WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=LQPaOLGsmnw

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: LQPaOLGsmnw):
- 00:09:34: Board Meeting Called to Order and Roll Call
- 00:11:09: Pledge of Allegiance and Approval of Past Minutes
- 00:11:59: Student Liaison Report: District Highlights and Concerns
- 00:14:52: Superintendent's Report: Gratitude, Advocacy, Restructuring Necessity
- 00:23:13: Public Hearing for School Budget: Key Drivers
- 00:28:51: School Budget Cut Impact and Efficiency Strategies
- 00:36:53: Board Members Question Superintendent Moore and Tanya
- 00:48:04: Board Acknowledges Tough Budget, Discuss Committee Reports
- 00:53:05: Public Comment: Joshua Goldbar, WOEA President
- 00:57:28: Public Comment: Advocate for Brian Readington's Position
- 01:00:55: Public Comment: Brian Readington on Paris and Greeters
- 01:03:08: Public Comment: Kevin Riley on Supporting Brian
- 01:06:49: Public Comment: David Burstein on Legal Cost Discrepancy
- 01:07:52: Public Comment: Emily Peas on Trust Deficit/Budget Solution
- 01:10:38: Public Comment: Heather Price on Transparency/Budget Committee
- 01:13:44: Public Comment: Abby Fogle on Long-term Plan
- 01:17:18: Public Comment: Jeff Harris on School District's Needs
- 01:19:55: Public Comment: Justin Goldsman on Revenue Opportunities
- 01:22:40: Public Comment: Erin Asenza on Transparency Needed
- 01:25:29: Public Comment: Jason Fager on Healthcare and Taxes
- 01:28:56: Public Comment: Rachel Goodman on Firing Paris
- 01:32:31: Public Comment: Eric Rosenahan on Budget and Transparency
- 01:34:49: Public Comment: Laura Light on Specials and Mental Health
- 01:38:11: Public Comment: Carillos Msia on Protecting Special Needs Kids
- 01:41:22: Public Comment: Nicholas Marmo on District Media
- 01:44:31: Public Comment: Larry Winrab on Community Fractures
- 01:47:51: Public Comment: Natalie Luben, The Union's Hand
- 01:50:21: Public Comment: Erica Turner on Paraprofessional Knowledge
- 01:53:29: Public Comment: A New FrontState.org
- 01:56:52: Public Comment: Music Education for Students
- 01:59:40: Public Comment: More Options for Long Term
- 02:03:54: Public Comment: Paraprofessional Speaks
- 02:06:45: Public Comment: Actuary on Healthcare/Student/Staff
- 02:09:20: Public Comment: Baseball Gear Plan
- 02:12:42: Public Comment: High School Education not Extended
- 02:16:24: Public Comment: Privatizing the Budget
- 02:20:03: Public Comment: Bad Movie in Back to the Future
- 02:23:24: Public Comment: Future's at Risk
- 02:26:29: Public Comment: What Happens with Paris?
- 02:29:45: Public Comment: Long Term Plan
- 02:32:35: Public Comment: The Enemy is Not Us
- 02:36:14: Public Comment: Data Weaponized
- 02:39:17: Public Comment: How Can You Do This?
- 02:39:59: Public Comment: Teachers can Help?
- 02:43:51: Public Comment: Stability & Dept is All they wanted
- 02:47:12: Public Comment: The Union is Helping but Limited.
- 02:50:44: Public Comment: Legal Violations, Misleading Statements.
- 02:54:08: Public Comment: More Teaching Positions Need Restored.
- 02:57:28: Public Comment: Please Retain Lauren G.
- 03:00:38: Public Comment: You Threaten the Community.
- 03:04:00: Public Comment: A Public Sacrafice Can Solve?
- 03:07:12: Public Comment: The Teachers are at a Limited.
- 03:11:46: Impactful Connections: Former Student Testimonial on Educators
- 03:14:09: Paraprofessional Argues for Their Essential Roles and Value
- 03:16:37: Transparency Demanded: Public Seeks Full Budget Release
- 03:20:10: Educator Reminds Superintendent of Prior Staff Support
- 03:22:35: Union Leader Accuses Board of Union Busting Tactics
- 03:25:33: Parent Praises Paras and Criticizes Superintendent's Stance
- 03:29:01: Community Member Calls for Fiscal Responsibility Transparency
- 03:31:52: Teacher Advocates for Arts, Athletic Trainer Positions
- 03:35:08: Father Advocates for Paraprofessionals Supporting Special Needs
- 03:38:12: Union Leader Details Audit Failures, Defends Paras
- 03:41:22: Education Association Asks To Pause Budget
- 03:42:45: NJA VP Discusses Paper Cuts and Solutions
- 03:46:03: Resident Opposes Paraprofessional Outsourcing: Economic, Moral Issue
- 03:49:19: Alumnus: Proposed Cuts Hurt Arts Program Immeasurably
- 03:51:42: Homeowner Offers Finance Expertise to Superintendent
- 03:52:48: Paraprofessional Shares Letter of Support from Alumni
- 03:56:26: Alumna Considers Private School Due to Par Cuts
- 03:58:38: CBAB Member Calls for Thorough Budget Review
- 04:01:50: High School Teacher: Community Can Help with Budgeting
- 04:03:39: Resident Expresses Doubts and Advocates for Shared Burden
- 04:07:03: Union President Reads Names of Affected Staff
- 04:14:17: The Value of Unions and Their Fights
- 04:16:33: Principal Asks What September Will Look Like
- 04:20:41: Comments are Closed While Board Discusses and Responds
- 04:37:16: Board Comments: Difficult Choices, Budget Realities
- 05:54:44: Board Moves to Finalize Actions and Adjourn


Part: 1

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We can all find our seats, please. Good evening and welcome to the West Orange Board of Education public board meeting on May 4th, 2026. I would like to thank all of you here in person and those watching from home for joining us tonight. Uh, I'd like to welcome my

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fellow board members as well as Mr. Moore, Miss Flowers, and our student liaison. Miss Flowers, would you please take the roll call? >> Good evening. Roll call, please. Dr. Bryant, >> here. >> Mr. Ifer, >> here. >> Mr. Stevenson,

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>> here. >> Vice President Vera, >> here. >> President Rock, >> here. >> Thank you. Notice of meeting. The New Jersey open public's meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any

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business affecting their interests are discussed or acted upon in accordance with new legislation designed to modernize public communication. Notice is hereby given pursuant to NJSA 353-5 that the complete text of each legal

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notice issued on behalf of the West Orange Board of Education may be obtained or viewed on the district website. Visitors can also view the New Jersey Secretary of State's legal notices website. Once the required display period expires, notices will be

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transferred to the legal notices archive. Archived notices will be available for a period of one year. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted on local TV and the district's website at a future date. Please stand for the pledge

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of allegiance. >> For the flag of the United States of America. Thank you, Miss Flowers. In consideration of the closed and public meetings of April 20, 2026, do I have a motion to accept the minutes? >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Is there a second? >> Second.

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>> Thank you, Mr. Ker. Uh, any comments? Seeing none, Miss Flowers, would you please take the role? >> Dr. Bryant, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Vice President Vera, >> yes. >> President Rock,

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>> yes. Thank you. >> All right. Good evening to our student leaison, Adam Bareric and Nefertitary James. Uh would you two please share your student leazison report with us at this time? >> Good evening everyone. So to start I want to congratulate our district for

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being recognized for by the NOM Foundation as one of the best communities for music education for the eighth time. um current events that was held at our school. Rising freshmen and their families were invited to attend the West Orange High School student life expo

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where there was a whole bunch of clubs and sports and even the boys and girls step team performed to showcase our inclusivity. Um Edison Middle School students participated in Earth Day community cleanup learning about sust sustainability. My bad guys, I'm sorry.

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Um and then 10 West Orange High School students artists were elected in the 2026 Minds exhibit um from more than a thousand submissions from 25 different high schools. Moving on to athletics, the optimal precision

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and absolute boy step team earned first place at the 16th annual Stompfest High School step show at Bushwick High School. The team will advance to nationals aiming to secure another top finish. The West Orange flag football team is undefeated being 6-0 and currently ranked number five in in New

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Jersey where they've only allowed six points scored on them all season. Moving on to performing arts and activities, the West Orange High School Winter Color Guard were named Main Champions, taking first place at the 2026 Main Championships. The annual FCCLA fashion showcase student creativity through

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original designs from concept to completion. Moving on to academics and achievements, 86 members of the class of 2026 earned a New Jersey seal of biiteracy for proficiency in multiple languages. Dr. Kathy Jackson's honor honors virt virtual enterprise class competed in the

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national finance competition for the first time in school history. And just to comment on the previous meeting as I was here as a student, I understand the frustration of teachers and parents about the budget issues presented. It's a difficult challenge to tackle for everyone, the administration and the

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whole staff here. So, I hope everyone can stay positive and understanding with all the changes coming up as this issue at hand is not one-sided and requires some difficult actions needed to solve it. I hope we can all stay together as a community here and move on as one

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positive community instead of constantly trying to look towards the negatives. Thank you. >> Thank you both for that report. Uh Mr. Moore, it is now time for your report. Would you please share your superintendent's report with us? >> Yes. First, I think it's best that I

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take time out to personally thank the community. I want to p personally begin by expressing my sincere gratitude for the incredible support I received from the entire West Orange community. Thank

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you parents. Thank you senior citizens for reaching out. Thank you teachers, support staff, and administration. within our district and a special shout out to our neighboring districts and their administration as well. Thank you.

