By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-994145.mp3
Kingston, NY – They came from different communities in the mid-Hudson valley: among them, local school administrators, School Board Members, parents, students, and teachers ... they joined with the Alliance for Quality Education in calling for Governor Andrew Cuomo and local legislators to restore a 1-point-3 billion dollars in cuts made to public schools. Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
Parents, teachers and activists gathered last night at the George Washington Elementary School in Kingston to discuss the new AQE report entitled "BACK TO INEQUALITY: How Students in Poor School Districts Are Paying the Price for the State Budget" --- a paper that argues funding cuts to New York Schools are hurting needy districts and watering down the education offered to students. Billy Easton, executive director at Alliance for Quality Education, confirms that poor districts were hardest hit by budget. The numbers have left many parents and students crestfallen. Where did the money from those cuts go? Billy Easton says it went to "a mistaken priority" - tax relief for millionaires.
Educators and community members joined with the Alliance in challenging Governor Cuomo to meet a standard they say he set for himself when he was running for office: to become "the great equalizer" in public education in New York State. Calls for comment to the Governor's Office were not returned in time for broadcast.