ALBANY, N.Y. January 31, 2007 - Responding to Gov. Spitzer's budget proposal for education, NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi today said:
"Gov. Spitzer's historic $7-billion commitment to public education over the next four years is the right direction for New York state. Adding resources fairly to public schools across the state, with an extra commitment in areas of high need, is the right direction for children and taxpayers. The investment in smaller class sizes and in universal pre-K will put all our children on the road to academic success. And the budget contains a significant investment in higher education, which is absolutely the right direction for a state whose economy is energized by education and research.
"We do have serious concerns about proposals that would be bad public policy, such as a questionable private-school tuition/voucher proposal and an ill-conceived approach to charter school reform. Both would be detours from real reform.
"A great state guarantees its citizens great public schools and colleges, open to all and committed to excellence. Gov. Spitzer now needs to make his 3Rs - reform, resources and results - a reality, and we look forward to working with him and the state Legislature to make that happen."
Executive Vice President Alan Lubin added: "We will now be working with both houses of the Legislature to ensure that quality public education is available for all children and to prevent bad policy proposals from turning into bad law."
NYSUT represents 575,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.