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I deeply impre appreciate your endorsements. My mission remains laser focused. It is to preserve the student experience for the for our entire student body. I

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will not be distracted and I will remain steadfast. Our students deserve our level best and my level best. I appreciate the community's defense. I appreciate the community's defense for

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me and pleased to know. Please know that your advocacy you've shown me and other administrators has not gone unnoticed. I truly appreciate you. I'm grateful for your belief in me.

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While the financial situation is real, I it and will necess necessitate a restructuring because it is impacting class sizes, staffing levels, course offerings, and operational methods.

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I have found we have my team and I have found solutions to ensure the student experience is minimally affected. I have been forced to remove my emotions from the decision-making process because

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the budget numbers are concrete. Numbers don't lie despite my personal preferences. That is not easy. Our district must undergo a business restructuring.

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Other organizations in this situation might be able to file for chapter 13 or chapter 11 or even close their doors, but we're a public school and we cannot.

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Public schools across New Jersey face the challenges of performing with reduced government funding. We all know it. and we must find ways to make this transition seamless for our students and

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that's my priority. It is a tremendous challenge. The reality is whoever you are that work in the district, our relationship is not priceless. It is predicated on money,

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salaries, healthc care benefits, and pension contributions. And that's the truth. and the rising costs are outpacing our tax revenue which in turn impacts our budget. Our duty is to find ways to close the

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deficit. That's not an option. My team has found solutions that minimize the impact on the student experience while also providing an employment pathway forward for some of our staff.

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That's just silly. And the student here just told you respect is everything. I respect you. I don't lie to you. I'm telling you the truth. I have now I have known and hired many of our staff, some of whom were students

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in the district. with regards to nearly 75 cuts for instructional and non-instructional staff and for the exploration of the outsourcing of Paris. While I'm deeply sorry about the impact this budget has

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made, my duty is to prioritize our current students and our future students. Please know that we need to return these funds from these cuts back into the classrooms. Especially

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at the elementary level where class sizes has a major impact on student learning and we increase them. Understand the sole purpose of our existence as a district is to provide

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our present and future students with a quality holistic educational experience. Unfortunately, in order to achieve this goal, the fact remains like every other organization, it is driven and sustained

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by finances. I want all of you to hear me well. This is not personal, nor is it just a choice that I would choose to put my family and me through this. This is because it's real and I have no

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choice but to close the deficit. And I try to do it as balanced as I can for those that have a voice and for those that don't. Whether you believe me or not, those are my words I stand by and I thank you for

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at least listening to what I have to say. Going forward, we will now present our budget. As many know, I've emailed that budget to you so that you can take a look at it. I place my rationale on why cuts

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were made. Nothing was done carelessly. Everyone understands that every number has a human behind it. But you need to understand that I'm going to always stay laser focused on making sure that students are the priority in West

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Orange. I understand that some of you may have been our students and got here, but you're adults now. And when you were here and when you were here and it was your turn, I would advocate the same. But it is their turn. And you may think that that's careless. It's not. It's

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just when a superintendent has to face what's important, they have to stand for that. And I'm sorry, students don't have as big a voice as you do as adults. But I will be their voice. And their experience matters to me, not just as a

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superintendent, but as a parent. And their experience matters. So please be respectful as I will be to you. I've been through a lot. I've seen your insults. I've heard all of that. But at the same time, none

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of that closes the budget. Thank you for listening. Tanya, when you're ready. It's all right. It's all right. It's all right. It's all right. That's just That's real. And it's not a good moment. I don't want to take anyone's job.

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Hey, good evening everyone. Okay, this is our public hearing for the 26 27 school budget. Okay, I would like to thank all of the board members as we've been having many, many meetings throughout this budget

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cycle. So, thank you for all of your efforts, your hard work, and your time as well as the administrators, everyone that has taken part in preparing this budget. It has been extremely difficult, many hours spent

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to get this budget prepared. So, thank you to everyone. Okay, so the unavoidable drivers of the district. This slide, excuse me, uh highlights the key budget drivers. Salaries are projected to

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increase at approximately 3 and a.5%. Transportation costs are increasing by 3.58% based on the consumer price index. Special special education tuition for out of district placements is expected to increase by 6%. District insurance is

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projected to increase by 8%. Health benefits budget was projected to exceed 17.8%. These are all required costs of operating the district and the increases consistently outpace our available revenue making the structural budget

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deficit unavoidable. This slide is a detailed breakdown showing the composition of the revenue comparison for 2627 and the adjusted 2526 budget with a 2.5% tax levy.

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The 2.5% is based upon banked cap which is an amount utilized for the 2627 budget in the amount of $797,76. Bank cap is the legal authority to raise funds beyond the 2% tax levy cap

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triggered by extraordinary expenses and in our case is the massive healthc care spike. You will see the amount generated in 2627 budget year is a little over $3.7 million. Of that amount, again, we are utilizing approximately $797,000.

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If the entire bank cap amount was utilized this year, that would equate to 4.34% tax levy increase, which amounts to annual increase of $474.98 to the average assessed home value.

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Next slide. Thank you. The unused bank cap pools into a $2.9 million re reservoir. We can apply the $2.9 million of available bank cap in future budgets. If we do not pull this revenue lever, we

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will have to find an additional 2.9 cuts, which equates to dozens more jobs lost. This slide outlines the proposed expenditures for the 2627 general fund budget compared to the 2526 budget. The

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summary are the totals based on the categories detailed in the advertised budget approved by the county which can be found on our district website. On this slide here, you will see over the past six fiscal years, including current year, the general fund salaries

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have incre increased by 25.44 45%. It is important to note that the tax levy increase over that same period increased by 12.08%. From 2021 to 2026, general fund salaries

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grew unchecked by 25.45%. 45%. The historical trajectory is the definition of a structural deficit. To balance a 2627 budget, we had to break this trend line. The plunging blue line

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represents incredibly difficult decisions resulting in an 11.71% decrease. This is the exact structural correction required to ensure the long-term viability of our district.

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This slide shows health benefits costs over the past three years including current year projections and the cost proposed for next year with a 16% composite rate and I have highlighted with the reduction of staff that will bring us to

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a decrease overall of 3.2%. Health benefits are subject to volatile market rates. We face a staggering 16% external market increase for 2027. Because benefits are tied directly to the headcount, our only mechanism to

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fight a 16% rate hike is to reduce the people enrolled. Turn it over to Superintendent Moore. >> Well, mine are small. Oh, >> um, this is a slide that I attached to my email. And this is where you can look

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at each of your schools and see where cuts have occurred. For many of you, you've seen it. If you start, it starts with our um preschool. And if you go across the boxes, um,

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you'll see where it's one special ed teacher and then what h and our then on the second box next to it is non-instructional which uh has a list of um teachers that were cut. It repeats itself by each

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school. So you can take a look at in each school what subject areas were cut. I this was also sent to you so that you can see it ahead of time. Um and then uh towards the bottom it completes all the

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schools which in goes from uh yeah being is the high school on there. >> Okay. From the preschool to the high school and then um some of our athletics. Um in case there's some misconception,

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we still have our freshman sports. I don't know if someone said that, but I just want you to know that that's still in effect. But we do not have our middle school sports. We weren't able to sustain those. But I did work with our parent boosters uh for our middle school

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sports and I've connected with our recreation department and we are meeting and coming up with a way to um take over our middle school sports. We will be donating our uniforms to the recck department so that the kids could

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continue to support and become a mountaineer as we will still continue to try to do to do that. Um and I had a great meeting, it was last Thursday with some of with our parents um and I used and uh our middle school assistant principles who have experience with it

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and also our wreck department. So, we're going to have a plan for our kids in middle school so that they don't lose too much of those activities that just tore me apart. As I told you, you know, where I where I land is on on the student experience. And so, we're going

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to go ahead and work that out for them. Okay. And um here is uh some of the efficiencies in which uh we use the strategies again because we wanted to minimize our the uh cuts to our core content teachers and we want to keep

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class sizes because we think we're going to become dangerously high with class sizes at the 25 and the 30 marker. It's very important that we preserve that for our students and especially in the elementary levels. Now, I was a high

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school person. I don't think 30 30 something kids in a high school class is great either, but I'm going to say that for sure we need to preserve that um the and the um sizes of our classrooms and

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not try to take them up any more. It is really important that we look at that because we do believe in the foundation of the elementaryaries and what they mean to us going forward. Um as you can see there's course cons uh consolidation

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that has to occur. The uh there's schedules um where our middle school schedules were reconfigured and we are maximizing that schedule and everything is by the contract. We are not going

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outside of that and we will not. Um, as far as um facilities and transportation, we um have we have removed most if not all courtesy busing. I think we have one run left for

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some of our students and courtesy busing, but we removed most of it. And that is um our busing at the high school late at night where we were providing our um high school students that may have been in an activity, in a club, in

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an athletic event, a ride home. Um we have now reduced two of those runs down to one. Um and uh we'll see how that works out. Um again though, as much as um those things may

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come up as priorities and why aren't you looking at them, if you're looking to educate students, it's a holistic process. Those activities bring about areas in which students can use other intelligence to express themselves.

