NYC-WTC_000230703

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

THE NEV/ York TIMES, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2001

Disaster Relief for the Schools Count the New York City school system among beyond a few schools in Lower Manhattan. Chancel­ the victims of Sept. 11. Already struggling before lor Levy estimates that children throughout the the terrorist attack, the schools have been rocked by system have lost a minimum of two weeks of, disaster-related expenses that have further under­ instructional time because of the trauma associated ' mined the system’s ability to provide the basic with the terror attacks. The lost time looms espe­ education that the city’s children are entitled to cially large for fourth and eighth graders, who must. . under’the law. cake state English and math tests in December. The New York City Board of Education began While the school system’s financial resources are this school year under a “bare bones” state budget shrinking, no one has suggested reducing the in­ that provided less than a third of the assistance creasingly high standards its students must meet to that the State Board of Regents said was necessary pass from grade to grade and graduate from high to provide students around New York with the school. books, teachers and buildings they need to meet Mr. Levy has applied for federal disaster aid to the new standards and requirements laid out in pay for the cleanup, lost equipment, relocation state law. Schools Chancellor Harold Levy respond­ costs, lost instructional time and counseling that ed to the dismal situation by drawing up plans to many children and teachers will need. It is unclear cut music and art classes, after-school programs whether the federal government will cover these and guidance counselors. The prospect of cutting costs. The costs connected with this disaster could ‘ guidance counselors seems unacceptable now that eventually exceed $200 million — a great deal of . traumatized school children need them more than, money for a gravely underfinanced system. ever. The Legislature rationalized the inadequate The collapse of the World Trade Center forced budget it passed this summer by suggesting that it the Board of Education to close seven buildings and would revisit the school funding issue when it recon­ shift nearly 6,000 students to other schools around vened this fall. The prospect of more state aid for the city that were already overcrowded and under­ education seems remote given the economic cli­ staffed, Some schools in lower Manhattan are ex- mate at the moment. However, the Legislature pected to remain closed for a month or longer, while could temporarily revise the education aid formula the children attend class in split sessions elsewhere that it passed this summer, when it dramatically around the city. Attendance plummeted just after increased statewide school building funds and di­ the disaster, causing students to lose valuable in­ rected the money disproportionately to affluent structional time and endangering state school aid communities. Whatever the route, the Legislature’s ,, that is based impart on attendance figures. respj^nse to the terrorist attack nwst begin with The dislocation and tumult has extended well helping the city schools recover.

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NYC-WTC_000230703