CEC 8 & CB 10 oppose DOE budget cuts
BY ALEX MITCHELL
Many in the Bronx from
parents to politicians recently
expressed a strong opposition
to potential department of education
budget cuts that would
come in the following academic
year.
During a recent CEC 8
meeting on Wednesday, June
17, State Senators Alessandra
Biaggi and Luis Sepulveda
along with Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto and Councilman
Mark Gjonaj all vowed
to do what lies within their
power to prevent school budget
cuts coming in part by the
ramifi cations of COVID-19.
While Sepulveda said that
the senate must be “vigilant”
in protecting the upcoming
school budget, Biaggi continued
on to say that her District
34 schools are owed about $46
million in funding as it is.
Also stressing a severe need
for federal aid, many of the
Bronx politicians that virtually
attended the Webex meeting
feared for a possible $20
billion budget defi cit upcoming
without proper assistance,
which Benedetto stressed
should be coming from Washington.
At a city level, Gjonaj gave
assurance to concerned members
of the CEC 8, saying, “I’ll
continue to fund every single
school in my district.”
Angela Torres, who’s on
the Community Board 10
youth and education committee
chair as well as the P.S 304
PTA vice president also spoke
at the meeting in regards to
the signifi cance of upcoming
fi nancial needs of Bronx
schools, fearing budget cuts
that escalate to 20 percent.
Shortly after, she along
with CB 10 voted to send a
letter to Gjonaj, Councilmen
Andy King and Ruben Diaz,
Sr. that would petition to keep
funding for local schools.
In addition to talks about
funding, the meeting also began
addressing what and how
there could be a potential return
to classrooms in the fall
months.
While nothing has been determined
at this time, the DOE
is looking into phased and rolling
starts as it begins looking
at reopening school districts.
This method would bring
in portions of the school while
administering social distancing
BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, JULY 3-9, 2020 BTR
protocols as well as students
having split schedules
during their physical time in
schools.
While a proper capacity is
still being determined, new
building procedures that will
likely be put into place would
intensely limit staff and student
movement during academic
days.
There will also be a need to
modify transportation such as
school buses and implement a
much more intense cleaning
regimen for buses, though a
concrete plan for that was not
discussed during that meeting.
Food safety was also a concern
on the minds of many
educators and a plan is to be
worked out on safely serving
students food in a post coronavirus,
modifi ed cafeteria.
The CEC 8 meeting also discussed
mental health in the
wake of the world’s global climate
and how social workers
and other professionals would
be utilized for families enduring
a heavy mental burden
during these intensely trying
times.
Exam with school student having a educational test, thinking hard, writing
answer in classroom for university education admission and world
literacy day concept File photo
James E. MaQuade, Owner
Family Owned & Operated for over 60 years
3535 East Tremont Avenue
Bronx, New York
718-792-0270
www.schuylerhill.com
If funeral homes were all the same,
Ours wouldn’t be the family choice
The families of our community so often choose our funeral home. Some come to us to pre-plan
arrangements because we offer all the options and choices they desire. Others come to us at their
time of need seeking guidance, support and the certainty of a funeral service that is correct in
every way. Should your family fi nd itself in need of our services, we hope you’ll make the choice so
many in our community have.
/www.schuylerhill.com
/www.schuylerhill.com