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They're also important for students to find community. So, I'm very um emotional about those things because I understand the importance of of them. But any of these

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cuts that you see, whether it's instructional, non-instructional support staff or with these consolidations, they were all turned back into the core classrooms because we understand that we have to look at prioritizing and making

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sure our our elementary students have the core classroom foundation they need to succeed. So nothing was wasted, everything was used. And although it may not be comfortable for many, it is it is

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our duty to focus on our students and what they need at this time. Um, and one more thing, if you looked at my letter for many of you that are losing your job, um, the superintendent I reached out to and they're human resource

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people, you know, I can't offer you a job or a pathway and I'm sorry about that. Again, I'm not out. If I had a choice, I would never want to be doing this, but I don't. But I I have um put

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in my county meetings and I have reached out that um everyone that has been let go due to budgetary, you can um you know, I'll be happy to uh give you a reference um where I can. But I say that

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um to say that that's what I can offer because it's honestly what I can offer. So thank you. So this evening, the balance budget for 2627 is projected upon recommendation by the

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superintendent of schools. Uh the final budget presented to the county as approved and submitted this evening for board approval is in the amount of the in the general fund a total of $26,821,351. Next slide. So, the estimated impact on homeowners

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is an annual increase of $29,411 on the average assessed home value. Our goal over the next few years is to strategically and responsibly rightsize this budget. We are dedicated to ensuring a stable, highquality educational experience for our students

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while maintaining fiscal prudence. By making informed decisions today, we insec we secure the financial health and academic excellence of West Orange public schools for generations to come. Thank you. >> Yeah, you're going back. Yeah, you can

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leave the slides up. I think uh Mr. Stevenson Oh, can't do it. Okay, that's all right. That's all right. Thank you. the uh board if you'll return to the dice. Yeah, What?

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Do the board members have any questions for Mr. Moore or comments or or for Tanya, business administrator? You >> want me to s? >> Sure. Go ahead, Mr. Stevenson. >> Thank you, Superintendent Moore. Thank

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you, Miss Flowers, for the presentation. I just had a couple of questions. So on the on the revenue comparison slide, the WD

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capital reserve and the W/D maintenance reserve in 2025 was $500,000 and there's a net change of 100% reducing that 500,000. uh uh as is the

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incumbrances rollover. Can you can you give some clarity to that please? >> Yes, Mr. Stevenson. Thank you for that question. So the 2526 budget is not audited numbers because we

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are still in that school year. So right now we do have 500,000 scheduled to be transferred as withdrawal from capital reserve. Excuse me. Excuse me. Maintenance reserve, excuse me. Thank you. Uh, and there's been no proposals for any withdrawals for 2627. And as far

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as the incumbrance rollover, that was what rolled over this budget 2526 from last year. Those were open POS that rolled over into this this year. And again, that would be zero for the 26 27 budget. >> Okay. And although uh reserves are not a

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part of the budget, do you have any indication of where our reserves both for capital reserves and maintenance reserves currently stand? >> Yes, sir. Currently, we have approximately $3 million or so combined for maintenance reserve and capital reserve uh for at present.

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>> And are those reserves consistent with what they should be from an audit standpoint or from a state compliance standpoint? >> Uh yes and no. For uh as far as there being required reserves uh for capital or maintenance, there is is necessary

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for us for a district this size, it would be prudent for us to be able to build those reserves for both maintenance and capital because again those are money set aside for facilities, repairs and maintenance um and capital projects. If if we are able

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to build up those reserves over the years, then that would help us as we know we have aging infrastructure throughout the district. So the goal is to increase the amount of reserves that we have on hand. >> And do you know by how much each of those reserves respectively are underfunded?

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>> Again, for a district our size, I don't have uh they they suggest that we have a minimum of 2%. But again, that's in uh our fund balance, but not necessarily a requirement statutoily for reserves.

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>> And when you say 2%, 2% of what number? I'm sorry. 2% of the full budget for us to have in fund balance. But for reserves, there is no required percentage, but we should um again it's important for us to be concerned about having money on reserve for both capital

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and maintenance. So that's something that we again if anything should happen throughout our district with aging infrastructure, we would want to make sure that we we're set uh we have some kind of uh safety safety net and that would be by way of us building our

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capital reserves and our maintenance reserves. >> Well well that's actually the the the heart of my question. Are there sufficient funds within each of those reserves respectively to account for any

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extraordinary expense that would occur? Anything that would be outside the normal course of what has been budgeted to take care of expenditures associated with what would be used out of those reserves. And I'm asking the question

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because this board, I believe it was in 2024, approved the retaining wall expenditure at Washington and by the time it was uh funded was nearly six times what the

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original estimate was. So, do we as a district have sufficient reserves in each of those um accounts sufficient to handle an emergent or an emergency situation?

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>> I would say >> as we sit here tonight, >> no. No sir, not with a school, not with a district 13 buildings and as old as they are, we do not have uh sufficient funds in our reserves. If god forbid we had three or four boilers go on one uh

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or or again roofs god forbid our roofs have aged. So if we had emergencies in multiple schools we would not have uh sufficient funds to take out of our capital reserves or maintenance reserves. No we do not. >> Okay. And the basis again of my question that the first part I I said the second

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part is um you know this is a very complicated budget obviously uh with with cuts that no one prefers but is necessary. Uh but from the initial preliminary budget to this budget,

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our year-over-year projected expenditure for maintenance and those improvements to the infrastructure has yet again been reduced uh and shifted in the budget to accommodate other budget lines. And so

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is there a plan in place? The initial plan was 4 million invested into the infrastructure into our buildings, into the deferred maintenance, into leaky roofs and buildings with uh constantly failing

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HVAC and heat. So that number which was $4 million has now been reduced to what? >> Uh in capital projects that number that we were anticipating for this year was 4 million. It has been reduced to 1.8. Okay,

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last comment uh is with respect to salaries. Um we we have a now firm number on health insurance. We know it's going to be at about 15.5%.

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Again, we moved into the the shift in 2024. Uh looking at your salary trend line, 11 almost 12% budget decrease in salary down from 117.4 million to approximately

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103 104 million. Um there was a significant trend year-over-year from 2021 up to 2024.

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almost at a 8 to10 million clip. Our cuts, it appears from this began really in 2024 uh to 2025 and there was an uptick in 2020.

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I'm sorry, it's 2026. The uptick from 2024 to 2025 was about 2 million. from 2025 to 2026 was double that around 4 million. Uh is there any explanation for that clip going up that

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4 million from 2025 to the projected peak in 2026 given that we also had a reduction in force in 2025? >> Yes sir. uh based on the additional needs that were submitted uh additional

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positions uh were added and that includes not only um teachers with support staff, it was also in terms of uh long-term leave replacements. So, we've definitely seen an uptick and that's why we definitely have to make those make some adjustments.

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>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Anything from >> Yeah, Dr. Brian, go >> just um an extension of Mr. Stevenson's question. So I'm looking at the unavoidable drivers of the deficit. I

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understand transportation market rate. I understand the special education tuition. Can you sort of re tell me how to relate the 3.5% in salaries to the line graph that is on the other page,

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the salary analysis? So the salaries that we're projecting uh the increase is based upon us increasing salaries by 3 and a.5%. The line graph is showing what we've actually spent and that's total salary

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compens compensation with no increase in terms of um for the WOE that they've been without a contract as we know. So that increase is inclusive of all compensation but the actual salaries that they've inc uh with regard to retro

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but not actually increasing their salary. So retro is included in that as well. But that's compensation all salaries all uh also all all employees >> each year. >> Each year. >> So that means it compounds. >> It compounds. Yes ma'am. >> Okay. And can you describe the district

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insurance to me please? >> This is >> within that 8%. >> 8% is the projected increase for year 26 27 over last year's premiums. >> And this insurance relates to what? to property casualty insurance for the

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district. Okay. >> Thank you. Anything from Dr. Mir? No. >> All right. Um well, thank you, Mr. Moore. Uh we'll just add that this is a tough budget season. Um not only here but around the state. Uh many of our

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neighboring districts are undergoing similar issues and also dealing with these issues. Um, you know, I've when I was a teacher, a young teacher, I was on the wrong side of a riff as well. Uh, this is not, you know, an easy decision to to approve these decisions. And so I feel for

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everybody that that received one of those letters uh when they went out. Um, and I wish there were better solutions, right? I wish we weren't in this situation. Um, as we've said many times to our our friends at who have become regulars at our meetings, uh, the

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long-term solution doesn't rest here. It rests in Trenton andor DC. Um, and so we will continue to advocate with them to increase funding long-term to the district and in the meantime, uh, tough decisions need to be made and I I

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don't envy you to do that, Mr. Moore. >> No, of course not. But thank you. I appreciate it. Let me uh conclude. At this time, we had uh three investig incidents uh of bullying, harassment,

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bullying. Um and we have three three incidents were founded to meet the criteria of HIV. And that concludes my uh report this evening. >> Thank you, Superintendent Moore. Are there any committee reports from the board? No.

