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Rebell envisions fiscal-reform finish line
January 20, 2005 Michael Rebell sees the finish line ahead in the race to achieve equitable funding for New York 's schools. The decade-long process is in its "final lap," said Rebell, speaking to the policy conference of the state Educational Conference Board in December. "We'll bring this thing home this spring and get a bill passed," he said. "We will finally bring justice to all kids in New York City and all kids around the state." Rebell sketched the near future of the issue that rose to the political forefront through a lawsuit by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which Rebell directs. Rebell said CFE planned to take the recommendations from the special masters appointed by state Supreme Court Justice Leland DeGrasse, and translate those into a bill before the state Legislature. Rebell was confident that a consensus bill could be reached with the help of lobbying from members of the ECB (including New York State United Teachers). The special masters on Nov. 30 issued a report that, in order to provide a "sound, basic education" for New York City children (as authorized in Judge DeGrasse's original decision), city public schools need $5.6 billion more in operating aid over four years — plus $9.2 billion for classrooms and other facilities to provide kids the resources the state constitution guarantees them. The bill envisioned by Rebell would have a transparent formula, including guidelines for a split of funding coming from the state and the localities that run school districts. CFE will ask Judge DeGrasse to mandate strong sanctions, with a tight time frame, if a bill implementing the special masters recommendations is not passed in the spring legislative session. Responding to a question about revenue by Syracuse Teachers Association President Kate McKenna, Rebell said CFE's starting point will be the state's operating aid formulas and defining what state and local shares of the increase should be. How the localities raise their local share will be up to them, Rebell said. Addressing a question from NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin, Rebell said CFE's intention is "not to play Robin Hood." CFE seeks a formula that would "hold harmless" districts that show greater property wealth without subtracting state aid from them to add to poorer districts. |
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