BEA Pres. Rallies Support for Bloomfield Teachers

In a letter to parents, the head of Bloomfield's teachers Union urged parents to come out for the next BOE meeting.

The meeting, held at the high school auditorium on Tuesday night, follows last week's special meeting where the board passed a tentative budget that cut 86 teacher jobs as well as secretarial and administrative positions.

In a letter to parents, , Bloomfield Education Association President John M. Shanagher asked that parents attend the meeting to speak out on the budget. He said that he would be bringing a large number of BEA teachers but implored parents to attend and speak.

"Nothing I say will resonate with the Board and Administration as much as the comments they hear from you," Shanagher wrote in the letter.

After acknowledging that as the leader of the teachers' association, he had an obvious a vested interest in preserving jobs, he said the proposed cuts would harm the students.

"These cuts will not provide what used to be known as a thorough and efficient education," Shanagher wrote." Depending on exactly where the cuts are made, we could be facing increased class size along with the loss of vital support services."

Shanagher said he planned to ask for more answers at the Tuesday meeting but expressed frustration at shifting information from the board members.  

 "In response to specific questions from me, the number of cuts was announced as being 86 teachers, 2-4 administrative staff, and 4-5 secretaries," Shanagher said. "I understand that the numbers given at two home and school meetings were significantly lower than that, but from what I am hearing, we are still looking at up to 100 teachers as well as secretarial and supervisory cuts. Clearly, while I am happy that people are working to minimize the damage, we need numbers which do not change from hour to hour."

Shanagher said ihat with the finalized budget due to be sent to the state by March 27, parents need to speak out.

"At this point the Board and the Administration need to hear from you," Shanagher wrote. "It is your children who will be sitting in those classrooms and your tax dollars which pay the bills."