By JUDY RATTNER, ANDREW HACKMACK, ALEX COSTELLO and Mary Malloy
At a rally in Ellsworth W. Allen Park in Farmingdale, protesters waved signs and chanted "Fair share, fair share."
A bipartisan contingent of local legislators took to the microphone to urge Gov. David Paterson to restore proposed cuts to school districts and relieve the burden of unfunded mandates. They also called for continued special education funding. Led by Sen. John Flanagan (R-Smithtown), speaker after speaker described how devastating any cuts would be for Long Island's children. "This is about you, Long Island and our students on Long Island," he said.
Sen. Craig Johnson, a Democrat among the predominantly Republican group of lawmakers, brought his 7-year-old son, Ben, to the rally. "I wanted him to see how important we see education on Long Island."
East Rockaway's District Superintendent, Roseanne Melucci, said that she attended the rally to show support for Long Island receiving its fair share of state aid and to represent the East Rockaway schools. "I know
that our senators and assemblyman are working on this on our behalf," she said, "and I felt it was important for them to know that we appreciate their efforts..."
"The show of unity among the school districts in Long Island was very encouraging as we work together in these tough economic times for the students," said Timothy Silk, principal of Centre Avenue Elementary School in East Rockaway. "It's critical that we maintain the higher standards so that are children are competitive in a global economy." Silk was one of the many Lynbrook and East Rockaway representatives who attended the rally.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Dean Skelos (R-Rockville Centre), Johnson added, "Education isn't a partisan issue - that's why Sen. Skelos and I are here together."
Skelos said that because Paterson grew up in Hempstead, Long Island lawmakers had hoped he would understand that L.I. schools need their fair share. Instead, he said, Paterson has looked to cut 40 percent more from Long Island schools than from schools in the rest of the state.
"That's not our fair share," said Skelos, adding, "This is not about Republicans or Democrats or independents, it's about our children. We're sending a message to the governor that every single dollar he sought to take away from us will be restored. We'll work cooperatively to get our fair share."
Matt Crossen of the Long Island Association told the crowd that Gov. Paterson has said that Long Island school districts get too much money from the state, eliciting loud boos. Crossen said the federal stimulus package could restore the area's losses in state aid but he called for continued action saying,
"Until the checks are cashed, until the money's in the bank, we need to make sure we get our fair share."
Judith Chen, co-chair of the Long Island Education Coalition, said although the federal government is sending public schools a lifeline, that money will not make districts whole. She told the crowd that there is a distorted concept of Long Island's ability to absorb cuts and that the state funding formulas that shortchange the region's school districts are still in place. "We must remain united to make sure Long Island does not accept a disproportionate share of the pain," she said.
The rally came to a climax as the last few speakers started chants of "Fair share, fair share" and encouraged members of the crowd to take out their cell phones and immediately call the governor to tell him "we want our money back."
To music provided by the Massapequa marching band, lines of protesters walked back to waiting buses and cars, waving placards that said, "Long Island needs the cure, not a band-aid;" "Senate GOP: Tax the rich;" "Tell Gov. Paterson we want our fair share" and "Show me the money - where's Long Island's fair share?"
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