The city is appealing a judge’s decision to stop the Education Department from implementing budget cuts to schools, stating that the order to use last year’s budget figures is hindering their ability to prepare for an orderly and on-time reopening of schools this September. 

The appeal comes after a state Supreme Court judge denied the city’s request to vacate a temporary restraining order requiring them to stop implementing cuts to school budgets and to instead fund them using last year’s budget figures.

In an affidavit, the schools chancellor argues the order is vague, sweeping, and difficult to interpret — and has severely disrupted planning for September. 

The filing argues the order is holding up staffing and other spending decisions for schools and that the department doesn’t have any legal authority to spend more money than it has been allocated in the current budget.

It’s in response to a suit filed by parents, who are hoping to force a new vote of the City Council on the budget. A hearing is scheduled for next Thursday.