Central New York teachers may soon have to look elsewhere for a professional development center. This year's budget does not include funding for more than 130 teaching centers across the state.
Three teacher centers that serve Central New York are included in the cuts. The Central New York Teaching Center in East Syracuse, the Oswego County Teacher Center in Mexico and the Center State Teacher Center in New Hartford are all set to close unless the state restores funding cuts. The Cayuga-Onondaga Teacher Center in Auburn has already closed.
The teaching centers cost the state $35 million dollars to operate. The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Union is pushing the state to restore some money for the centers. The union is also looking for grants to help save the centers. NYSUT says the centers provide professional development and resources for teachers. The Central New York Teaching Center is running on reserve funds which will run out at the end of the summer.
