“There isn’t enough money to spend our way out of the crisis facing New York’s schools,” that is the case made by Questar III BOCES District Superintendent James N. Baldwin in an op-ed in today’s Albany Times-Union.

He writes: “Like many superintendents, I’ve participated in the annual procession to Albany — hat in hand. But not this year. Pleas for more dollars by superintendents, school boards, teachers and others to the Legislature and governor will likely fall on ears that may hear and want to help but can’t.

While New York taxpayers spend more than $50 billion annually on public education, no amount of money will alleviate the systemic issues facing our schools. With no more money available, the Legislature, governor and Regents, as well as school boards, superintendents, parents, teachers and the public, should focus on making schools better and more sustainable. ”

He goes on to offer sensible reforms that would make education more sustainable.

The Business Council supports high-quality education in New York, but with current spending patterns that are by far the highest in the nation we have unsustainable spending without getting the highest quality results.

Read the rest of the column.