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>> So, two quick committee reports uh from a policy standpoint. Uh as has been the case, a lot of policies revisions have been put forth particularly this year. uh we work with our policy consultant Strauss Esme to

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ensure that uh policies are compliant and that they meet the criteria of the district and so uh you've seen a lot of policy put forth first and second reading and so please know that uh the board gets the policy revisions we

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review them and then make the recommendation to uh the superintendent for accepting With respect to uh negotiations, um negotiations are are ongoing as Mrs.

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Flowers alluded or actually said directly. Uh we're in the midst of negotiations uh with the WOEA uh with respect to their contract which ended June 30, 2025. uh

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the board has been compliant with respect to notice with respect to those things inherent to our responsibility with respect to negotiations. Uh we will continue to inform the community as best

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we're able and allowed to with respect to those negotiations. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Anything from Mr. Ricker now? Zero. >> All right. Thank you. Uh then I would like to share my board president's report with all of you. Now, uh May is a

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month filled with deserved recognitions. We celebrate Asian-American Pacific Islander heritage this month. Uh we also recognize Jewish American heritage and Haitian-American heritage this month. Um just last week, I think it was. Uh Mr. Plata had a a guest speaker in for some

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of our multilingual learners to speak to them about Haitian-American Heritage Month. And I had the privilege of attending that. Um so thank you and to to Mr. Plata for that wonderful um assembly. Uh May is also mental health awareness month. You may already know that West Orange has been designated as

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a stigma-free town and May 4th through May 8th is National Teacher Appreciation Week. We cannot say enough about our incredible teachers here in the district. Thank you all. On May 21st, the West Norris Chamber of Commerce will host their annual awards dinner recognizing some outstanding individuals throughout

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our township, including our teacher of the year nominee, Miss Darlene Berg, our supervisor of math K to 5, and our young and our young entrepreneur of the year nominee is West Orange High School junior Melanie Morero. Melanie, who is an online small business on social media

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called at Strawberry by Mel, which has been very successful serving the community. Welld deserved. Congratulations to both Miss Berg and Miss Morero. And finally, just give a quick shout out to the track team. Um, earlier this week, they hosted the Essex County Relays. Uh, that was an unexpected

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thing. About a week before the the meet came up, there was another host site that was supposed to host. our athletic director got a phone call and said, "Hey, can you guys host because the other host site was unavailable." Um, he called our our coach, Coach Jackson, and they organized things quickly. Uh, came up to to see some of the meet and it was

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good to see all of Essex County here. Um, and and our track team and our athletic director did a great job of hosting them and organizing everything for that. So, congratulations and kudos to them. All right. Next, we will have questions from the public on agenda items only. Any community member who would like uh to make comments or ask

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questions, please come to the podium at this time. Please state your name and town for the record and then begin your comments. >> Sorry. Yes, we're going to set the the microphone up in the middle again. Thank you for that. Thank you.

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Josh Goldbar, West Orange resident, president of the WOEA. I would like to begin by saying I want to make it clear to everyone here that the idea that the all of the Paris return will return next year is nothing but a delusion that the

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board is passing off to parents as fact. We asked them and 62% said they definitely will not return next year and another 20% said they most likely will not return next year. That's 82% of

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paras that definitely or most likely will not return next year. You would know this if you had bothered to ask them. If the budget passes, our schools will look drastically different next year. What does that mean? Elementary students will have less time in the arts. This is the time in their lives

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where many students first discover their love of the arts. And for some, that is the only reason they come to school. Classroom teachers will have more students but will have less time to prepare their lessons and grade student work. Some will leave the district. Just

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today, one of my colleagues accepted a job elsewhere because of what is happening here. Class sizers will be maxed out all over the district. That means less opportunity for teachers to provide individualized instruction. That will hurt students. In middle schools, class time is going to be reduced by

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roughly 8 minutes per period per day. That sounds insignificant, but over the course of the year, each student will have 1440 minutes less instruction in each class than they did this year. That's 23 hours over the course of the year less of ELA, less of science,

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history, fizzed, world language, the arts, and math. 23 hours less math instruction as compared to this year. What's that going to do for our scores? The budget that the board is voting on this evening will be destructive to West Orange. People do not move to a town

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with a school system that has a bad reputation, which because of this plan we now have, not going to, we already have it. Passing this budget is only going to make it worse. It will hurt our students. Our school system and its reputation will rightfully suffer.

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Property values will fall. People will leave. and families who otherwise would have settled here will look for greener pastures with a board who puts education first. We need to invest in our children, our schools, and our community, not destroy what took generations to build. And I'm saying

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that as a product of those schools. We have repeatedly been told that we are not a family. That is not the West Orange way. The people here may not be related by blood, but we have laughed, cried, celebrated, and mourned together.

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For many of us, we are family. And that is the West Orange way. And in my last couple moments, when you have your comments later, don't tell us how hard this has been for all of you or how much sleep you've lost. We really don't want to hear it. We're sick

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of your platitudes and crocodile tears. You were elected to help us provide the best education to the students of the town. All we're asking for you to do is your job and vote no on this budget. Thank you. >> Members of the school board, administrators, and members of the

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community, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight. I stand before you to advocate for someone who represents the very heart and spirit of West Orange Schools, Brian Readington. Brian is not just an employee. He is part of the fabric of this district. He

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began his journey here as a kindergartener and stayed all the way through 12th grade, graduating in 2011. Many of us pass through a school system and move on, but Brian chose to stay, not out of convenience, but out of commitment. For for 14 years, he has

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worked at the high school as a greeter, both during the school year and throughout the summer. That kind of dedication is rare. That kind of loyalty is something you cannot replace. Brian's story is not an easy one. He was diagnosed with terrible palsy and has been in a wheelchair since birth. He has

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undergone multiple surgeries throughout his life. And yet, despite challenges that most of us will never fully understand, Ryan shows up every single day with determination and a smile. He arrives at school at 6:50 in the morning, earlier

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than most, with the help of his mother, who is a full-time caregiver. This speaks volumes. It takes effort, planning, and resilience just to get here. But Bryant doesn't just show up. He shows up with purpose. He greets

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students. He greets staff. He sets the tone of the day. For countless students walking through those doors, some anxious, some overwhelmed, some just trying to get through the day, Brian is a constant, a friendly face, a reminder

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that positivity still exists even on hard days. He is through and through a mountaineer. Brian embodies resilience, hope, and positivity. He doesn't just talk about those values, he lives them. He is a

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role model, not because he tries to be, but because of who he is. In a world where students are searching for examples of perseverance and strength, Brian stands right there at the LMC library every day, showing them exactly what they that looks like. So I ask you,

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what message are we sending if we let someone like Brian go? What does it say about what we value, not just as a district, but as a community? This is not just about a position. This is not about a person who has This is about a person who has given his life to the

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school system. It's about a young man who has overcome obstacles with grace and continues to give back in meaningful ways every single day. Brian Readington is now replaceable. I urge you to look beyond budgets, beyond titles, and beyond technicalities. Look at impact.

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Look at character. Look at the example being set for our students. Be cons. Please consider this decision. Keep Ryan where he belongs at West Orange High School. Continuing to inspire every student who walks through those doors. Thank you.

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Yeah. >> Good. >> Good afternoon everybody. My name is Brian Rington. I I'm a former West Orange student of 32 years live in West Orange and I speak to you um on behalf

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of the Paris and the graders. I don't think getting rid of the powers or outsourcing them is a good idea only because we try to advocate for the students that need them and rely on them on a daily

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basis. As far as greeters go, we shouldn't have to eliminate the greeters only because they're as important as security and we try to be a um

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supportive face to the people we serve. And I also speak on behalf of knowing Hayden War. He was not just my role model, he was my case manager in second second

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grade. So when um I got the news that I was being let go, April 23rd was the hardest day of my life. And June 30th will be the hardest day of my

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life. Walking out of the building that I've called home for the last 14 years. And I'm grateful to be here. It's not easy, but I'm trying to make it work. Okay. Good evening. My name is Kevin

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Riley. I live in Cedar Grove. I'm a retired teacher from the district of West Orange. I started way back in 1981. That's a long time ago. 45 years. I was

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Brian's fizzed teacher became his mentor. Now I think he's more of my mentor. So I was hired in 1981. I spent many years in adapted PE and relied on the powers extensively.

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Um I don't see how a gym class can be conducted without the powers we have. Um, I retired six years ago and I'm still active as a substitute in the district. Brian is clearly an example of the

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effects of the PAR position. He's come full circle. He's now employed in the district. He's all about this district. Come see him work in the library. It's amazing to see how he deals with students and staff.

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He always uses we and us in referring to the district of West Orange. Um it's amazing what he does, the way he runs that library. Uh I wish everybody luck in their decision. Thank you. I just wanted to take time out because I

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you I know we don't interrupt, but Brian Reington's very special to me. Listen, stop. Stop. Brian, I've had Brian since second grade. I hired Brian. We spent 14 years together.

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It is not my I'm not looking to say, "Hey, let's put Brian out." But I'm telling you something. I'm telling you that we have a deficit that is real that has to close. The reason why I have such difficulty

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with this, Brian's a great example, and there are others that I've hired here that if I told them to raise their hand, they would. I have always made room for our West Orange students to be part of our staff. And when I have to let any of them go, especially someone I

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had since grade, when I tell you this is due to finances and not personal, and when you're just crying out, you wouldn't let him go, this and that, that doesn't make sense.

