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The Record editorial: 'School budget 101' Monday, March 29, 2010 - IT'S DECISION time "...The local board of education is just one leg of a three-legged stool. Employees and parents can help bring budgets into balance.....We support the call by Governor Christie to ask unions to agree to a wage freeze. Many school administrators have already agreed to do so — including in Montvale. Teachers and other staff members should do the same. Virtually every school district is trying to reopen contracts. A survey of 23 districts found that wage freezes would save them $59 million next year, according to the state School Boards Association.....It's not the whole answer. But it's a big part. The NJEA and other state representatives should return to the bargaining table. And Christie may need to re-examine his vow not to renew the so-called "millionaire's" income tax for one year..."
Christie to teachers: "Step up to the plate" AN ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • March 28, 2010
"...One by one, school districts have been announcing plans to cut jobs, programs, busing and more. If the teachers union pushes for districts to agree to Christie's plan, a lot of those cuts could be halted.
The fight to reign in school spending desperately
needed someone to step into the ring on behalf of
the taxpayers. Christie did. Hopefully, both sides
can shake hands and come out working together —
for the children's sake."
The Record editorial: School budget 101
Monday, March 29, 2010
Last updated: Monday March 29, 2010, 6:52 AM
The Record
IT'S DECISION time.
Local school districts are facing an especially tough budget season this year, with historic cuts in state aid, sky-high benefits costs, struggling taxpayers and understandably worried parents.
This week, school boards will finalize their budget proposals, which must be submitted to the state by Saturday. We support a wide range of spending cuts and revenue boosters for next year, given the especially difficult finances plaguing every level of government — and many North Jersey households.
The cuts under consideration are deep. Virtually every district is planning layoffs, from three positions in Ringwood to 138 jobs in Passaic.
Consider Montvale, a small K-8 district that lost 90 percent of its anticipated state aid. The board proposed axing the middle school athletic program, music teachers, a librarian/media specialist, a guidance counselor and two classroom teachers, Staff Writer Denisa Superville reported. The priority: maintaining "core academic programs, in terms of class sizes," Superintendent William Belluzzi said.
That is how many districts are approaching the cuts. And it is understandable. Conventional wisdom says smaller classes equal better learning, and most research backs that up.
But keeping class sizes small must not be the only priority. It can't come at the expense of all clubs and sports. What doesn't sound essential to many grown-ups is very much at the core of how children learn and grow.
Who can deny the importance of learning that doesn't happen behind a desk? Of physical fitness and playing on a team, performing onstage in the school play or debate club, building the robot of one's dreams, mastering an instrument, exploring a foreign culture and forming the sort of lifelong friendships that flourish after the last bell rings?
We realize these are lofty questions to ask amid dwindling dollars and cents.
The local board of education is just one leg of a three-legged stool. Employees and parents can help bring budgets into balance.
We support the call by Governor Christie to ask unions to agree to a wage freeze. Many school administrators have already agreed to do so — including in Montvale. Teachers and other staff members should do the same. Virtually every school district is trying to reopen contracts. A survey of 23 districts found that wage freezes would save them $59 million next year, according to the state School Boards Association.
It's not the whole answer. But it's a big part. The NJEA and other state representatives should return to the bargaining table. And Christie may need to re-examine his vow not to renew the so-called "millionaire's" income tax for one year.
Activity fees paid by families, such as those under consideration in Tenafly and Wayne, can be part of the solution too. The Record's editorial page has not favored such fees in the past, because it would immediately separate the "haves" who could afford to pay from the "have-nots." That shouldn't happen in public schools, which were designed to be free to all.
But if the choice is between cancelling activities and adding a temporary fee, we are of a different view. This is an exceptional situation. We're hopeful that school districts will be in a better financial state this time next year. Districts should consider activity fees in communities where parents are likely to pay them, but not from students who receive free or reduced-price school lunches. Ridgewood and West Milford already have such fees; nearly one-third of school districts surveyed by the state School Boards Association are proposing them.
Virtually every school district is holding final public budget hearings this week. Community members and employees should attend with an open mind. Targeted program cuts, fees for service and wage freezes can help bring budgets into balance — without cutting the history club, soccer or the school play.
IT'S DECISION time.
Local school districts are facing an especially tough budget season this year, with historic cuts in state aid, sky-high benefits costs, struggling taxpayers and understandably worried parents.
This week, school boards will finalize their budget proposals, which must be submitted to the state by Saturday. We support a wide range of spending cuts and revenue boosters for next year, given the especially difficult finances plaguing every level of government — and many North Jersey households.
The cuts under consideration are deep. Virtually every district is planning layoffs, from three positions in Ringwood to 138 jobs in Passaic.
Consider Montvale, a small K-8 district that lost 90 percent of its anticipated state aid. The board proposed axing the middle school athletic program, music teachers, a librarian/media specialist, a guidance counselor and two classroom teachers, Staff Writer Denisa Superville reported. The priority: maintaining "core academic programs, in terms of class sizes," Superintendent William Belluzzi said.
That is how many districts are approaching the cuts. And it is understandable. Conventional wisdom says smaller classes equal better learning, and most research backs that up.
But keeping class sizes small must not be the only priority. It can't come at the expense of all clubs and sports. What doesn't sound essential to many grown-ups is very much at the core of how children learn and grow.
