UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS WANTS STIMULUS AID USED FOR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

[Omaha Steve]

http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/02/07/united-federation-of-teachers-wants-stimulus-aid-used-for-school-construction/

Posted in Uncategorized by gangbox on the February 7, 2009

from the CHIEF-LEADER:

UFT Wants School Stimulus Aid Used for Construction
Calls DOE Plan Inadequate
By DAVID SIMS

The United Federation of Teachers was joined by elected officials Jan. 28 in urging that Federal stimulus money for education be directed to building new schools here, saying that the Department of Education’s existing capital plan was not sufficient.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the national stimulus package later that day, including $150 billion for education funding, with $3.4 billion of it going to New York City after lobbying efforts by U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer and Congressman Charles Rangel.

‘Can’t Cut Infrastructure’

“We cannot deal with the fiscal crisis by just cutting services to the community, to the schools, to the infrastructure of the City of New York,” said UFT Chief Operating Officer Michael Mulgrew. “This would be the greatest mistake, and we should have all learned from that mistake,” referring to the DOE’s new five-year capital plan for the years 2010 to 2014, which would reduce spending by $2.5 billion as compared to its previous plan.



The Chief-Leader/Adrienne Haywood-James
A DUAL BENEFIT: Central Labor Council President Jack Ahern says that use of Federal stimulus aid to education for school construction would have the added benefit of providing employment for thousands of building trades workers who are already suffering the effects of the recession. Looking on at right is United Federation of Teachers Chief Operating Officer Michael Mulgrew.


“It just makes good common sense economically, that if you invest in your infrastructure, you are moving the economy, you are creating jobs, and at the same time you are making this a better city for the children of New York,” he added.

City Comptroller William C. Thompson Jr. agreed, noting that “at this last moment, we can’t lose sight that we need new schools. Construction is like a win-win-win; it creates additional jobs, it helps education, it helps our communities, it helps our children.”

He said that school overcrowding was an issue of growing concern, with 38 percent of students in overflowing classes. “One hundred seventy thousand new seats are needed to be able

FULL story at link.

[femmocrat]

1. And, in their infinite wisdom, Congress cut $16 bil. in school construction funds.

:eyes:

[MaraJade]

2. Not just overcrowding. . .

here, in my town, two children were injured severely when part of a classroom
ceiling collapsed on them. Schools are literally falling apart in a lot of
towns and cities in the US.

How can anyone learn anything with a "sword of Damocles" literally hanging over
their heads?