City To Hire More Than 100 Full-Time Art Teachers Following Comptroller Study
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A study conducted by city Comptroller Scott Stringer recently found that 419 New York City public schools lack a full-time arts teacher.
As WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported, the study prompted Mayor Bill de Blasio to announce an additional $23 million in funding to hire 120 art teachers for the upcoming school year.
The announcement was made at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. It was accompanied by music from a middle school orchestra.
Administration officials said arts funding has been reduced dramatically in recent years. De Blasio said the investment will help children in "school and in life.''
Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina called the move "an unprecedented step forward for arts and culture education in the city."
Farina called the additional money for the arts a dream come true.
"First and foremost I do believe that arts are not a frill. For people who think that the arts is another way to waste time or to build in something else, that's not what it is. The arts in many, many ways, particularly in middle school, make kids come to school," she said.
The city also plans to rehabilitate dilapidated arts facilities in dozens of schools.
The funding is part of the budget approved by the City Council last week. It covers Fiscal Year 2015, which began Monday.
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