Who can deny the importance of learning that doesn't happen behind a desk? Of physical fitness and playing on a team, performing onstage in the school play or debate club, building the robot of one's dreams, mastering an instrument, exploring a foreign culture and forming the sort of lifelong friendships that flourish after the last bell rings?
We realize these are lofty questions to ask amid dwindling dollars and cents.
The local board of education is just one leg of a three-legged stool. Employees and parents can help bring budgets into balance.
We support the call by Governor Christie to ask unions to agree to a wage freeze. Many school administrators have already agreed to do so — including in Montvale. Teachers and other staff members should do the same. Virtually every school district is trying to reopen contracts. A survey of 23 districts found that wage freezes would save them $59 million next year, according to the state School Boards Association.
It's not the whole answer. But it's a big part. The NJEA and other state representatives should return to the bargaining table. And Christie may need to re-examine his vow not to renew the so-called "millionaire's" income tax for one year.
Activity fees paid by families, such as those under consideration in Tenafly and Wayne, can be part of the solution too. The Record's editorial page has not favored such fees in the past, because it would immediately separate the "haves" who could afford to pay from the "have-nots." That shouldn't happen in public schools, which were designed to be free to all.
But if the choice is between cancelling activities and adding a temporary fee, we are of a different view. This is an exceptional situation. We're hopeful that school districts will be in a better financial state this time next year. Districts should consider activity fees in communities where parents are likely to pay them, but not from students who receive free or reduced-price school lunches. Ridgewood and West Milford already have such fees; nearly one-third of school districts surveyed by the state School Boards Association are proposing them.
Virtually every school district is holding final public budget hearings this week. Community members and employees should attend with an open mind. Targeted program cuts, fees for service and wage freezes can help bring budgets into balance — without cutting the history club, soccer or the school play.
Christie to teachers: "Step up
to the plate"
AN ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • March 28,
2010
As boards of education across the state were
sending notices to teachers, administrators and staff
that layoffs and program cuts are on the horizon,
Gov. Chris Christie threw down the gauntlet to about
180,000 members of the New Jersey Education
Association: Accept a pay freeze and contribute
more toward their health benefits to avoid
widespread layoffs and property tax increases.
The NJEA threw it back, insisting that money should
come from extending a tax on the wealthy.
Hopefully, local unions won't be so resistant.
Teachers shouldn't be forced to give up their
contractual agreements, but if their motivation — as
Christie said — is that "it's all about the kids," they'd
go a long way in proving that if they voluntarily
gave up the automatic salary hikes that are built into
many of their contracts and made a modest
contribution toward their benefits.
In a letter to the NJEA, Christie on Tuesday asked
that all school districts and local education
associations reopen teacher contracts. Speaking to
the Asbury Park Press editorial board the same day,
Christie said a wage freeze and contribution of 1.5
percent of salaries toward health benefits would
save taxpayers $800 million and nearly make up for
all the state's cuts in school aid. If it were "all about
the kids," you'd think the NJEA would support that
idea, as it would keep more teachers in the schools
and help keep taxes down during these troubling
economic times.
Think again. Instead, NJEA President Barbara
Keshishian balked at the request, suggesting others
be taxed to pay for education and saying "NJEA
members will not be bullied by this governor into
paying for his misguided priorities."
Christie had some motivation earlier Tuesday from a
woman in Somerville who expressed the frustrations
felt by many non-public sector workers. She had her
pay frozen for two years, and indeed received less
money last year because of three weeks of
furloughs.
"She had very little sympathy for the teacher's union,
which has had 4- and 5- percent salary increases
and very little contribution toward their health
expenses," Christie said.
Indeed, many private sector workers would be doing
cartwheels down the street if they had a pay raise, or
even a pay freeze, as opposed to pay cuts,
furloughs and layoffs that reduced or eliminated
their income in the last few years.
And Christie said the average teacher earning
$50,000 a year, by contributing a paltry 1.5 percent
of his or her salary toward benefits, would pay a
total of $750 per year for full medical and dental
coverage for their families. It's mind-boggling that
anyone would argue against such a meager
contribution.
If unions heed his call, Christie should also find a
way to help out those that have been frugal all
along. Not every district has been on a wild
spending spree and for some, the pay freeze and
health care giveback won't come close to the cuts in
state aid.
Christie's practically got the boxing gloves on for
this one, ready to take on the NJEA. "It it's all about
the children, then step up to the plate," Christie said
Tuesday.
Everything Christie said makes sense. The New
Jersey School Boards Association supported his call,
saying it agreed with his findings that the pay freeze
and modest givebacks toward benefits would save
jobs and prevent heavy property tax increases. How
can the NJEA argue with that? The NJEA instead said
he should extend a surcharge on the state's
wealthiest residents.
But Christie pointed out that New Jersey's school
salary and benefit costs are the highest in the
nation, and they're rising at three times the rate of
inflation. It's time for teacher unions and school
boards to get in touch with reality.
One by one, school districts have been announcing
plans to cut jobs, programs, busing and more. If the
teachers union pushes for districts to agree to
Christie's plan, a lot of those cuts could be halted.
The fight to reign in school spending desperately
needed someone to step into the ring on behalf of
the taxpayers. Christie did. Hopefully, both sides
can shake hands and come out working together —
for the children's sake.
