THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

EUGENIO MARIA DE HOSTOS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL 318

101 WALTON STREET, BROOKLYN, N.Y. 11206

Phone  (718) 782-0589  /  Fax  (718) 384-7715  /  IS318.com

 

Principal                                                                                                       Assistant Principals

Fortunato V. Rubino                                                                        John Galvin              Zbigniew Makuch

Martha Misseri          Leander E. Windley

Dear Parents and/or Guardians:

 

            I want to take this opportunity to inform you of the latest changes that have impacted our school budget.  As of January 8th, I.S. 318 has been given an unfair mid-year budget cut of 2.6 % or $260,000.  Other schools were cut 1%.  At our first PTA meeting Mr. Rubino spoke about the possibility of a mid-year budget cut that would most probably be around 1% of our total school budget.  As we anticipated, the school system’s budget was cut was 1% or $104,403.  We were prepared to meet our obligation with respect to this cut.  Presently, the state and city are experiencing some tough financial times and we do understand that decisions about cuts throughout the city will impact our school’s budget.

 

            Each year there is a mid-year assessment that is completed for each school.  In June, we projected a register for September (we projected 1507 students).  If not enough students are admitted, we are responsible to return the funds that were allocated for those students. If the register increases in September (we increased to 1608), we get the increased funds to address these students ($432,000). In addition to the mid-year budget cut, an unprecedented decision was made to deny the full funding for the increased register that we experienced (101 students). We received 55% of the $432,000 which was only $276,556 and some of this reflects full funding for Special Education students.  Due to this change, we sustained another budget cut of $155,444. Our total budget cut is $259,847 or 2.6% of our budget.

 

            Over the years, the methodology for funding schools has changed from funding classes and teachers to funding students using a method called Fair Student Funding.  The whole concept of Fair Student Funding was to establish a funding pattern where the allocation for each child follows them to the school where they are actually attending.  We have not received the funding for 45 students. Additionally, we have already established two homerooms that have teachers (3), books, materials, etc.  When we accepted these students and created positions, obtained materials etc., we expected the funds to be allocated.  Due to these cuts, many of our special programs such as After School and Saturday Programs, Chess, Music and Marching Band, and our programs for struggling and gifted students are in danger of being cut.

 

            These issues are affecting the education that your child receives at I.S. 318 and as a community we need to fight these injustices. 

 

There will be a meeting of the Community Education Council at I.S.

71 (215 Heyward Street) tomorrow at 6:30 PM. 

 

There will also be an emergency PTA meeting on Thursday, January

21st at 6:30 PM at I.S. 318

 

Mr. Rubino has agreed to speak to the CEC about our issues and he will be present at the meeting tomorrow.  We also want to encourage all parents to attend both meetings.

 

                                                                                    Connie Cardona

                                                                                    PTA President