Educators rally in Hauppauge against proposed budget cuts and possible layoffs

Members from the New York State United Teachers and hundreds of parents joined elected officials to voice their outage about sweeping cuts that would impact dozens of schools across Long Island.

News 12 Staff

Mar 16, 2024, 4:08 PM

Updated 265 days ago

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Teachers and administrators gathered in Hauppauge Saturday to rally against proposed school budget cuts and layoffs.
Members from the New York State United Teachers and hundreds of parents joined elected officials to voice their outage about sweeping cuts that would impact dozens of schools across Long Island.
Several schools, including Amityville and Riverhead, recently announced layoffs ranging from teachers to security personnel. Employees at the West Babylon School District are also facing possible layoffs.
Opponents of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s $400 million plan to reduce state aid to New York public schools say the plan does not prioritize students.
The state teacher’s union says schools on Long Island face over $76 million in cuts. Parents say the cuts would have a lasting impact on school communities for years to come.
“Coming out of COVID-19 with learning loss, we need to continue to build that education back,” said a parent.
The final state budget is due on April 1.
A spokesperson for the governor sent News 12 a statement: “Governor Hochul’s executive budget makes record-setting investments in New York’s future while ensuring the state remains on a stable long-term fiscal trajectory, and she will work with the Legislature to craft a final budget that achieves these goals.”