Raven
Friday, February 8th, 2008, 10:09 PM
(Albany, N.Y.) AP -- A state senator says it's "appalling" that the Spitzer administration rejected a Board of Regents proposal to hire more investigators of teacher sex cases involving students.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland told a budget hearing Monday that the move has the effect of saying it's okay to have "open season on children."
At issue is part of the Board of Regents' budget request to Governor Spitzer. The state Education Department in the current year is using $1 million to fingerprint teachers as part of a criminal background check. The Regents requested $1.4 million more for the next fiscal year for fingerprinting and other resources including more investigators and support staff.
Spitzer rejected the $1.4 million request and cut the $1 million for the processing of fingerprints in half. He said his administration plans to buy high-technology scanners to improve the fingerprinting process at less cost.
Spitzer budget spokesman Jeffrey Gordon said there will be just as much investigation, but it will be done more efficiently and at less expense.
Source (http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=ed38bc57-a943-4c75-b632-ec9268e02b31)
Senate Education Committee Chairman Stephen Saland told a budget hearing Monday that the move has the effect of saying it's okay to have "open season on children."
At issue is part of the Board of Regents' budget request to Governor Spitzer. The state Education Department in the current year is using $1 million to fingerprint teachers as part of a criminal background check. The Regents requested $1.4 million more for the next fiscal year for fingerprinting and other resources including more investigators and support staff.
Spitzer rejected the $1.4 million request and cut the $1 million for the processing of fingerprints in half. He said his administration plans to buy high-technology scanners to improve the fingerprinting process at less cost.
Spitzer budget spokesman Jeffrey Gordon said there will be just as much investigation, but it will be done more efficiently and at less expense.
Source (http://www.13wham.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=ed38bc57-a943-4c75-b632-ec9268e02b31)