Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan to slash $1.5 billion in state aid to education would directly affect schools for the blind, deaf and severely disabled and leave the burden of cost on the New York City public school system.
The chief executive officer of the Lexington School for the Deaf in Jackson Heights Manuel Mosquera said that he is afraid the loss of funding would result in the displacement of the 350 special needs children into the over-burdened city schools.
“The NYC school system does not have the resources we can offer,” said Mosquera.
Cuomo’s proposed budget eliminates all direct funding to 11 schools serving such deaf children — including three in the Bronx, one in Brooklyn and Lexington in Queens.
“One of the things we have been asking for is a seat at the table to negotiate with Albany to come up with a rational system that is both fair and reasonable and does not come at the expense of our children,” said Mosquera.
Lexington School is a nonprofit, charitable organization that has survived through contracts, charitable organizations, and tax-deductible donations since 1864. They provide services ranging from educational programs, as well as audiology and speech, vocational and mental health services to the mostly immigrant student body, according to Mosquera.
“[Budget cuts] would not only hurt deaf children, but deaf minority children. You got the whole world going against you,” said Mosquera.
On March 10, representatives, students and concerned citizens from the 11 would-be affected schools will be rallying in Albany against the proposed budget cuts. Mosquera hopes for a crowd of 700 people.
“There is a reason why our school was created. That reason has not changed,” said Mosquera. – With additional reporting by Bob Doda
