Mindful of their concerns, Ms. Thomson, the Queens representative, said that her primary interest in studying the new plan would be to determine "how much is real dollars."

Over the last week, Terri Thomson, the Queens representative and the swing vote on the board, has met with Mr. Thompson several times, she said.

But Terri Thomson, the Queens representative, said: "I see this as a great step in giving more support to the children in the classroom.

Ms. Thomson, the Queens representative, did not return several telephone calls seeking comment.

However, Carol A. Gresser, the Queens representative, said she would press promptly for one.

Mayor Giuliani controls at least three of those votes and has shown he can corral a fourth, that of the Queens representative, when necessary.

Terri Thomson, the Queens representative on the Board of Education, said that Queens was short 27,000 seats last year.

Speaking for Parents "I have a real problem circumventing parents," said Ms. Gresser, the Queens representative, in an interview after the hearing.

Terri Thomson, the Queens representative on the board, spearheaded the effort to make sign language the primary language at the school.

Carol A. Gresser, the Queens representative, said she could not vote for a plan that denied parents "responsibility for their children's welfare."