Underfunded and Overcrowded Schools “Where’s the money going?” April 28, 2005 Liliana Abourafeh Nicole Braszewski Gladymir Etienne Jonelle Harmon Nivea Kothari Richard Nassar Rob Rodgers

Overcrowded Elementary School

Can I get a little elbow room please?

The classrooms are so crowded that the students must strain to see and hear what is going on in the front of the class.

As always there is ample space for storage.

Excuse me I’m in a rush to class.

There is no room to run around and play during recess.

The Music Room In many schools, the music room lacks the necessary instruments for the class.

Lab Sink

The floorboards are out in the open. This should not be exposed in a classroom.

There just are no available seats!!

JUDGE Teachers are not motivated George Bush’s “No Child Left Behind Act” Campaign for New York City Survey Campaign for Fiscal Equity

JUDGE  Horror Stories:  Gym classes are being held in the hallway  Bathrooms are not equipped with toilet paper  Sharing of textbooks

JUDGE Cont’d. Funds will: Buy smaller class sizes More qualified teachers Up-to-date labs and libraries Structurally safe buildings

More needs to be done to raise the children of our future!!

ACT Finding New Space: Leasing Collaboratives Relocating Administrative Space District- Wide Redistribution of Space

ACT Cont’d Using time to more fully utilize existing space:  Extended day programs  Year- round education

SOLUTION # 1 LEGALIZE GAMBLING IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK  Use a percentage of revenues to fund school constructions and upkeep

SOLUTION #2  NO WEST SIDE STADIUM  NYC and NYS have each agreed to give $350 MILLION to fund the construction alone of the stadium in addition to the $700 MILLION they will invest in creating open spaces, condemning property and constructing nearby parking garages.  Education is more important than an extra arena for sports teams.

SOLUTION #3  DONATIONS, DONATIONS, DONATIONS  Communities could hold fund raisers, fairs, raffles to generate monies to buy better supplies  Local residents and businesses could donate money and return some sort of incentive in return such as being able to claim it as a tax exemption.

SOLUTION #4  LIMITATION ON “FREE” PUBLIC SCHOOLING  A small limitation could be placed on the number of children each family can send for “free” to public school  For example, each family can send 2 children for “free” and would then have to pay for the additional children to attend.

SOLUTION #5 QUALIFIED TEACHERS Provide more of an incentive for teachers to stay in those city schools that are trying to improve Bring in teachers from other schools and provide them with better pay & benefit s

Christian Ethics Education before Entertainment How can we expect children to be ethical if they are being treated poorly