The DOE still has not provided any funding for schools to hire teachers for smaller classes next year. Parents at many schools are distraught, especially as the only comments from the Mayor are his happiness that he can save over $500 million by extending the deadline for another two years -- by which time hundreds of thousands of students will be left out of the opportunities to learn in a small enough class to be able to thrive. Here is a letter sent by Gilbert Lal, the PTA President of MS 104, about his daughter's plight.
Dear CMs Epstein and Maloney:
I am your constituent and my child attends MS104 Simon Baruch Middle School school in District 2 where I am the PTA president. I am very concerned that while the administration has received two more years to comply with the goals in the class size law, neither the Mayor nor the Chancellor has yet provided any information to show how they will lower class size to ensure all students receive smaller classes even within the extended timeframe.
My child’s classes this year were unacceptably large in 7th grade hitting the old cap sizes in all her classes. MS104 was able to reduce only the current 6th grade class this year and has a plan to reduce class sizes for the rest of the school in grades 7th and 8th next year. At the beginning of the year we were extremely optimistic that the budget would be approved to allow the school to reduce class sizes next year. However, the Mayor has not approved the budget to allow the school to hire teachers to implement this program.
My daughter is extremely distraught that in her words "it is unfair that we fought for class size reduction and it is the law, yet I will never benefit from it. It is unfair that [her younger siblings] got reduced class sizes at PS116 and that they will get lower class sizes in middle school in the coming years." She is right! It is unfair that I advocated for years to lower class sizes and she will not see the benefit of this. It is unfair that my other children have lower class sizes now in elementary school and will go to middle school only to have the class size almost double.
All our children in NYC deserve lower class sizes. We cannot delay this another 2 years. Middle School years are critical years for children as they go through so many changes. Lower class sizes will allow teachers to provide more individual attention to students and work with their needs. It is impossible in a class of 35 students to give one on one instruction. With District 2 implementing Wit & Wisdom for ELA and pressuring schools to add Geometry courses, it is even more important to lower class sizes so every child can get "What I Need".
At the education budget hearings on Monday, please ask the Chancellor and the SCA whether they have an actual, realistic, and detailed multi-year plan to achieve the goals in the law and if so, will they provide it to you as soon as possible. I also urge you to hold off approving the education budget or the capital plan before you’re confident that such a plan exists and will be implemented.
Thanks so much,
Gilberte Lal
PTA President, MS104
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