Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. joined dozens of parents, community members and members of Local 372 to protest the impending layoffs of over 700 school aides. The rally took place at P.S./I.S. 218/Rafael Hernandez Dual Language Magnet School on Gerard Avenue. In the Bronx, 121 school aides face layoffs.
“While I understand that our City faces serious economic hardships, our public education system is something I have always believed should be held harmless. The Department of Education’s budget cuts are forcing principals to let necessary staff go, and this will certainly have a negative effect on in-school performance. The Department of Education, which spends hundreds of millions of dollars on outside consultants and no-bid contracts, needs to realize where its priorities belong—in the classroom—and find a solution to save our schools from these layoff,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.