May 9 was not a warm night, yet Board of Education members seemed to sweat when they passed a resolution that cut six teachers from the payroll.
“This is one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make since I came onto this board,” said Board President Ed Rittberg. The cuts were made despite the fact that voters approved the School Board’s $22 million budget for 2002-2003 and a $175,000 second ballot question.
School officials said increased health insurance and state requirements for special education programs brought costs right up to the state-imposed 3 percent limit on spending.
Two full-time and two part-time teachers were released, along with one full- and one part-time clerical position.
Released from the districts were Anne Walka and Jose Martinez, two full-time teachers, Jonathan McClain and Anthony Riccio, two part-time teachers, and Valerie Giambona, a full-time clerical employee and Ann White, a part-time clerical employee.
“We knew that we would be making cuts,” said board member Eleanore Reinl. “But we did not know the names of the people until tonight. We had to give them some notice.”
Board member Bill Millevoi said it was a strange situation because the budget passed and the board still had to let people go.
Schools Superintendent Constintino Scerbo said it would have been significantly worse had the voters not approved the budget.
“We would have had to let even more people go,” Board President Ed Rittberg said.
Scerbo said this was the first time in his 18 years as superintendent that cuts were made even after voters approved the budget.
“This was difficult,” he said. “But the increases were so great and we had so little control over the increases, we had no choice.”
Board President Ed Rittberg said the district had added “a tremendous number of staff members” over the last four years, to accommodate the needs of students.
“It is unfortunate that we now have to let people go,” he said. “But the circumstances are beyond our control. Medical costs, special education and other expenses pushed this budget up.”
Along with teachers, the board also cut extracurricular positions, which will cause an end next year to some afternoon programs currently offered to students.
After-school activities that will cease include: Art Club, Business Club, and Helping our Planet Earth Club. They will also include central detention at the High School; Broadcasting Club, Foreign Language Club, WKPN News, New Beginnings Club, and Mini-Courses at the Middle School. They will not look for people to fill the positions of Conflict Resolution & Peer Mediator, Physical Education Gymnastics Show, Primary Lunchtime Intramural Program, Primary Lunchtime Intramural, and Intermediate Lunchtime Intramural. Also not posted for the next year are the Technology Coordinators. The equipment manager position as the high school will also not be filled this year.
At the same meeting in which the Board of Education made cuts to other programs, it agreed to post for several special education positions. Included in this list, the board is seeking a speech therapist, occupational therapist, and a special education teacher.
This is to accommodate children who need to study during the summer months, Scerbo said. He also noted that in the past, the schools used a firm for occupational therapy.
“We’re hoping that if we hire an individual we will save money,” he said.
Approvals on expansion
Huber Street School’s expansion got its certificate of substantial approval, said board member Anthony Rinaldi. This means that the architect has declared the majority of the steel, plumbing electrical and other work largely complete, and the building meets all of the building codes required under the law. It also starts the clock ticking on various warrantees, such as for the roof and other items.
The Clarendon School expansion is very close to getting a temporary certificate that would allow that school to begin using the space.
“We can expect students to move in within a couple of days,” Rinaldi said.
Computers are currently being installed and plumbing inspected. Teachers are already moving things into the new section, Scerbo said.
The date of dedication for the new wing might be early June, although if delayed beyond that, it will have to wait until September because of the various promotion ceremonies slated for the schools.
Board member Michael Schlemm said the board is in the process of working out architectural and engineering details and hopes to go out to bid for work on the high school venting system. This project was approved by voters in April as a second ballot question.
Over continued objections of Reinl, the board approved next year’s school calendar that sets aside four weeks off in place of some of the usual legal holidays.
Teachers parking on street questioned
Board member Tom Troyer said he had received complaints from residents on Huber Street and other streets located near Huber Street School. Teachers were apparently ignoring free parking in the town-owned lot on Paterson Plank Road and parking on the street, raising the ire of local residents who cannot find parking near their homes.
“I’m not saying teachers are wrong,” Troyer said. “If they are residents of Secaucus they have a right to park wherever they want. But I understand why residents are upset since there aren’t enough places to park”
Two years ago, the town built a parking lot on Paterson Plank Road to provide school personnel with parking so that the school could be expanded into the old parking lot. School personnel were granted free parking, whereas anyone else – including residents – would have to pay.
Troyer said that adding insult to injury, some teachers still displayed their free parking lot passes while parking on the street.
Rittberg said the board could not force these teachers to park in the lot. Town officials said teachers apparently complained about minor dents caused by the car doors of other cars opening. Town officials said teachers tended to ignore areas of the lot assigned to them, thus putting their cars at risk.
Mayor Dennis Elwell said the town would seek to assign specific spots for teachers as to avoid such occurrences next year, but said any enforcement against cars parking on the street would hurt residents as much as the teachers.