NYSUT’s Steve Allinger says the school budgets approved across the state May 17th , combined with New york City’s budget cuts, will result in the lay offs of nearly 16,000 teachers, and closures of programs like pre-kindergarten and all day kindergarten. He says a better alternative is to extend the millionaire’s tax instead.

“We’re asking the governor and the legislature to revisit these draconian cuts,” said Allinger.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has introduced a bill to extend the temporary income tax surcharge on New Yorkers earning more than a million dollars a year. Organizers say they see a “window of opportunity” to try to get Governor Cuomo and Senate Republicans to go along. Both have said no so far.