Suffolk school for the deaf fights for 'fair funding'

A petition is calling for fair funding for the Cleary School for the Deaf.

News 12 Staff

Jun 6, 2019, 5:15 PM

Updated 1,792 days ago

Share:

Parents, students, administrators and alumni of Cleary School for the Deaf in Nesconset have a petition going that says they don't have enough state money to pay for all of the students and families who want to attend the school.
Cleary has been around since 1926 and is one of three schools for the deaf on Long Island. It currently has 89 students ranging in age from preschoolers to 21.
"We are fighting for our share of fair funding," says administrator Alise Becker. "Our enrollment has continued to blossom and increase, with no funding increase. The money needs to follow the students."
Becker says one cost-saving measure implemented by the school is a wait list, on which there are about 20 families. Others include not filling open positions and reducing staffing hours.
Becker says all of Cleary's students are able to go to public school, but those institutions often don't have the services provided by Cleary.
Jessica Zane's daughter Hailey was a Cleary student for years. The girl graduated and now attends school in her own district, while wearing hearing aids. Her mother says depriving students of the education they need and deserve is unfair.
The Change.org petition can be found HERE.


More from News 12
1:55
Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

Large fire at 2-story Bensonhurst building leaves home destroyed

2:13
Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

Temperatures cool off heading into the weekend for NYC

1:59
Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

Community members affected by Bushwick fire regroup, attempt to move forward

1:41
New survey highlights challenges for migrants

New survey highlights challenges for migrants

1:55
PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

PS 331 in Borough Park to be renamed in honor of slain Detective WenJian Liu

0:43
2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

2 City Council committees hold joint hearing on sexual harassment policies

4:14
'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

'We lost something good'. FDNY says large fire destroys Bushwick supermarket, leaves 55 people homeless

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

Diocese of Brooklyn: 3 Catholic academies to close at the end of the school year

2:03
New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

New exhibit at Brooklyn Museum unveils new photos taken by Beatles' Paul McCartney

0:32
NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

NYPD: Suspect driver wanted for assaulting 59-year-old man in Williamsburg

0:23
Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

Police: 2-car Prospect-Lefferts Gardens crash leaves person hospitalized

0:36
Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

Live Nation Concert Week offers $25 tickets to over 5,000 shows

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:27
Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

Kingsboro Psychiatric Center workers demand their bosses get fired due to bullying, nepotism

1:53
Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

Crowds gather again at Stony Brook University following night of 29 arrests during pro-Palestinian protest

1:51
RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

RFK announces he has enough signatures to appear on NY ballot

1:46
Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

Tenants weigh in on possible rent hikes for rent-stabilized homes

1:38
Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

Parks Department held community input meetings over new construction of skate parks

1:27
Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash

Power restored in Manhattan Beach following 18-wheeler truck crash