NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- New York City Mayor Bloomberg has made education a priority and to help in that goal he has been raising private sector funds, the New York Times reported.
Joel Klein, the public schools chancellor, has added fundraiser to his list of duties and $311 million has been raised, the newspaper said Saturday.
Although the more than $300 million pales in comparison to the $15 billion New York City public school budget, the funds -- used for research, development and experimental programs -- come with few strings attached, unlike tax monies, the Times reported.
More than $100 million has been used to start new small schools; nearly $70 million has been used to open an academy for principal training; $41 million has gone for a nonprofit center supporting charter schools; $11.5 million to renovate libraries; $8.3 million to refurbish playgrounds; and $5.7 million to reshape troubled high schools, the Times said.
