Local school budget votes will be held statewide this year on Tuesday, May 19.

They could be a mix of good and bad proposals, depending on the foresight of administrators and board members who put them together. Some districts push gloom-and-doom plans, others compute their numbers based on the influx of federal aid to school districts.

"Our locals will make decisions about supporting their budgets based on what's happening in their district," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "No matter whether it's a budget we support, or it's one that's bad for students and schools, we have to be prepared to inform and mobilize voters."

NYSUT continues to push the governor, Legislature and school boards to use the $2.6 billion (over two years) in federal stimulus money as intended. At a Long Island school event in March, Gov. Paterson said the state would restore "every cut we made to school districts in this budget."

School districts have until April 23 to finalize school budget figures.

Tools to use

In the coming weeks, locals have a variety of options to get their message out, using materials developed by the union's Communications staff.

• Postcards are an effective, inexpensive tool for reaching voters. NYSUT has developed generic "Vote Yes" postcards local unions can bring to a union printer in their area. Members and parents can address the cards together and mail them to district voters in the days before May 19.
• Every educator has an obligation to remind fellow school workers to vote in their home district. The best reminder is personal contact in school — no matter how busy anyone is, voting on a school budget remains a top priority every May.
• Take your local's budget information to where parents and likely voters congregate — soccer fields, concerts, plays and school open houses. Kids are thrilled to see their teacher outside school and parents respect your recommendation and budget insights.

"Every local has to make some tough choices about their district budget this year," said Cathy Corbo, president of the Albany Public School Teachers Association. "Leaders should use the NYSUT resources available to them in this difficult period."

The Obama administration has emphasized repeatedly throughout the stimulus plan discussions that the goal is "to keep teachers teaching."

"Education is an investment," said Iannuzzi. "We must keep this message before voters.

May 19 is their opportunity to reassert that education is a priority for our communities and our state's best hope for rebuilding our economy."