ALBANY, N.Y. May 12, 2011 - New York State United Teachers has launched a statewide radio advertising campaign reminding voters to get to the polls on Tuesday, and to support what kids need.
School districts throughout the state, except in the "Big Five" cities, will put their 2011-12 budgets to a vote on Tuesday. According to the State Education Department's Property Tax Report Cards, districts on average are proposing budgets that contain a spending increase of 0.84 percent. That compares to an average increase of 1.10 percent last year, when more than 90 percent of the budgets passed.
NYSUT's radio ad - available at www.nysut.org and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXTF0GMiuqk - features three voices from different generations discussing the advantages they have had in their lives, and reminding voters that it's now time to "pass it on."
"Voters across the state - including NYSUT members - should look closely at the budget proposals put forward by their local districts, and determine if they invest in children and in the future or if they are destructive to their communities," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. "Once they make that determination, we encourage them to get to the polls on Tuesday and vote accordingly."
NYSUT, the state's largest union, represents more than 600,000 teachers, school-related professionals, academic and professional faculty in higher education, professionals in education and health care and retirees. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.