over School Funds At PS 2

Shouting "We wont make a trade, everyone deserves twelfth grade," about 25 parents and advocates with the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE) protested outside of Jackson Heights PS 2 recently as part of a citywide bus tour highlighting schools in need.
The campaign is part of AQEs effort to pressure Governor George Pataki to settle a nearly 10-year-old lawsuit against the state by another organization, the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, that seeks to improve school funding.
In July, an Appeals Court ruled that the state was obligated to provide only an eighth-grade education to public school students. That decision is being appealed.
"Were here to make sure that the Court of Appeals hears our voice," said Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who recently filed a "friend of the court" brief in favor of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity.
Gianaris, a product of local public schools, lamented those schools deteriorating conditions.
"There was a time when public education could take you to Harvard Law School," said Gianaris.
So dire is the financial situation at PS 2 that the schools parent-teacher association has raised money to buy up-to-date textbooks for its students.
"PTA funds should be used for enhancement, not to purchase basic materials," said Maria Dapontes-Dougherty, the schools PTA president.
School overcrowding and lack of adequate programming and facilities were other issues irking parents at the protest. PS 2 has no auditorium or early childhood programs, according to Dapontes-Dougherty.
Doreen Duffy, mother of two students at PS 2, thought her sons class size of over 30 children was too big.
"I was very happy with how the school was run until last year," said Duffy, who blamed District 30 superintendent Dr. Angelo Gimondo for grouping children of varying skill levels in the same classes.
"They took a whole class away from fourth grade this year, which is ridiculous," she said.