West Orange School Budget Cuts Have Teachers, Parents Worried

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Community members in West Orange continue to sound off about cost-reduction measures that may soon take place in the district – including dozens of staff cuts.

Several people spoke against the proposed cuts at the West Orange Board of Education meeting on Monday.

Speaking during public comment, an eighth-grade teacher at Roosevelt Middle School said that 36 employees were informed their positions are being eliminated next year, including teachers, case workers, nurses and tech integration specialists. He credited superintendent Hayden Moore for “working to keep this number as low as possible,” but said it will inevitably lead to larger class sizes and other issues.

“These 36 people have dedicated countless hours to helping the students of this district, and they are being let go not because of performance – but to save money,” he argued.

Other local teachers also spoke during the meeting, pushing for more transparency to help alleviate anxiety and rumors about who might lose their job.

The meeting began with the board’s student liaisons expressing concern about this year’s budget woes on behalf of their peers.

“As student liaisons, we do not have much influence over what the budget cuts resulted in,” one of them said, adding that they are encouraging their friends and family to speak their minds at upcoming board meetings.

“Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, we are losing many teachers staff classes and extracurriculars that have been and always will be honored within our school,” she continued, thanking any teacher who may be laid off and saying that their students are “incredibly sorry and grateful for you.”

A public hearing for the adoption of the final budget is scheduled for May 5.

Watch footage from the April 28 meeting below (video is cued to public comment).

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Moore gave a preliminary budget presentation in March, noting that there are two budget challenges that the district has to contend with: a big drop in state aid, and rising operational costs.

Moore said that if a 2.3 percent tax levy increase takes place, the district would face a gap of about $8 million. Between 80 and 90 full-time positions would face elimination. It would mean a $242 yearly tax increase for a homeowner with a property valued at $615,472. Read More: Staff Cuts, Tax Hike Possible In West Orange School Budget

After the budget presentation, the district launched an online survey seeking feedback from the community about how to close the financial gap. Administrators got “numerous valuable suggestions,” according to Moore, including reorganizing the district’s middle schools to serve grades 6 to 8 in each. Read More: West Orange Schools Hack Away At Budget Gap (See Possible Cuts)

This option is still on the table, the superintendent said at Monday’s board of education meeting.

“It is no secret that our district is facing a financial deficit,” Moore said.

“But it is also no secret that our district has a history of making well-considered changes when needed,” he added, citing the consolidation of two high schools into West Orange High School in 1984.

Years ago, the district decided to create a “central 6” school by designating Edison exclusively for sixth-graders, with Liberty and Roosevelt educating seventh and eighth-graders. However – while this may have been suited for the educational environment 20 years ago – current data indicates that this configuration may no longer be effective, Moore said, suggesting a switch to a “6-7-8” middle school model.

This year’s budget crunch isn’t something that is only taking place in West Orange, the superintendent pointed out.

“School budgets are being cut across the state,” he said. “But unlike our neighbors, our changes can be implemented without further burdening the taxpayer.”

“Creating three middle schools is fiscally advantageous and will reduce transportation costs, which we can funnel back into our classrooms for students and staff,” Moore said.

Watch footage from the meeting below (video is cued to the discussion about middle school realignment).

MANDARIN CLASSES

More than 850 people have signed an online petition that urges administrators to “Keep Mandarin in West Orange Middle Schools.”

“Mandarin is one of the most spoken languages in the world, with over 900 million native speakers and over 1.2 billion who speak it total,” the petition states. “Whether it is because of family, or the interest of culture, many seek to learn the ins and outs of Mandarin in the Western world as it is vastly different from all of the romantic languages.”

“By cutting this program out from middle school, not only will it limit exposure to the world's largest language by native speakers – lowering diversity – but it will also stunt growth for those who do pursue in trying to learn it,” the petition alleges.

“To be inclusive of as many cultures as possible, it would be irrational to [exclude] the only Asian language,” the petition adds.

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