YNN
Albany
http://centralny.ynn.com/content/top_stories/536731/rally-against-state-aid-cuts-for-schools/
“No more cuts. No more cuts. No more cuts. No more cuts,” chanted community members at a rally Tuesday.
Devastating is the only word parents, teachers and students can use to describe the governor’s proposed cuts to education.
“All the teachers are going away and a lot of money is going away from my school. It’s sad because I really like my teachers,” said Jayda Collins, a seventh grade student at Grant Middle School in Syracuse.
Tanika Jones-Cole, the rally organizer and a Syracuse City School District parent, added, “I don’t know how she’s expected to learn how to read, her math facts that she’s working on if there’s 40 kids in a class.”
“Save our schools. Save our schools,” parents and teachers continued to chant.
Community members are fighting back, rallying in hopes Albany will hear their cries. The Syracuse City School District faces a $16 million cut in state aid under the governor’s proposed budget, which means nearly 600 position cuts. Several other upstate schools also stand to lose huge chunks of their budget.
“We need our kids college and career ready. There’s not going to be any hope for the future if our kids aren’t educated,” said Jovan Collins, a Syracuse City School District parent.
Kevin Ahern, the president of the Syracuse Teachers Association, added, “It’s been very demoralizing. We have said for many years, this district is chronically underfunded. We can see that in the formula.”
Hundreds of people turned out for the rally in Syracuse that shut down East Washington Street. And organizers say that just speaks to the magnitude of this situation and how desperate it is.
“It’s great that we can finally come together to unite for a cause that’s so important for our community, for our children, our teachers, etc. I’m glad to see that we’re all out here and fighting for our students,” said Jones-Cole.
“Hey. Hey. Ho. Ho. The Governor’s cuts have got to go,” was another chant heard loud and clear.
Demonstrators hope their cries are loud enough for legislators in Albany to put education funding back into the budget.
State legislators are supposed to pass a budget by April 1st.
