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 NYSUT begins ad campaign in support of school budgetsMay 6, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. May 6, 2005 - New York State United Teachers has launched a $1 million television and radio ad campaign featuring actress Blair Brown urging New Yorkers to invest in public education's progress by supporting school budgets and electing pro-education board candidates on May 17. The new ad campaign asks, "What's at stake on May 17?" "The answer is, there's a lot at stake," said NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi, who was elected as NYSUT president last month. "When budgets go down, so does the quality of education. Teachers are laid off, programs are cut and new textbooks and computers are put on hold. Most districts are struggling just to stay above water. "New York has the toughest graduation standards in the nation. But we can't expect students to meet those high standards unless their schools meet certain standards. Passing school budgets is critical to making sure New York students continue to achieve." The 10-day campaign, which begins Sunday, May 8 and runs through the May 17 school budget voting day, includes broadcast and cable television ads in western New York, the Capital District, the Southern Tier, Long Island, the Hudson Valley and other media markets across the state. Radio spots are also airing in different markets across the state. The ad campaign focuses on the cuts school districts will have to make if local school budgets are defeated. Brown, star of the television series "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" and dozens of major motion pictures, provides the voiceover for the ad. As scenes of children involved in school-related activities flash across the screen, Brown says, "If our local school budget fails this year, we'll lose even more teachers…and have to eliminate sports, arts and tutoring programs. On May 17, vote YES on our local school budget. Because there's a lot at stake." The ad also features New York State Teacher of the Year Elizabeth Day, a sixth grade teacher from Mechanicville. Voters have overwhelmingly supported school budgets in recent years, but Iannuzzi said there may be some growing taxpayer resentment over rising property taxes and state government's inability to address key issues. "No one likes higher taxes," Iannuzzi said. "But voters shouldn't target that resentment at our students. Lyndon Johnson said the answer to all our problems comes down to one word: education. If we want to fix our problems in New York State, we have to give our kids the best education possible. Passing school budgets is an important step down that road." NYSUT, the largest union in New York State, represents more than 525,000 classroom teachers and other school employees and retirees; academic and professional faculty at the state's community colleges, State University of New York and City University of New York; and other education and health professionals. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. -30- |
CONTACT: NYSUT Media Relations and Communications. (518) 213-6000, Ext. 6313. E-Mail: mediarel@nysutmail.org. |
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