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This is not what this is about. No one is going to publicly and write to you that we have this issue and pretend somehow we're making these choices behind a curtain and impacting people's

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lives. This matters to me. It has taken a toll. But Brian is an example of how hard these decisions are, but also an example of the necessity to

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close the deficit. We have to internalize that. Yes, you can get an applause for saying wonderful things about just keep the job, but let me hear the applause on another solution. No, no. A a solution that includes

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money. A solution that includes money. Go ahead. Give a solution. >> Good evening. My name is David Burstein. I live on Hoover Avenue in West Orange. I wouldn't expect my own district to know how its contract rates compare

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across 600 other school districts in the state. That data just doesn't exist in one place. And that's why I started collecting it at price.com. As the board considers its budget decisions tonight, contract pricing data

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is especially relevant. Our district's legal council charges us $180 per hour. The same firm charges Tene 165. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Emily Peas,

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eight Harvard terrace representing West Orange Parents for Education, WOE, and of course my first and third graders at Gregory Elementary School. was formed during last year's budget crisis, and we've attended each and every one of your board meetings. Since our numbers have grown from hundreds of signatures

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to now broad representation with members here tonight from each and every school in our district. This is not a small group and we are not going anywhere. We will keep pushing for a sustainable plan for highquality education in West Orange. Our kids

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deserve that plan. Right now we're not just facing a 13.5 million fiscal deficit. We are facing a profound trust deficit. It is clear to anyone watching that the relationship between the district and the teachers union has

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broken down. There is no longer any trust or any semblance of good faith. And while the adults are pointing the fingers at one another, our kids are the ones absorbing the impact of these cuts and the uncertainty.

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If we are going to solve this for our kids, everything has to be on the table. Everyone has to be part of the solution. Taxpayers, parents, legislators, educators, and the administration. Without that shared responsibility,

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we're going to be left in this cycle of unilateral cuts every year. has approached this budget process with a mindset of trust but verify. And despite our best efforts, we have not been able to verify all of the rationale behind

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the key decisions. We're told to trust that classroom priorities are being protected. But where is the long-term plan? What if the what is the district going to look like in three to five years? Will class sizes keep rising? Will arts and enrichment continue to

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shrink? What are we building towards? Paint us that picture. For over a year, we've asked and we are asking again tonight. Please establish a community budget advisory group. Let members of the school community sit alongside you

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to review the budget line by line, program by program. If there are better solutions, we'll help you find them. But if your plan's the right one, this process will just help validate your plan. Either way, it's necessary to rebuild the trust. No matter what

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happens in the vote tonight, this is not over. It's not too late to bring the community in as true partners in this work. Thank you. >> Good evening. Heather Price, Gregory Neighborhood, West Orange, and I'm also here on behalf of West Orange Parents

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for Education. The day the district gave notice to 77 teachers announcing that it was outsourcing 2027 Paris among other cuts was also the same day that my spouse brought our kindergartner to the high school for bring your child to work day.

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And despite what was one of the hardest days this district has faced. My 5-year-old came home smiling during her day at the high school. She had the opportunity to watch choir practice. She saw the step team. She sat in the orchestra room. She did art projects

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with students that she'd never met. And in my husband's language learning disability class, high schoolers helped her with her site words. Teenagers being patient and kind with a little girl who just wanted to practice her reading. That is what this district offers. That

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is what's worth fighting for. And that's why I'm standing here tonight. not to tear anything down, but to make sure we protect what makes West Orange special by demanding the financial transparency it takes to do that wisely because our

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kids deserve a plan. We understand that this is hard. We know the funding formula is broken. We know costs are outpacing revenue, but parents, teachers, and taxpayers deserve to be part of that solution. West Orange Parents for Education is once again

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requesting that this board establish a community budget advisory committee. This is not a radical idea. Our own town council created a citizens budget advisory board last year. Volunteers who reviewed the municipal budget line by

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line and helped identify 3.36 million in savings. Monontlair School District announced a similar committee just last week. If the municipal side of West Orange trusts citizens with a $100 million budget, the school side can trust us with this one. The NJ

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Department of Education's own data shows that this district depleted roughly 12 million in reserves in three years. Yet, the district also runs a Chromebook program and uses I Ready, Power School, and numerous other tech platforms. And no parent can find what any of these

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cost individually with 45% math proficiency districtwide. Are we evaluating whether these tech investments are actually improving outcomes or renewing contracts on autopilot? With further cuts to specials and sports, there will be even fewer

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creative outlets for our kids. And these are not meant to be gotcha questions. They're the kind of questions a budget advisory committee would help answer so this board and this community can make informed decisions together. We are not asking to run this district. We are

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asking to be partners in building a plan that prevents the next crisis instead of just reacting to this one. Because making cuts year after year is not a plan. It's triage. And our kids deserve a plan. Thank you.

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Sorry. shortening. Sorry, now I'm messing everything up. I'm sorry. There we go. Abby Fogle, West Orange resident, W member, but most importantly, mom of a second grader and incoming kindergartener at Gregory.

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Two months ago, I stood here and acknowledged how difficult your job is. It absolutely is. There's no denial about the horrific situation we're in. 13.5 million dollar deficit that changes the fabric of everything. But this wasn't a surprise. Sure, the exact dollar amount of state aid and contract

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costs may not have been known, but we've been operating with an assumption of at least $10 million deficit all year. And we know that this will be a perpetual problem year after year after year. So, please help us to see the long-term plan because our kids deserve that plan. You

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expect trust. We expect engagement. We will trust when you show us how you hold yourselves accountable and when you show us how you are keeping our kids' long-term education at the forefront of your decisions. And you is not just directed at a single person or group. Of course, it's the administration's job to

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create the strategic plan and budgets. Mr. Moore, you wrote in your recent letter that indicated that these were sustainable choices. Can you show us your work? And BOE members, you need to share more with us about why you agree with Mr. more, not just that you support him.

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Help your fellow residents understand the choices and why decisions are being made. Make yourselves accessible to the public for real dialogue, not just the traded monologues that happen once a month at BOE meetings. Everyone in our school district, teachers, board members, taxpayers, we all need to

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sacrifice. We all need to make sacrifices and we need to come together to find solutions because currently we are spiraling and it's our kids who bear the brunt of it. Mr. Moore, you ended your letter stating, "This moment calls for honesty, truth over slogans, facts over emotionally driven narratives, and

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courage over avoidance." Honesty requires not just making hard decisions and telling us what they were. Honesty also requires ensuring the public gains clarity on the budget and why decisions were made over others. I appreciate that you aren't closing your eyes and waiting to see what happens, as some other neighboring districts have done, but

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public clarity is sorely missing. Truth over slogans. Our kids deserve a plan is not just a slogan. It's our truth. Our focus is on our children and the best education that they can receive for the dollars that we have. As their caregivers, we need to know what public education looks like in West Orange in

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the next three, five, 10 years. Facts over emotionally driven narratives. It's all narrative. Numbers tell a story, but we are only being shown the ending, not how you got there. Facts also include mandates, student needs, and community values. Without that context, we are

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left filling in the gaps. Encourage over avoidance. You are dealing with the tough choices needed in the scenario we find ourselves in. But there is nothing courageous about how you've engaged with and informed this community. I'd actually call that in some cases avoidance over

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courage. Where was the public statement at the beginning of the school year about what lies ahead? How is a one question open-ended survey meant to yield real ideas and understanding from the community? So, as a parent and a taxpayer, my trust is a little bit broken and it needs to be earned back.

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So, provide a full lineby-line budget. Start a community budget advisory committee and share a three to fiveyear plan with fiscal accountability and honestly request community feedback and input about it. Our kids deserve that plan. Jeff Harris, West Orange resident and

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taxpayer for 14 years, member of West Orange Parents for Education, and most importantly, a parent of a first grader. Mr. Moore. Members of the board, you say we need to rightsize our district. We are asking for a plan. Mr. Moore's letter last week included comparisons to

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neighboring school districts, all of which pay less in salary and benefits than West Orange, all of which pay less in school taxes than West Orange. Setting aside that each of those districts has its own structural deficit to deal with, it appears the plan is to

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keep cutting our budget until we look like our neighboring districts on paper. Let's look at the numbers a little bit. Number of student or percentage of students on free and reduced lunch indicating lower income families. Montlair 16%, South Orange, Maplewood,

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Soma 14%, Livingston 2%, West Orange 41%. English language learners or ESL students, Livingston, Soma, and Montlair are all around 2%. West Orange is at 7%. So maybe we're more like Orange and East

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Orange, the other districts on that chart. State equalization aid, Orange 118 million. East Orange 170 million, West Orange$ 18 million. Special ed students, we have the highest percentage among the districts in Mr.

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Moore's letter at over 20%. School tax increases for the upcoming fiscal school year. Montlair 3.9%, Livingston 5.2%. 2%. Soma 5.6% West Orange 2.5%.

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West Orange's needs are unique. Our students need more, which costs more, and we get less money from the state to pay for it. Instead of raising additional funds to cover the expenses, this administration and board has decided that the only answer is to cut teachers and staff, outsource paras, and

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fundamentally change how our town values education. If we keep cutting at the rates we have the last two years, on paper we'll look like our neighbors in three years. But as they say, the game isn't played on paper. We are West Orange. We are unique. We are diverse.

