Teaneck School Board Nixes Outsourcing Plan

The school board has opted not to outsource some instructional paraprofessionals, lunchroom aides and substitute teachers, but left open the possibility of using outside staffers as district jobs become available.

An initial $91.9 million budget introduced earlier this month called for outsourcing 46 lunch aides, 27 instructional aides and substitute teachers in a move to save $800,000. The $92.7 million budget approved Wednesday night saved the district positions after school board members heard widespread opposition from employees and parents, many of children in the special education program.

Most members wanted to avoid outsourcing, but were faced with a tough financial reality, said Board of Education President Ardie Walser. The school board was working to be transparent throughout the process, he added.

“It’s a necessary evil when we look at what’s going on in these economic times,” Walser said of possible outsourcing.

The district may still use outsourced staff to fill positions of instructional paraprofessionals and lunchroom aides who leave their district jobs, and for new positions, Business Administrator Robert Finger said. The school board would have to first approve a contract before outsourcing the jobs. 

Cutting per diem payments to substitute teachers by $10 a day would save about $45,000, according to Finger. The district would also go from four to two unarmed security guards at Teaneck High School to save $36,000.

A Teaneck police detective is assigned the school and the building has an extensive security system, Finger noted.

THS Principal Dennis Heck was consulted on the reduction and said his staff along with the police department’s school resource officer would be adequate, Finger said. More guards, who are not district employees, could be added if needed.

Additional reduction in administrative positions would save $255,000 in total, while the district planned to save another $30,000 by opting not to replace a technology department van, he said.

Courtesy busing would also be cut, with the mileage requirement increased from .9 miles to 1.3 miles at a savings of $100,000, Finger said. Another $95,000 would be saved by using fewer buses to transport non-public school students.

Other changes to the budget included $260,000 to purchase computers required for students to take online tests starting in the 2014-2015 school year. A math enrichment program, called GoMath!, will also be expanded, along with new textbooks and professional development.

Under the budget, the school tax would increase $91.42 on the average assessed township home. The final amount depends on if the township conducts a reassessment. Without a reassessment, it could jump to $196.74. 

The tax levy grew to $78.9 million, reflecting a 1.5 percent increase.  

Board of Education member Sebastian Rodriguez pointed to new programs in the budget that would benefit district students.

“I said before this budget is not only about cutbacks, or reductions or outsourcing,” Rodriguez said. “It’s also about adding much needed educational initiatives that we have been postponing for three or four years.”

David Gruber, the only board member to vote against the budget, said it was a chance for Teaneck to take on long-term financial planning and ask for "shared sacrifice." 

Click to view more details about the school budget 

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