David Yassky for New York City Comptroller

June 24, 2008

First Rate Schools

Every New York City school can and should offer a first-rate education for our kids, but in far too many of our schools districts that’s simply not the case. As neighborhoods have changed, the City has failed to plan appropriately and today, thousands of children struggle with bloated class sizes and underfunded schools.

We also need to re-examine the structure of Mayoral control, which was enacted to enhance accountability but has number of shortcomings that must be addressed. Parents and communities need to have a real opportunity for input into the decision-making process for schools in their neighborhoods. On a broader level, serious questions have been raised about procurement procedures and the fact that our schools fall outside the audit authority of the City Comptroller. We need close these loopholes to make sure that there are built-in systems of accountability and proper internal controls for education spending.

This year, I stood with Speaker Christine Quinn, Council Member Robert Jackson and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to oppose the Mayor’s cuts to the education budget, because every dollar we spend on New York’s children is an investment that will pay huge dividends in the future.

We need practical solutions to the problems in our schools. To improve the learning environment for all of our children, I have been a strong advocate for giving principals and teachers more authority to deal with unruly, disruptive students. I also led the fight in the Council to eliminate junk food and bring healthy options to our public school cafeterias. Kids don’t learn well if they’re not eating well, and it’s our responsibility to make that that the food we provide is nutritious and healthy.

As Comptroller, I will be relentless in demanding accountability and transparency in educational spending. I will also insist on urban planning audits to figure out where populations are rising and will require additional public schools. I believe that no family should have to look beyond their own neighborhood to secure a word-class public education for their children.

With the billions of dollars spent each year for our schools, it is shocking that when the state legislature put our schools under mayoral control, they did so without giving the City Comptroller the authority to audit school spending. I will work with the state legislature to correct this oversight, so city taxpayers can monitor how their tax dollars are being spent.