June 1, 2021
by Sam Pirozzolo
This opinion is in response to a recent NY Post Article, NYC public schools’ daily enrollment plunges to around 890K: DOE records
Clearly, if there were ever a time for the Federal Government, the NYS Education Department, and the De Blasio bashing Governor Cuomo to launch an investigation into the NYC Department of Education – NOW is the time.
Basically, in my opinion, there are just two things you need to know about NYC’s Department of Education budget. One, the budget is $34 Billion, and two, everything you are told about how the budget is calculated and allocated is either a lie or a significant deception at best.
In a recent NY Post article, it has been uncovered that enrollment in NYC public schools is down by 210,000 students due to Mayor de Blasio’s incompetent management of the pandemic and cowering consultations with NYC’s 2nd mayor, UFT President Michael Mulgrew.
Using simple math, the department of Education stands to lose a whopping $5 Billion in future per-student funding. I’m sorry to say but that is where the truth ends, and the smoke and mirrors begin.
Mayor de Blasio is already claiming that the loss of enrolment numbers is false, yet DoE spokeswoman Danielle Filson seems to agree with a significant reduction in numbers. Heck, this is probably the one time that de Blasio is HAPPY to count charter school enrollment as part of the Fair Student Funding formula. I can see it now, a passive enrollment requirement.
All NYC public school children remain on the school roster until theDoE is officially notified by fed-up, fleeing parents that they have removed their children from the system. Let’s ignore the fact that tens of thousands of students haven’t attended online classes – the DoE needs the money. Let’s ignore the fact that private school enrolment has surged – the DoE needs the money. Let’s ignore the fact that the demand for charter schools is greater than ever – the DoE needs the money.
As happy as some people may be that finally the DoE may be held accountable for the poor job, they do in providing a basic education to now 890,000 students, I’m sorry to say that it is only a matter of time before the NYS Legislature will “adjust” the funding formula to make sure that the DoE gets exactly the same amount of funding – why – because the DoE needs the money. How, exactly, can that be unnoticed by the Federal Government?
Assemlymember Sam Pirozzolo
Sam Pirozzolo is a native Staten Islander. He is a frequent contributor to the Staten Islander, and is well-known and loved by people on both the Right and Left, in his North Shore community. Sam brings people together, instead of dividing, by speaking common sense and analyzing our island's, and city's, issues, with intelligence and concern for all. Sam Pirozzolo was elected to the New York State Assembly on November 8, 2022. The 63rd Assembly District represents parts of Richmond County. Sam has successfully operated his family’s optical practice for 33 years. He is the past president of Community Education Council 31 where he served for seven years. Some of his most notable accomplishments include the creation of a Gifted and Talented program for middle school students, the recommendation for the NYC Department of Education to hire retired police officers as school resource officers, and the successful fight for the immediate cleanup of toxic PCBs leaking from the light fixtures in school classrooms. As an education advocate, Sam has participated in historic litigation that led to the return of more than $4 billion to New York public schools. He also fought to ensure that co-located charter schools receive the same capital funding as their host public schools. While serving in the Legislature, Sam will work to support law enforcement officers with proper funding, fix broken bail and parole policies, and help small businesses grow and thrive in a stronger, more resilient economy.