Whereas, the Mayor’s preliminary budget cuts at least $500 million from the New York City Department of Education (DOE) budget, in addition to the cuts imposed on this school year; and

Whereas, according to the New York Independent Budget Office, the cuts in the Mayor’s preliminary budget for FY 2024 are projected to lead to another headcount loss of about 900 positions; and

Whereas, it is unclear how the DOE proposes to spend the additional $568 million in state Foundation Aid for next year, the final payment in three-year phase-in of about $1.3 billion, resulting from the CFE lawsuit meant to provide NYC students with their right to a sound, basic education including smaller classes; and

Whereas, it is also unclear if the adopted changes in the Fair Student Funding (FSF) formula, which will send an additional $90 million to schools with a high number of students in temporary housing and/or those in poverty will cause other school budgets to be cut by that same amount; and

Whereas, starting this fall, the DOE is mandated to start lowering class size by 20%, with far smaller class size caps to be required of all schools over the next five years, which will require more funding for space and staffing; be it therefore

Resolved that the UFT demands data showing the total and individual level at which schools would be funded next year (FY 2024) as compared to this year (FY 2023), via their entire Galaxy budgets as well as FSF allocations, to have a clear understanding of any potential reductions in school budgeted amounts; be it further

Resolved that the UFT will advocate that the budget, if adopted, will be used to maintain or supplement current staffing levels at schools unless there are register losses; be it further

Resolved that the UFT asks the DOE to clarify that the additional $90 million in FSF funds provided to schools with a high concentration of students in temporary housing and/or in poverty will not cause other schools to be cut by that same amount; be it further

Resolved that the UFT demands that funding for new capacity in the capital plan be expanded rather than cut, to ensure sufficient space for all schools to meet the class size caps in the new state law; be it further

Resolved that the UFT demands that the DOE include details as to how the $568 million in additional State Foundation Aid will be spent; be it further

Resolved that the UFT will urge the DOE to allocate these funds to schools to allow them to restore critical programs and positions eliminated during FY2023, and to help them reach the smaller class size caps that are mandated by the new state law.