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We are expensive. But how do you run a unique, diverse, expensive school district with hundreds of fewer educators? What does that West Orange look like? Help us see the vision. Tell us the plan. Our kids deserve a plan.

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Uh, good evening members of the board. Uh, Justin Goldsman. Um, I had remarks about Mayday and teacher appreciation week and all of the things and organized labor that we can all get behind, but to be as brief as I can, you know, this isn't about precedent. This isn't about impass arbitration. It's not about

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negotiations. This is about people. It's about our colleagues. It's about our students. It's about our residents, it's about the future of education here in West Orange, but out of deference to our very wise student representatives on the board. I want to be productive and I want to be positive. So, I do think

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there's revenue opportunities. We have the state soccer champs, which we should be very proud of. With the World Cup coming this summer, I do think there's a revenue opportunity to tagline that every dollar matters. Um, as I mentioned at the last meeting, Newark Academy is

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saving 36% on their electricity every single year from now on because they switched to solar investments. Sometimes we need to move towards multi-year budget projections. We need to say sometimes this is a one-off because in four, five, six years it's going to pay for itself. I think those are things we

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really need to start looking into. Um, but on all of that talk with concessions and on state aid, we know the funding formula needs to be fixed. We've seen cuts from Christy over the years. We've seen neverending reforms to budgets, to pension systems, to everchanging health

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care tiers. But the one constant in all of that is the actual concession in and of itself that our teachers give every single day. And that is uncertainty. So at some point, we have to stop saying we need more concessions. We need more concessions because every single day is

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basically a concession with uncertainty as to how the state's going to change what our hardworking teachers and paras go through. So with that all being said, I do echo the concerns and the the recommendations for this citizen budget committee. I've read the 200 pages for

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the council budget. There's members here who have gone through every line item. There's multiple public meetings. There's one tomorrow that the council's putting on. I really do think it's in the best interest for the transparency to build public trust to have us all here to listen to go line by line with

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the public with a highlighter to have commentary to say you know these are some suggestions because we don't know everything I don't know everything but when we have community input we find those solutions that's what our teachers teach us right be a family be an ecosystem learn from each other all I'm asking a little bit more transparency

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let's do right by everybody let's have the citizen budget reform and you know thank you for your time I don't envy position. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Erin Asenza. I'm a West Orange resident, a member of the West Orange Parents for Education, and a parent of Greg at Gregory

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Elementary. I'm here tonight because like many families, I'm concerned about the long-term direction of this district. I'm also here because like many families, my trust is eroding and I'm not giving up hope that you'll take this opportunity over the next year to regain that trust. And that's exactly why a clear long-term budget plan

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matters so much right now. At its core, our message is simple. Our kids deserve a plan. Because what we're seeing now, larger class sizes, fewer teachers, and cuts to programs, is not a strategy. It's reaction. And our kids are the ones feeling the consequences.

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This community is already stepping up. Members of are actively working at the state level to address the funding formula. We've met with Assemblywoman Begolian and have an upcoming meeting with Assemblywoman Collazo Gil. We understand this is a broader issue and that you're in a difficult position with reduced state funding. So, we're asking

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you to meet us there by considering the following. First, we need full transparency. Share the line by line budget so this community can truly understand where the money is going and where the trade-offs are being made. For example, we've seen a 36% increase in security, custodial, and maintenance

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costs. expenses that were originally projected to rise just three to 5% accounting for a $5 million difference. If the cause of that increase isn't fully understood, that's exactly the kind of detail the community needs needs visibility into. After all, this is our money, our kids, and our equity. We have

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the most to lose. And second, establish a community budget advisory committee. There's so much work to be done, so many variables to consider, and so many areas that require deeper analysis. This is exactly where the community can help. We're already digging into the data,

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asking questions, and identifying areas worth exploring. For example, the I Ready contract expires this June. This is an opportunity for the community to help evaluate its cost, its outcomes, and whether those dollars are best allocated toward direct classroom instruction or other priorities. We

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would welcome the opportunity to partner more formally, share insights consistently, and help think through trade-offs in a thoughtful, structured way. because this is not a one-year issue. This is a structural challenge and it requires a long-term approach. So, let's collaborate. We're reasonable,

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highly engaged professionals who want to do everything we can to ensure our kids have a great education. Whether that includes difficult financial decisions or changes, we are willing to engage, but we cannot support decisions in the absence of a clear, transparent, long-term plan. Our kids deserve

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stability. They deserve consistency. And they deserve a district that is planning for their future. Our kids deserve a plan. Thank you. >> My name is Jason Fager. I am a uh West Orange resident, father of two at Gregory Elementary School.

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The five most profitable healthcare companies in America made $85 billion in net income last year, over twice the combined budgets of every school district in New Jersey. They have lobbyed and fought for decades to build this system of spiraling costs tied to employment. And here we are, a few

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hundred people gathered together facing a gap driven largely by those spiraling costs tied to the employment of our teachers. All politics is ultimately local. It is not the health the school board's job to fix healthcare, but it is also

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not the school board's job to protect taxpayers from the consequences of our collective failure to fix healthcare. The school board's job, The School Board's job, the reason it has its own levy power is to fight for

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our schools. The state has given school boards a tool to address the exact situation we are in today. A levy cap exemption specifically for health care costs. Our neighboring districts are using that exemption, and this board could too. It is choosing not to. It can

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also bring a referendum to raise the levy beyond the cap. It is also choosing not to do that. Nobody likes taxes. I am as angry as anyone that our taxes are so high and I welcome ways to get more real value for what we spend. But when I

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listen to suggestions for where we should point our fingers, I struggle. I'm supposed to begrudge our teachers for making a living wage and needing health coverage. I'm supposed to be okay taking $3 million out of the pockets of the people who care for our most vulnerable kids. So yet another trench

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of public money can flow to private profit. Even if you think the situation demands setting these feelings aside, then take the cold, hard practical view. Good teachers make good schools which drive up property values. Good prayer

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professionals prevent lawsuits. Welleducated students well-educated students go on to earn more and feed back to their communities. Our education system is an investment. The fact that it c that its costs are easier to measure than its payouts

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cannot be allowed to make us doubt that. This board could and should make the moral and financial case that we have a collective responsibility to keep investing in our schools. Instead, it is choosing to defer to the town's own tax increases, a town sitting on a golf

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course it fought to buy in 2019 for roughly the same amount as our current gap. Prior to this crisis, I admittedly never paid as much attention as I should have. Instead, trusting the resumes and good intentions of everyone here. I still harbor no animosity for anyone. I

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believe you when you say how hard these decisions have been. I think the forest has been lost for the trees, though. The end result here is larger class sizes and slashed programs. Real harm to our students. When you had the choice between placing this burden on the

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town's adults or on its children, you chose to lay it on the kids. Please work with the community budget advisory committee to avoid making the same mistake again next year. Our kids deserve a plan.

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>> My name is Rachel Goodman. I grew up on Walker Road, went through the schools, and have now inherited a home on Stamford Court. I'm appalled by the decision to fire over 200 pair of professionals to rectify a budget crisis you all in part created, worsened, and one in which you have not explored a

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single other option that does not sacrifice the education of children with special needs in good faith. When you remove trusted pair of professionals from the schools, throwing away consistency, expertise, community ties, and dedication, you tell us that you don't care about the right to an equal education that children with special

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needs deserve. When you fail to pay our district's payroll taxes and incur six-f figureure fines or fail to reconcile the monthly budget, you're saying that you don't even care enough about our students to do the bare minimum as a board. Or when you spend millions per year on flashy tech, but you fire the

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teachers and paras and librarians who teach all our students how to type, how to format a document, or even conduct a simple boolean search, it tells us you don't actually care about providing a quality education for all students. I've worked with professors across the state and country for the last 12 years, and I've seen firsthand what our nation's

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educational decline looks like. Every day, I hear specifically how students can't do required readings, can't do basic math, don't have critical thinking skills, can't navigate basic computer programs, and that they are significantly worse off than they were even a decade ago. The failure starts in meetings like this where boards like you

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fire essential workers and bring down the potential of every student. And it may come as a shock, but cutting classroom teachers in Paris won't bring test scores up. It won't reverse the literacy crisis, and it won't prepare them for college careers or put them in a position to steward the next generation of students into the real

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world. And I know what good stewardship looks like. My brothers both have learning disabilities that impacted their success in the classroom. But because of dedicated pair of professionals, not only did they graduate from this high school, but they graduated college, they have jobs. They pay taxes in this town. And they can

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certainly balance a budget better than the board of education can. And that's because they had trained pair of professionals in the classroom to teach them the skills that they need to be independent, which rotating untrade subs from third party vendors can't reliably offer. You sit here and you blame the

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paras and the union for healthcare costs as if it's their fault that this country doesn't have singlepayer healthcare. You blame them for the size of the district as if this town hasn't been courting young families fleeing the city for decades. You blame everyone but yourselves for not addressing the crisis last year or the year before. Yet, many

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of you have been here for years. In fact, I helped protest this exact proposition 16 years ago as a senior in this high school to protect today's current students who are sitting here tonight. It was a destructive idea then and it's worse now when every child is being left behind. What will you say

