ICYMI: Hillsborough Teachers' 'Call For Transparency' To Board

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — With the looming expiration of Hillsborough Township Public Schools' teachers' contracts, declining state aid and the rejection of higher taxes, the time for officials and teachers to agree on a new contract is running out. Months of inability to agree has put the Board of Education and the Education Association at odds, and the teachers' contracts expire June 30.

"The district’s budget shortfall can be blamed on many things, but it cannot and should not be blamed on our children, our school staff or our community," the Education Association said in a call for citizens to write letters, entitled "A Call for Transparency."

There's just one more board meeting before the contracts' expiration, TAP into Hillsborough reported, and 51 teachers' jobs are at stake—37 have been fired and the rest of the jobs will expire as the teachers holding them retire. The Hillsborough school administration held a job fair Monday, May 20, for those teachers, the outlet reported.

Voters in March rejected an $8 million influx of tax money into the school system in a referendum. The referendum was intended to implement a full-day kindergarten program as well as lay out a plan for long-term financial stability in Hillsborough. If passed, it would have increased 2019 property taxes approximately $25 per month on the average Hillsborough home assessed at $389,300.

See more on Patch:

• Voters Reject Hillsborough $8.09M School Referendum
• Hillsborough Teachers, School Unable To Reach Contract Settlement
• Hillsborough Schools Passes $130M Budget, To Lay Off 37 Staffers

"Following the failed referendum everyone understood difficult decisions were inevitable. However, the ones made last night do not reflect the best interests of our community. The Hillsborough Education Association is deeply saddened at the loss of so many dedicated professionals who positively impact students' lives. Diminishing academic programs, increasing class sizes, and undermining the high quality of our schools are unacceptable. Our community values honesty, integrity and a total commitment to keeping Hillsborough's schools among the best in the state. Our children deserve nothing less.," the Hillsborough Education Association stated.

The Education Association's "A Call for Transparency," urges the Board of Education to be more clear about their movement of money. "The Board has been questioned how monies were being budgeted, as well as its ability to transfer surplus to reinstate jobs and protect our students' educations, but any further request for specifics has been ignored," the association said.

As of publishing, the call has 623 letters of its goal of 800.