Mayor Miner promises to turn Syracuse Schools around. From dismal graduation rates to inadequate buildings, and Janice Speights came out to learn more. "It needs to change. Our buildings are horrible, some have not been looked at, even repaired, some haven't been patched up in years," says Speights.
While other big city mayors have taken control of their districts, Mayor Miner says she's not yet sold on the idea. She is making other promises though, including an end to years of stalled renovations through the Joint Schools Construction Board. Miner says, "By not making decisions or by making them and then two weeks later making different decisions, we have exacerbated the problem. As chair of that board, I am saying we will not do that. We will make decisions once and for all." The stalled projects have cost the district more than 80 million dollars in renovation grants. Miner, who now heads the board, is appointing new members to push projects along.
Miner also wants to expand Say Yes to Education, calling the program a success, but vulnerable in its infancy. Miner's plan expands scholarship funding for inner city students to have more choices when it comes to college and include families with incomes more than $75,000.
Mayor Miner did not mention in her speech whether she would raise taxes or not. When asked about how she would pay for some of her proposals, she did say raising taxes in this economy must only be used as a last resort.