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this time next year when you inevitably have to fire more staff because nothing that you've proposed has proven that you will actively prevent another crisis? But I was taught by my teachers here, including Julie Brady and Josh Goldfarb, that you have to take responsibility for your failures and your mistakes. You

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can't pass the blame when it's convenient for your reputation or when you want to pretend that it's you that's suffering. You all received a quality education. It's the next generation will that will feel the brunt of your choices. You are obiscating your failures by sacrificing the educations of our most vulnerable students. I'm

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ashamed to be a homeowner in a town that will do this to children who often cannot advocate for themselves. Those of you that are in favor of these cuts don't deserve your seats and I look forward to seeing you removed. >> Good evening. Eric Rosenahan, United States Coast Guard retired parent at Gregory and a member of West Orange

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Parents for Education. As a fellow public servant, I'd like to thank you for the service you given to the community, which at times, probably, especially tonight, seems thankless. After 20 years of service, I know what it feels like to make tough decisions that have dire consequences. After these decisions, whether they worked out perfectly or they left something to be

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desired, I had to explain my actions and my reasoning to my campanding officer due to policy. I also explained my reasoning to my junior members, not because I had to, but because I owed it to them. I was putting them in harm's way. The people I was making decisions for

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deserve to know what was going on and that I had a plan. Our kids deserve a plan. I gathered from the recent email that you may be tired of hearing that. You know what? You're right. You are correct. The time for truth the time for slogans, truth over slogans is is is

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absolutely true. But the lack of accountability and transparency makes it difficult for for us to know what the truth is. If we knew more, maybe we wouldn't have to need we would need a slogan. Accountability and transparency are taught in the first two weeks of every

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intro to public administration class. Yet, here we are being kept in the dark on a line by line budget with many other questions left unanswered. More transparency may also stop rumors from spreading and ludicrous social media posts. We have a vibrant and diverse

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community and we want to keep it that way. Cutting specials by a third for our younger students is going to have the opposite effect. This is the second year we've been in this room for the same reason. A plan means we don't have a third. What does it look like? We need it in writing. We need a timeline that the public can hold

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you to. We are clearly passionate and we are here to help. As community leaders, I implore you to leave no stone unturned. Leadership is more than making decisions. It's receiving commentary and criticism without getting defensive or looking apathetic.

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Leadership is listening and learning from others. Leadership is accepting help when it is clearly needed. Leadership is knowing when to ask for help. Leadership is having a plan and communicating it. Our kids deserve a plan.

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My name is Laura Light. I'm a West Orange resident. I have two sons, one in prek at Peanut Shell and one in kindergarten at Gregory. He also attended Washington for a year as part of the Betty Matalina program. There are a lot of things in the world right now that give me anxiety. A lot of things

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that feel not only terrible in this moment, but like we're we're on a path for things to get worse and worse. I'm dismayed to find the state of our schools is one of them. We of course understand that a $14 million deficit is a huge problem with no easy fix. We know

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cuts need to happen. No one here thinks we can sweep this under the rug and ignore it. But we can't simply keep relying on cuts year after year. I'm so sad that my son is having his time in art and music slashed by a third. He loves those classes. He's proudly

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brought home projects he's painted in Miss Tracy's art class. He's sung me songs about Hanukkah and Martin Luther King Jr. that he learned in Miss Kay's music class. Art and music are teaching him creativity and curiosity and empathy. They they've also helped

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improve his language and self-expression. He was in the Betty Matalina program because of an extreme speech delay. He was barely speaking at 3 years old when he started the program, but he would light up and sing along when the school held concerts. He sang

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many words before he spoke them. Additionally, our kids need these specials to give their brains a break. I'm continually amazed at how challenging elementary academics have become. Just a few things my son has relayed to me that he learned in school this year have been about the thorax of

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ladybugs, what diraphs are, and that in his favorite subject of the day, writer's workshop, he wrote quote a personal narrative. He used that term. He's in kindergarten. Part of me loves this. I love that he's being challenged. I love that he loves

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to learn. I love that he's into writing, quite frankly, because I'm a writer myself. I can't wait to see where my son's intellectual curiosity takes him. But sometimes I also question how much academic rigor we're putting on young minds. I'm concerned that by diminishing time spent in specials, we're depriving

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our kids of mental space they desperately need. We know the solution to this problem is We know the solution to this problem is difficult and extremely complicated. I'm so impressed by the work that has done to understand the nuance of our funding crisis and what can be done about it. We

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just want to know that you're on board with us to not just look at everything for possible cuts, but to look at everything for possible solutions to have a real plan for attacking structural issues and to share it with us because costs are going to continue to rise. The budget will tick up more

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and more year after year. What will be what will we be willing to cut next? musicals in high school and middle school, high school sports. We parents aren't willing to whittle away the the things that make our kids school days great. The things that make their

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education exceptional. Our kids deserve better than that. Our kids deserve a plan. >> Hi, good evening. Um, my name is Too loud. Sorry. My name is Carillos Msia and I live on Blackburn Terrace. Um I'm a father of two sons uh both with

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special needs. Uh both have ADHD and high functioning autism and both receive one-on-one uh support in special education classrooms. I can't overstate the impact that paraprofessionals have had on my sons. Their compassion, patience, and

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dedication have transformed what once seemed impossible into real meaningful progress. For my family, this support is not a luxury. It's a lifeline. That is why I stand firmly opposed to the proposal to outsource par profofessionals to a third party vendor.

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I understand that the district is under real financial pressure due to inadequate state funding and rising costs. But solving this problem by targeting our most vulnerable students is is not just misguided, it's inhumane and morally indefensible.

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These children and the professionals who support them are not responsible for the financial challenges this district faces. Challenges rooted in years of financial mismanagement and the lack of over of fiscal oversight. This board speaks of leadership, accountability,

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and difficult decisions. But leadership means taking responsibility and not shifting the burden onto those least able to carry it. In my own career as a leader in an engineering firm, I've helped lead our firm through times of financial crisis. During CO 19, when our

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firm faced serious financial strain, we did not lay off or outsource a single employee. Instead, we led by example. Top earners accepted pay cuts. Bonuses were suspended. Overtime and non-essential spending was eliminated.

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Because of these and other shared sacrifices, we preserved jobs, maintained benefits, and protected the dignity of every employee. In fact, while many companies struggled or shut down, our firm grew from 1,200 people to over 1400 people by the end of the

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pandemic. That is leadership. What we are seeing here is the opposite. It is deeply troubling and frankly unacceptable that paraprofessionals, some of the lowest paid employees in this district, along with the families that they serve, are being asked to bear

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the burden of deficit reduction while many employees in this district earn well over $200,000 a year, face no comparable accountability. That is not leadership. That is passing the buck. If this board is serious about addressing

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the budget fairly and responsibly, I have a few pointers that I'd like to propose. Number one, immediately implement a salary cap of 190,000 across the board for the highest earners with periodic review every 3 years to account

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for inflation, market conditions, and the financial health of the district. Two, temporarily freeze increases tied to tenure until additional funding is secured with retroactive adjustments when finances approved. Three, eliminate non-essential expenditures.

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Four, invest in dedicated fundraising efforts, building partnerships with local businesses, and actively pursue grants, bonds, and other funding opportunities to diversify revenue streams. >> Thank you, sir. Your your time is up. Okay.

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>> Thank you. My name is Nicholas Marmo Yender Drive Morris Plains. For nine years, I served the public schools of West Orange as the district media technician, a position that today no longer exists, but whose duties are now performed by your

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district media coordinator. I come before you today to ask you to reconsider eliminating the media coordinator position. Over the course of my time in the district, I worked well over 200 board of education meetings. And when thinking of what to say this evening, a story from one of

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those meetings kept coming to the forefront of my mind. You see, back then, every annual budget needed to be approved by the public. So, every year, the superintendent and the board would rally their supporters to pass the budget. And every year, it did until it

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didn't. To reconcile the budget, the town council convened a special meeting with the board in this very room on that very stage. Public comment went on for hours in support of or opposed to the budget. Eventually, the town council adjourned

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to close session, leaving the board with us feeling powerless. As the board stepped off the stage, I caught the eye of a board member I had grown quite deeply to feel quite deeply respect for. She looked distraught and I asked her, "Should I be worried?" She said, "For

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years passing a budget, we made it look easy. The problem is that when someone thinks something is easy, they tend to assume it is of little worth." She went on, "When someone decides something or someone is of little worth, it becomes

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rather simple to toss it aside. They lose sight of the consequences, convincing themselves, repercussions be damned." Things changed for me and for the board after that meeting. Board members took the time to ask me about my day or what projects I was working on. It remained that way until I left the

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district. You now stand on a similar precipice. But before you toss away your district media coordinator, you have an opportunity to remind yourself of her of her worth. Ask her about the district-wide work she does or the income she brings in through paid

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facility rentals. Ask her how the district might benefit from the upcoming Comcast franchise renewal. Ask her about what it takes to get the lights on, the sound system working, the live stream broadcasting, and the archival video rolling for this one singular meeting.

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Ask her about the countless students she positively impacts daily. Ask her about the pandemic. Ask her the truth about what it would cost the taxpayers of West Orange to outsource all of that along with the rest of her position.

