NEW YORK, NY September 07, 2001 — And then we’ll hear from an expert on education funding about what the candidates are proposing.

Where The Candidates StandFernando Ferrer (Democrat): "I don't believe that we can tinker around the edges when it comes to education. We've got to take the bold steps required to move our system forward. And we all will need to step up: parents, teachers, children, and the Mayor himself." (Ferrer campaign, ferrer2001.com) Ferrer supports a 30 percent raise for teachers to improve the quality of education and to make the city schools more competitive with the suburbs. In exchange, he supports reforming the system to give principals the latitude to make sure that excellent teachers are brought on board and incompetent teachers shown the door - quickly. Also supports keeping schools open during the summer for year-round training and professional development. Ferrer estimates this plan would cost $1.2 billion, to be funded with additional money from Albany and internal savings. After school programs are also a centerpiece of Ferrer's education plan - which includes keeping all public middle schools open until 6 p.m. each day and on Saturdays and Sundays. Would pay for these programs by restoring the personal income tax surcharge, which was reduced this year by the mayor and the city council; says this tax cut was "trivial" and saves the average working family just four cents a day. Ferrer does not support abolishing the board of education; he does support doing away with local school boards. Also supports ways of increasing parent involvement, such as time off from work to attend parent teacher conferences.

Mark Green (Democrat): "Mark’s plan for school reform focuses on three areas: creating a system of 21st century schools for NYC; reaching a “Big Deal” with teachers that pays and trains them more, but demands productivity and accountability for performance; busting the bureaucracy by giving the Mayor direct control of the schools, eliminating local school boards and empowering local schools." (Green campaign, www.greennyc.com) Green supports reducing class size so that no child in K-3 is in a class with more than 20 students. Would pay for this by dedicating a greater percentage of the city's capital budget to school construction and renovation. To improve teacher quality, Green supports an across-the-board raise with productivity gains - having teachers serve as mentors to junior colleagues, or work as "master teachers" in tougher, low performing schools. Teachers should expect to spend more time at school, with additional school team meetings and professional development that doesn’t cut into instruction. Would also improve recruitment through incentives: college scholarships and expanded loan forgiveness, bonuses and training for mid career professionals who switch into teaching. Also wants to make it easier for principals to assign teachers to grades and classes where they are needed, even if they have seniority. Could reduce overcrowding by moving sixth grade to middle school. Wants to increase after school programs with cost savings from police overtime budget; would also reform special education. Supports ending the board of education as we know it, giving the mayor authority to appoint a Chancellor by replacing the board with a panel of educators appointed by the mayor. Would eliminate local school boards.

Alan Hevesi (Democrat): "I will work to put a qualified teacher in every classroom and then give them the resources to do their job well; I’ll reduce class size, raise standards and increase teacher and parent training. In addition, I’ll open two hundred storefronts for computer learning for adults and children and I’ll strengthen the School Board not abolish it." (Hevesi campaign, www.mebq.org) Hevesi supports a larger board of education with more mayoral appointees, but not direct mayoral control over the schools. Plans to improve teacher quality include: mentoring and master teacher programs; better supervision for new teachers including a 3 o’clock review. Would consider forgiving the student loans of City and State University graduates who agree to teach in the New York City public school for at least five years and who meet minimum teaching standards. Supports free parking or mass transit passes for teachers and housing alliances. Also supports productivity incentives in exchange for higher salaries, including longer school day. Wants to reform due process, to get rid of incompetent teachers faster. Supports internal reforms to save money on special education, and ways of reducing the cost of school construction (ex: putting a fourth floor on a three-story building instead of building a new one). Would also fight to get more money from the state and federal governments but is willing to raise taxes if necessary. "If, as a last resort, it takes a tax surcharge similar to the one that supported the successful fight against crime, then we will need the will and courage to do so." Hevesi is endorsed by the United Federation of Teachers.

Peter Vallone (Democrat): "I am committed to reforming our schools. I am committed to eliminating the problems that continue to plague the City's public school system. It is our moral obligation and our responsibility, not just as elected officials, but as parents, to eliminate these inequalities and ensure that all children have access to a decent education." (Vallone campaign, www.mebq.com) Vallone does not support raising taxes or cutting services, but prefers changing the way the city funds education. Supports dedicating $4 billion each year from residential property taxes to public education. This means an additional $500 million dollars a year for the classrooms. Would also lobby Albany to get additional state aid. Vallone would reduce overcrowding through local efforts and by lobbying the state to mandate smaller classes in every grade and in every public school in New York City. By September 2004, no classroom should have more than 24 students. Plans include hiring more than 5000 teachers; providing new textbooks and instructional materials; purchasing 13,000 computers; building more than 100 science labs. Would also look very closely at any plan for year-round schooling. Vallone would replace the Board of Education with a Department of Education directed by a commissioner who reports to the mayor. He would empower the mayor and the commissioner to control the schools budget, while allowing educators to control the curriculum.

Herman Badillo (Republican): "We must make New York City children stakeholders in America's ever-growing prosperity because they are the future. I will reintroduce standards to elementary and secondary schools just as I have at City University. Students should not be permitted to pass onto the next grade without first having completed requirements for the previous." (Badillo campaign, www.badillo2001.com) Badillo supports measures to close the $8 billion gap between taxes sent to Washington from New York City and federal spending in the city. Says the likely federal tax cut will close this gap by about $4 billion, causing our economy to expand. Extra tax revenue that will be generated should ensure a sound education system. A concerted effort must be made to establish clear standards for students and schools. Wants to end social promotion. Would also take similar stand with teachers: only good ones deserve better pay. Badillo has said he would require a written explanation for every teacher who was not working in the classroom so that he could find out why class sizes were so large and reduce them. Favors abolishing the Board of Education and would ask for the resignation of Schools Chancellor Harold O. Levy, whom he accused of failing to enforce uniform standards for all public school children.

Michael Bloomberg (Republican): "We all are at fault when we allow our children to fail without trying to change the system. We are hypocrites if we demand standards and effort from the students but we fail to put in the effort to change a failed system. We must replace partisanship and patronage with accountability and innovation." (Bloomberg campaign, mikeformayor.org) Bloomberg wants to be sure that the $12 billion currently spent on public education is used wisely. Any new funding should be vigorously justified and reviewed skeptically until the city shows the taxpayers that it's doing the job. Would re-evaluate and re-qualify teachers every second year. Peer review should be used to decide qualifications (test subjects & methodology). Supports an across-the-board salary increase for teachers. Savings from efficiencies in the contracts with the teachers, staff and facilities should be used to increase their compensation. In return, Bloomberg supports school-based merit pay to reward good teachers. Would also introduce a "customer service mentality" into the education system. Teachers, principals and other school professionals must visit in the home every parent or guardian at least once per year and call him or her every term. In the absence of improvement in schools that languish on the statewide Schools Under Registration Review (SURR) list, privatization must be a real option available to parents and students in those schools. All students should wear uniforms. The mayor must encourage more public-private partnerships that would make after-school programs accessible to all public school children. Bloomberg would strongly lobby Albany to abolish The Board of Education. Says the mayor, with the advice and consent of the city council, must have a Commissioner of Education who reports directly to him.

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