Catholic School Parents Angry at Albany

MYFOXNY.COM - Monsignor Farrell High School on Staten Island opened its doors to hundreds of worried parents whose kids attend Catholic Schools. They're sending a strong message to Albany: Don't discriminate and give us what we're owed.

The gym was jammed with more than 500 parents, all worried they're paying too much and not getting what they're owed by the state.

James Cultrara of the New York State Catholic Conference said Albany has not reimbursed parochial and private schools for mandated programs, going back to 2003, and that now the addition of the payroll tax to bailout the MTA is deepening the debt to the tune of $243 million, or a shortfall of about $500 per student.

"We're being double taxed and we're actually saving the state money by keeping our kids out of public schools," Cultrara said.

Speakers told the crowd that if the state doesn't pay up the same way they do to public schools, tuition hikes of about $500 per student could be coming.

Many parents say their finances are already stretched thin..

The leaders here say they'll keep the pressure on to make sure Catholic Schools get the same treatment as public schools, and are introducing legislation that will make that the law.