A majority of City Council members chided Schools Chancellor Cathie Black Tuesday for her plans to seize the rainy-day funds of frugal principals.
Cash-strapped Education Department officials said last month they were offering principals a choice to spend their savings -or lose 50 cents of every dollar they keep for next year.
Then officials announced a compromise measure on Monday, saying they would only take 30% of the funds.
But 31 City Council members rejected that step, criticizing the agency's move in a letter to Black.
"This is about doing what is right for our schools and what is right for our students," said Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens). "To take back funding that is already given is nothing more than robbery."
Last year, principals rolled $80 million over to this year to buffer their schools from expected deep spending cuts.
Education Department officials declined to comment.
Councilwoman Crowley is exactly right - and that makes both Bloomberg and Black the robbers.
The DOE obviously felt anther pressure to try and "compromise" - saying they'll only take 30% of the unused school funds rather than 50% - but that is STILL not good enough.
The City Council must not only hammer Black but also the man REALLY calling the shots on this - Bloomberg.
Maybe if the principals were going to use the money for scotch and birth control, Chancellor Black would let them keep 100% of it?
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