The Education Mayor? Some Locals Think Not

At a rally that drew parents from nearly every area school to Grand Army Plaza on Friday afternoon, hundreds of protestors issues myriad complaints against Michael Bloomberg’s proposed budget cuts to New York City’s public schools.

But all those in attendance seemed to agree on one thing: the education mayor seems to have forgotten to put education first.

“No teacher layoffs,” said Shannon Hickey, a first grader from , speaking softly into the microphone.

“If I could talk to Mayor Bloomberg,” said P.S. 10 first grader Dov Alperin, “I would tell him that I know his job is hard, but if he just listened to the majority of New York city, he would hear that we do not want him to fire our teachers.”

The rally was  both in the neighborhood and citywide protesting Bloomberg’s proposed budget, which plans to not only lay off teachers and increase class sizes, but devote mega money to testing and outside schools consultants.

Prospect Heights Councilwoman Letitia James, one of several area pols who spoke at the rally, said teacher cuts would lead to more kids per classroom – possibly as many as 30 per class ­­– and could be avoided through education cuts in other areas such as test prep, private consulting and “network leaders,” staffers who provide support and training to principals.

She added that while public schools are facing layoffs, the budgets for charter schools haven’t been reduced at all.

 “I have two kids, three years apart,” said PS 321 mom Sabine Rosenstein, “When one was in kindergarten, the class size was 19. Now for the other, it’s 24. With more and more budget cuts, it can only get worse.”

State Assemblymember Jim Brennan called for Bloomberg to bring back the Millionaire’s Tax, which will sunset this year, as a way to help raise money for the schools system.

“There are many realistic opportunities here,” said Brennan. “The major obstacle is Mayor Bloomberg.”

Park Slope Councilman Lander encouraged the kids to organize, calling 311, tweeting, signing letters, handing out flyers and marching down Prospect Park West to inform the Celebrate Brooklyn goers of the woes of the New York City school system.

But one young, budding comedian from PS 321 seemed to already have the answer: “Budget cuts?” he said, “I think Mayor Bloomberg needs a serious talking to.”

Amy Sara Clark contributed reporting to this article.