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| Nearly 90 percent of school budgets pass, reversing trend May 17, 2006 ALBANY, N.Y. May 17, 2006 - New York voters reversed a two-year trend and approved budgets in nearly 90 percent of the state's school districts, signaling strong support for the direction of public education, New York State United Teachers said today. NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi said a preliminary count at 9 a.m. Wednesday showed that voters approved 89.1 percent of school budgets, passing 538 budgets and defeating 66. Vote totals from about 60 districts were unavailable Wednesday morning. "This vote underscores the confidence that New Yorkers have in the direction of their local public schools," Iannuzzi said. "They set aside their very real concerns about rising property taxes and, in most places, showed they understand that education is an investment in their property values, in their schools and in their community's children." Iannuzzi added: "Voters understood that school boards have been careful stewards of the public's money. They realized that rising costs for energy, health insurance and other items fueled much of this year's budget increases. With test scores rising and public schools making solid progress, voters resoundingly said they approved of the direction of public education in New York." The preliminary pass rate of 89.1 percent is significantly higher than the 2005 pass rate of 83.5 and the 2004 approval rate of 84.9 percent. Iannuzzi said he expects the final total of approved budgets to be between 87 and 90 percent. One reason for the turnaround is Long Island, where Iannuzzi said local unions made a strong push to rally "Yes" voters. In Nassau and Suffolk counties, it appeared that 99 school districts approved their budgets, while 18 went down to defeat. The unofficial 85 percent pass rate on Long Island is about 20 points higher than last year's 66 percent approval rate. All budgets in Erie, Monroe, Niagara, Madison, Onondaga and Wayne counties passed. Trouble spots included the Hudson Valley, where only four in 13 budgets passed in Dutchess County, and Ulster County, where five of nine budgets went down to defeat. NYSUT, the largest union in New York state, represents more than 535,000 classroom teachers and other school employees; 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- |
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