With school districts across the state reporting a loss of more than 6,000 positions since last year, educators say there is no more fat to cut. If Gov. David Paterson's painful midyear cuts plan is approved, schools will be getting down to the bone.

Forcing districts to trim $686 million from their budgets in the middle of the school year is unconscionable, said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "These proposed midyear cuts would be devastating to public schools and students throughout our education system."

Last month, Paterson released a Deficit Reduction Plan calling for more than $1 billion in cuts to education and health care. (See related story.)

"Students in public schools and in our state colleges and universities — as well as other middle-class New Yorkers — have already 'shared the pain,'" Iannuzzi said. "Isn't it time the state pursued viable alternatives that would help 'spare the pain?' "

As New York Teacher went to press, lawmakers were scheduled to meet in a special legislative session on Nov. 10. The proposed midyear cuts, a reduced pension tier, marriage equality and a proposed cap on state spending were on the agenda.

Citing an economy in trouble and declining state revenues, lawmakers approved virtually flat school funding for the 2009-10 school year. In the aftermath, 300 Rochester educators received pink slips.

"Through attrition we were able to call back most of them, but we actually lost 130 positions," said John Pavone, vice president of the Rochester Teachers Association. Under Paterson's latest proposal, the district faces the loss of up to $10 million in state funding.

"That could mean about 200 teachers," said Pavone, who shuddered to think how the additional losses would affect students. "Class sizes have gone up significantly already. Art, music, physical education … the quality of those programs has gone down and the extra attention students need is diminished."

In Syracuse, up to 150 employees would be let go if the plan is approved. Most of those cuts would be teachers, Superintendent Dan Lowengard told The Post-Standard.

Ad campaign launched

NYSUT members across the state participated in a series of hearings speaking out against the governor's proposal. The statewide union launched a $200,000 radio, billboard and print ad campaign against the cuts.

NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin said the campaign calls on lawmakers to reject the damaging cuts and instead look for cost savings.

"Dipping into the $1.5 billion 'rainy day' fund now would help forestall these budget cuts and rescue schools and colleges from irreparable harm while buying time as the economy recovers," Lubin said.