ALBANY – Schools Chancellor Joel Klein strongly warned yesterday that Gov. Pataki’s proposed reductions to school aid would force deep cuts to important classroom programs while increasing class size.
“The proposed reductions in the governor’s budget must be restored,” Klein said, testifying for the first time as chancellor before a joint legislative budget committee.
Klein said that Pataki’s proposed $477 million cut in state education aid might solve a short-term budget problem but would inflict long-term damage on the schools by cutting pre-kindergarten, class-size reduction programs and after-school programs.
“So many of the problems in public education is that we try to play catch-up,” he said.
Pataki defended his plan yesterday, saying short-term pain in the form of cuts will allow for a speedier recovery for the state’s economic woes.
Klein said major cuts to the central schools administration is no longer an option.
In the past year, he said, the city’s school system has cut nearly $700 million from its budget, including the elimination of 1,000 administrative positions.
The city could cut the rest of the $230 million administration system and it still wouldn’t cover the entire scope of Pataki’s proposed reductions, Klein said.
“The fat in New York City’s budget has been removed,” he added.
“We have been relentless in our cost-cutting efforts. We cannot afford further reductions without hurting our children and the education they are receiving.”
Like Mayor Bloomberg, Klein stayed clear of attacking Pataki directly during his testimony, despite baiting from some lawmakers.
But he was more blunt about the impact of the governor’s proposed spending plan – even while saying he was confident the final budget agreement will be more palatable for the city.
He called Pataki’s plan to cut funding for pre-kindergarten and class-size reduction “a major mistake” and “precisely the wrong direction.”
After finishing his 80 minutes of testimony, Klein met with various legislative leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno – the second such meeting in recent months.