NEW YORK, NY July 10, 2007 —Parents and teachers alike had a lot of questions at a hearing last night about the Bloomberg administration's plan to use hundreds of millions of dollars in new school aid. WNYC's Beth Fertig has more.
REPORTER: After 14 years of litigation, parents and education advocates said they were hoping the new state money would be used to lower class sizes. But they said the city's plan didn't include enough details. Teachers union president Randi Weingarten said the city's proposal to hire 1300 more teachers didn't guarantee principals would, in fact, make smaller classes.
WEINGARTEN: It's about saying to principals this is a mandate just like the 37 minutes for tutoring is a mandate!
REPORTER: About 100 people turned out for the first public hearing on the plan in the Bronx. The state requires the city to use $228 million of its new money on programs that will improve performance among its neediest students. The city is holding hearings in every borough this week before submitting comments to the state. For WNYC, I'm Beth Fertig.
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