Proposed Budget Five Year Capital Facilities Plan 3/4/07 Board President Lobbies Albany Lawmakers 2/27/07 Video of Mr. Pierorazio's Testimony Before NYS Legislative Committees Superintendent Presents Testimony in Albany to Support $26.8 Million in Education Funding for the Yonkers Public Schools Mr. Pierorazio Briefs Governor Spitzer's Staff About District Facilities Needs

$6.4 Million Needed for Yonkers Schools
With the release of the proposed 2007-2008 City of Yonkers Budget, the Yonkers Board of Education must aggressively campaign New York State to close the $6.4 million gap for next school year.  Superintendent of Schools Bernard P. Pierorazio, returned to Albany on April 25th to focus attention on fiscal and educational issues facing the District.  He met with state legislators and officials in a daylong campaign on behalf of the students of Yonkers.

The Yonkers Board of Education proposed a $463 million school budget for 2007-2008, investing in proven strategies and successful programs.  The City of Yonkers' proposed contribution for the operating budget is $207.8 million, the same level of support received from the City in the current fiscal year 2006-2007.  Additionally, the Mayor proposed in his budget for next fiscal year to honor the Board of Education's request to bond $50 million for capital improvements, as well as the Board's request for textbooks and equipment.   "These bond funds will begin to address the District's more than $300 million needed for basic school building repairs," indicated Superintendent Pierorazio, "it puts the District on track to repair schools with an average age of 65 years that have suffered years of neglect and deferred maintenance."

At the Public Hearing on the School Budget on March 21st, Superintendent Pierorazio presented a responsible 2007-2008 school budget that included necessary and long overdue increases in services to students.  According to Superintendent Pierorazio, "To meet the fiscal requirements of the 2007-2008 school budget at least $6.4 million must be forthcoming to the school district by July 2007.  Also in question is the lack of flexibility for the use of the $8.5 million allocated to Yonkers through the Supplemental Education Improvement Plan funds.  We must have the financial ability to maintain and expand our best practices that consistently demonstrate success, and improve in all other areas.  I am confident with sustained fiscal support Yonkers will sustain and improve our ongoing record of student achievement and institutionalize the fiscal accountability that we have begun to put in place."

Solutions exist to accomplish Yonkers Public Schools financial stability through the yet unassigned supplemental funds in the State budget, such as creating a new high achieving urban school initiative for large districts similar to Yonkers.  "The State Budget does not address the extraordinary circumstances that impact the Yonkers City School District," said Superintendent Pierorazio, "and our lawmakers must come together for the benefit of the 25,000 children who attend our public schools."