HOST INTRO: Mayor DeBlasio says fifty schools in poor neighborhoods are getting more money to keep teachers in classrooms. The initiative was first announced in October. Today the mayor revealed which schools will receive the money. As Shannon Lin tells us, most of the schools are in the Bronx.
LIN 1: Schools in low-income areas aren’t attractive to many teachers, because they get paid less. And they face more challenges. Things like more English-language learners and kids that sometimes come to school hungry. Andrew Pecunia (pey-KUN-ya) teaches computer science at Kingsbridge High. He spent $1,000 out-of-pocket on food and other supplies last semester alone.
PECUNIA 1 It might sound silly but my kids don’t always have food at their house so sometimes I have food available for them to eat. Cause I know Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. If you don’t have food, you can’t learn.
LIN 2: Today, DeBlasio announced the details of the Bronx Plan, a set of comprehensive initiatives to keep teachers in underserved schools.
DEBLAISO 1
I believe that here in the Bronx, the place that was left behind, the seeds are being planted for change all over this nation right here in the Bronx.
LIN 2: Under the Bronx Plan, teachers will be paid an extra $5,000 to $8,000. The average salary of a teacher in the Bronx is around $60,000 a year. ((SOUND: Endry’s music playing in the background ))
That’s the sound from Patrick Pelissier’s music class. He is a teacher at Highbridge Green.
LIN 3: The plan would also give him more money for his classrooms. Pelissier says he would like to buy better music software.
PELISSIER 1:
More resources the better it is. I will always campaign for that for sure.
LIN 3: While officials and school administrator say they are happy with the Bronx Plan, some parents want to hear more. Grisel (gre-zel) Cardona is with the Parent Action Committee, a multicultural community group advocating for their kid’s education.
Cab1: As PAC, we would like to sit in the conversation with the district, the equity, and the culturally responsive education. We would like to sit in all conversation.
LIN 4: The plan is a part of a contract reached with the United Federation of Teachers last October. This fall, 180 historically underserved schools are expected to be selected for additional funding. Shannon Lin, Columbia Radio News.
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