By Andrew Hackmack and Judy Rattner
The rally was organized by Long Island-s Senate Majority Delegation, and spearheaded by Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre).
We want our fair share, many chanted as they held up signs that read, Underfunded ÐÐ overtaxed, LI Schools ÐÐ a Smart Investment, SOS ÐÐ Save Our Schools, Fair Share for LI Schools and Gov. Spitzer: Cut Taxes, Not School Funds.
As music blasted from speakers mounted on a truck, the event got under way. Skelos took to a microphone and introduced the fair share message that became the protest-s oft-repeated refrain. He thanked the crowd for attending and pledged to work to maintain the quality education our students deserve, and get the real property tax relief their parents deserve.
This is about our kids, and we want to make sure they have all the opportunities we had, Skelos said.
He promised that local elected officials would partner with the regional groups at the rally. Calling it a united team effort, Skelos said that, together, Long Islanders would overcome the slashed state school aid that eventually would result in property tax increases which already overburdened taxpayers cannot afford. This is a critical battle with the politicians and the governor, he told the crowd.
Lynbrook school board member Alicemarie Bresnihan added that the way school districts handle the loss of aid will ultimately determine the affect on schools. It depends on how we handle our losses, she said. The tax cap being proposed will cause problems because it will limit our ability to add programs.
Sen. Kemp Hannon offered some disturbing numbers. He pointed out that while 17 percent of New York State-s school-age children are enrolled in Long Island schools, the region has traditionally received less than 13 percent of state school aid. Next year, Long Island schools are slated to receive only 8.2 percent of overall state aid. Those figures drew loud boos from the crowd.
Skelos noted that Long Island-s business community understands that today-s students are that community-s future. When we educate our kids and when we send them to college, he said, we want them to come back.
John Durso, president of the 250,000-member Long Island Federation of Labor, spoke on behalf of working men and women who are already burdened by high taxes. How many millionaires are out there today? Durso asked. No one responded. That-s what I thought.
This is not about downstate, upstate, it-s about our communities and our kids and our fair share, he said.
Matt Crosson, president of the Long Island Association, a business and civic organization, noted that 60 percent of the school districts whose state funding was cut are on Long Island, and that two-thirds of the districts on the Island received funding increases of only 2 percent. He disputed Spitzer-s recent remark about interest-driven sectionalism, saying it wasn-t selfish for Long Island to ask for its fair share.
Gracemarie Rozea, director of the Nassau Region PTA, made one of the most passionate speeches. She praised the high quality of education that students on Long Island already receive, but said that schools must be funded properly for such achievement to continue.
Rozea said that local leaders have gone to bat for Long Island in the past, and she has no doubt they will do so again this year as they finalize the 2008-09 state budget. Together, Rozea explained, Long Island-s lawmakers and citizens must call on the disconnected statewide leader in Albany to do what-s right. We must make sure our children are not left behind, she said, and we will do so by getting our fair share. Our children are relying on us.
Rozea urged the audience to get the word out and to call, write and e-mail their local leaders and state officials in Albany. Please listen to us, Governor Spitzer, we are strong, she said. We are telling [you] loud and clear that we demand and deserve our fair share.
Sachem School District teacher Diane Hettrich, representing New York State United Teachers, said the governor has proposed a record $1.5 billion increase in funding for education throughout the state, yet many Long Island districts are seeing cuts.
There is still a month until the April 1 state budget deadline, Hettrich told the crowd, so there is time to make their voices heard. It is imperative that the Legislature and governor achieve a budget that supports children, she said.
Skelos said he was extremely pleased by the turnout at the rally, and that it shows Long Islanders care about their schools. It may be cold out here today, he said, but we-re going to turn the heat up on our governor.
I thought it was exciting and well organized. It was worth while, Bresnihan said. I thank our senators for setting it up because we need to bring attention to our districts on Long Island.
Comments about this story? AHackmack@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 265.
