While Gov. Eliot Spitzer's executive budget proposal marks a significant investment in public education, there are serious concerns, union leaders say.

"Gov. Spitzer's historic $7 billion commitment to public education over the next four years is the right direction for New York state," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi. "Adding resources fairly to public schools across the state, with an extra commitment in areas of high need, is the right direction for children and taxpayers."

But Iannuzzi said the union has "serious concerns about proposals that would be bad public policy," such as a questionable private-school tuition/voucher proposal, an ill-conceived approach to charter school reform and proposals that could undercut SUNY teaching hospitals.

Spitzer's $120 billion spending plan would increase education spending by $1.4 billion this year alone — with spending expected to grow to $7 billion in additional annual aid by 2010-11 under his four-year educational investment plan. The governor would tie his education reform program to $6 billion in property tax relief aimed at middle-income taxpayers.

School funding reform

Central to Spitzer's education spending plan is a new "foundation aid" formula that would replace the existing system of dozens of formulas. The governor said the plan would allocate aid in a "transparent, equitable and predictable manner."

Under the plan, every district in the state would receive an increase of at least 3 percent. The governor would direct more than $980 million in his education aid increase to the new formula.

High-need districts receiving large aid increases — from 10 percent over last year or $15 million — must enter into a "Contract for Excellence" with the state, showing how the additional resources will be spent and what results the schools expect to receive.

Schools must direct the aid toward proven strategies such as smaller class size, more time on task, restructuring middle schools or high schools; and full-day pre-kindergarten. The governor included an increase of $99 million for universal pre-K.

"The investment in smaller class sizes and in universal pre-K will put all of our children on the road to academic success," Iannuzzi said.

Strengthening teacher quality must also be central to the plans, Spitzer said. The governor's budget would continue funds to teacher centers ($37 million); the Mentor-Teacher Intern Program ($6 million); Teachers of Tomorrow ($25 million); and the Al Shanker and Candidate Subsidy Grant Programs ($500,000) for teachers pursuing National Board Certification.

Spitzer addressed the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit with a statewide solution that adds resources tied to need.

Record BOCES increase

For the first time in a decade, funding to the state's 37 Boards of Cooperative Educational Services would increase under the executive budget. Spitzer included $37.5 million in additional aid for BOCES programs.

"After years of damaging cuts to BOCES, we're now starting on much higher ground," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin. "We're really pleased that the governor recognizes that BOCES adds an invaluable service."

The governor included funding for special education in his larger foundation formula aid, a move that concerns union leaders.

Higher education

The governor's proposed spending plan would increase funding for higher education without calling for an increase in tuition at the State or City University of New York systems.

"The governor's investment in higher education is absolutely the right direction for a state whose economy is energized by education and research," Iannuzzi said.

Spitzer would increase funding for both systems by 4.6 percent. SUNY would receive an additional $148 million. CUNY's increase would be $71 million.

William Scheuerman, president of United University Professions, representing SUNY academic and professional faculty, called the budget "a great first step in following through on his commitment to public higher education."

Steve London, vice president of the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY, said the union was "thankful there is a moderate increase in funding to cover mandatory costs." But he added that the union, which represents faculty and professional staff at CUNY, "looks forward to going to the Legislature to supplement this because the budget still falls short of what we needed."

The state's network of community colleges would receive significant aid increases, with Spitzer proposing $2,625 per full-time-equivalent student — an increase of $100 per student.

The budget recognizes community colleges and "indicates that the colleges are not just a local responsibility but are part of the statewide fabric of higher education," said Ellen Schuler Mauk, president of the Faculty Association of Suffolk Community College. She represents community colleges on the NYSUT Board.

Analyzing health care issues

Although Spitzer's budget is a start in the right direction, Iannuzzi said, the union is concerned about the governor's policies on charter schools, a tuition tax deduction for private schools and health care proposals that could undercut graduate medical education and other areas of health services.

As New York Teacher went to press, union analysts were working to extract details from the governor's plan for Medicaid, the state Health Care Reform Act and the medical education schools.

Lubin said the union will be vigilant to prevent a negative impact on health care professionals as a result of these proposals.

The governor reiterated his support for recommendations from the Berger Commission, including hospital mergers and possible privatization of SUNY hospitals.

Lubin said the union is pushing hard for full funding for SUNY hospitals. "It's bad public policy to consider a merger that favors private over public institutions," he said.

The governor did voice support for expanding options for long-term care so patients can stay at home or in the least-restrictive setting possible.

Troubling education proposals include a plan to raise the state cap on experimental charter schools from 100 to 250. Spitzer would give the State University, the Board of Regents and the New York City chancellor each the authority to grant 50 new charters.

The governor's charter reform measures do not go far enough, Iannuzzi said.

"The $15 million in transition aid to help ease the impact on districts like Albany and Buffalo that are oversaturated with charters is a recognition of the pain inflicted on these districts, but it's nowhere near enough," Iannuzzi said.

Parents and taxpayers are still left out of the process of choosing whether they want the schools in their communities, Iannuzzi said, noting the budget only requires the Regents to notify a school district after a charter has already been approved.

Another concern for union leaders is a proposed $25 million program for tuition tax deduction — up to $1,000 per family — for parents who send their children to private schools. Both proposals would be detours from real reform, Iannuzzi said.

NYSUT will be working with both houses of the Legislature "to ensure that quality public education is available for all children and to prevent bad policy proposals from turning into bad law," Lubin added.

"For the first time in a long time we're starting this process on much higher ground," Iannuzzi said.

"Gov. Spitzer now needs to make his 3 Rs — reform, resources and results — a reality. We look forward to working with him and the state Legislature to make that happen."

— Clarisse Butler Banks