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Ask her something. Ask her anything. She's sitting right there. I assure you, you can't afford to lose her. Thank you and good luck. I'm Larry Winrab, West Orange resident, and I am here with the West Orange

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parents for education. My oldest son is in 10th grade at the high school, plays on the JV baseball team, and my youngest is in seventh grade at Gold Academy. Last year, I became very concerned when I saw the

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significant cuts, the program changes, the teacher and staff layoffs that were needed in order to balance the budget. The discussions that accompanied those decisions were full of anger, mistrust, and hurt and created fractures in our town and our community. A group of

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parents came together and we decided that we wanted to protect the quality of West Orange schools and more importantly avoid future rounds of chaos, anger, distrust. That group became woke. It's time to

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evaluate the last 12 months. And while everyone here is in fact making an honest effort to do the thing that we know is most important, educate the children of West Orange, it is not enough. Mr. Moore, it is not enough. An improved

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process from last year would have included clear communication about the cuts needed well ahead of time so that the community could be involved. But we got a letter five days ago. you would have explained the $5 million in increased maintenance costs that

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showed up in the preliminary budget. The presentation today would have included some sort of indication of what the plan was next year and the year after that so that we could believe that this was necessary for a sustainable budget.

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You would hear our calls for a plan. And our kids do deserve a plan as a plea for thoughtfulness and communication instead of referring to it as an empty slogan. Mr. Rock, Miss Vera, Mr. Stevenson, Dr.

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Brian, and Dr. Iker, it is not enough. An improved process would have insisted on sharing the size of the deficit in September when we knew it. You would have created opportunities for dialogue and exchange. You would have discussed the size of the tax levy honestly and

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openly rather than requiring me to point out that it was a choice, not a law. You would share every line of the budget publicly with a community budget advisory group. And you would successfully negotiate a contract with our teachers, building trust in an

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adversarial process so we could get down to the hard work of educating our children. WOA, it is not enough. The work you do educating our children is the best. and I am grateful. But an improved process would involve acknowledging what we all know that you

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are paid well compared to other districts in the state. Our taxes are high and the state isn't coming with any help. We need to find a way to make the limited dollars we have go far enough for a highquality education. And we must

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find a way to rebuild trust. Our kids deserve a plan for their future and for ours. Okay. Um, I'm going to be a little bit different than everybody else, but um, my name is Natalie Luben. I live in West Orange. I have kids at, um, Kelly Elementary and Edison. Um, I want to

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start out by acknowledging that Superintendent Moore's budget letter was more transparent than most communities get. He named numbers. He named comparisons. He named hard truths. That took courage, and I respect it. But there's a part of this conversation that this community has not had yet, and I think we deserve to have it tonight. The superintendent has taken significant

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heat, some of it from the members of this very board. And while leadership is accountable, it takes more than one set of hands to build a 13.5 million structural deficit. So tonight, I'm asking we that we widen the lens. My question here for the board is for the board and for the record. First, the

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West Orange Education Association contract covering 20 through 2020 um to 2025 has expired. the successor agreement is is um being negotiated. What has the union offered to concede in these negotiations to help close the gap? Not in principle, specifically. What is on the table from their side?

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Second, tonight's agenda. Attachment 2 lists every tenure staff member being reappointed for next year. It includes a column called longevity stipened. These are annual payments above base salary ranging from the approximately 5600 to 10,000 per tenur employee. This appears

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to be roughly around $2 million annually in recruiting contractual um obligations that are not explained anywhere in the budget letter sent to this community. The district is asking PAR professionals to accept outsourcing to save 3 million. That is a real ask of real people. How much of that 13.5 million structural

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deficit is driven by the compounding growth of longevity stipens over time? And if PAR outsourcing is on the table as a structural concession, is renegotiation of the longevity clause on the table as well? Because right now our children are absorbing the c the cuts while the conversation appears to be

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happening behind closed doors. Third, the WOEA contract on their own website is password protected. Parents cannot read it. Um can this board commit to making the current and any successor collective bargaining agreement publicly accessible. That is not a radical request. It's a transparency request. I

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also recognize that the union leadership may or may not be present tonight. Um I welcome them to address the community publicly with the same transparency that we're asking of this board. Our children belong to all of us and they deserve a plan. I'm not here to vilify teachers. I want my children taught by excellent,

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fairly compensated educators. But shared sacrifice means everyone at the table has to show their hand. Right now, only one side of the equation is visible to the public. I'm asking this board, what are you requiring from the union and why isn't it part of the public conversation? Thank you.

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Good evening everyone. My name is Erica Turner and I'm here on behalf of my husband Marcus, my daughter Dominique, and our seven-year-old grandson Jaden whom we raised. Jaden is autistic, non-speaking, and attends Kelly Elementary in Miss Becky's class, but dedicated Paris, Miss Rachel, Miss

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Suzanne, and Miss Britney. And tonight, I'm going to be Jaden's voice. Recently, I picked Jaden up from school. And Miss Rachel shared that during lunch, he got up from the table and walked away because she knows him, his needs, and his habits. She didn't panic. She understood that Jaden was looking for

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something, which turned out to be a fork for his lunch. Now, that might sound small, but in our world, that was a real milestone. It was independence, communication, and growth. It is also the kind of pivotal moment that could have been lost if an unfamiliar person had been there. Consistency is not a

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luxury for children like Jaden. It is part of how they access school safely, successfully, and with dignity. When you raise a child with special needs, it can feel like you are constantly advocating, constantly explaining, and constantly fighting for the support your child needs. In our experience, West Orange

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has been top-notch up to this point. That is exactly why I'm speaking tonight, because I want this district to remain the kind of place families can trust. I believe there are good intentions here. I truly do. But good intentions are not enough when a plan depends on everything going perfectly.

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The proposed outsourcing of PAR professionals assumes that current paras will transition smoothly and that students will keep the same familiar faces and that consistency will not be disrupted. The district's letter says this moment calls for truth. So the truth is demanding consistency is not

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the same as guaranteeing it. The reality is that many paraprofessionals will not be able to accept a pay cut, reduce benefits or change employment terms. We will lose experienced people who know our children. And when that when that happens, the district is not simply saving money. It is shifting costs

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elsewhere because inconsistent support increases pressures on teachers, contributes to student regression, escalates classroom challenges, and can lead to makeup services, legal disputes, and staff turnover. Replacing just one teacher can cost upward of $20,000. So

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the projected $3 million savings must be weighed against the real cost of disruption. So my question is, has the district done a true cost risk analysis not just of the projected savings but of the predictable cost when student support becomes inconsistent? If consistency is the promise, then it

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should be defined, measured, and put in writing in the contract, in the transition plan, and in the and in the accountability process shared with families. Before moving forward, please conduct a role-byroll impact review. put safeguards in writing and protect the

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continuity students depend on every day. Thank you for your time tonight and thank you to all the PAR professionals for your incredibly hard work. Good evening, kids in Mount Pleasant and BMLC with Paris aka leaf blower beardo. I don't

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know. I uh brought the thing with the community exoskeleton last time. I dropped off stacks of paper, did the feedback forms, shared the school site I built, and as expected, nothing. I'm not mad. I understand. Who has time these days? The board of volunteers now facing

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all this community engagement while planning and decisions were probably done weeks and months ago. The school district is struggling with cuts. How would they have time? I didn't expect replies again because the system isn't set up for it. If elected and appointed officials don't

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have time to do this and elections don't change that, then we have a systemic issue. These meetings are part of the problem. I made a uh a one-pager action plan after the last meeting and added to my site, but then I stopped. I considered

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despair to be honest. I really thought about giving up. But despair is a luxury. The kids need us and we're failing them. Odds are by the end of this evening the cost will be final despite all this community energy and the tax option that is a real

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alternative. And I'm not wealthy, but I will personally offer to cover the added C tax increase for several other families that can't afford it if that helps. And I'm not the only one who would do that.

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There we can make this work. So from near despair, I'm doing something I don't feel ready for. I am launching the mildly cheekily named frontstate.org. You hear plenty these days about hidden powers and behind the-scenes forces

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working against ordinary people. But I believe in government's ability to do good. So instead of a hidden state, a front state out in the open in front of powers that be helping. The premise if elected and appointed officials don't have time to do this

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work as well as we'd like and they don't then ordinary communities have to build the coordination layer adding the visibility and supporting processes so we can make things better. the exoskeleton I mentioned the first case studies here the budget crisis a little in the board plan tries

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to explain how we won't be back here in a year after 20% insurance increase more cuts the plan reached like a budget which it is it isn't a long-term plan which our kids deserve the schools.frontstate.org

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or site that I printed last time is a preview. If we can figure out the school budget, we can do healthcare costs, state funding, etc. But no amount of tooling will let me do this alone, nor should one person be dependent on just like we shouldn't depend on you five people to fix everything. I hope to work with new friends in the West Orange

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parent group and also hope to hear from the the board, the union, everyone. I believe that enough visible data and process paired with the collaboration of our beautifully diverse community can lead to real plans like a budget committee. Please everybody tonight hang

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in there. Help something and I'll be around to chat. Christa Senic, uh, Wedgewood Drive, West Orange. My son Sheldon is a graduate of West Orange High School, class of 21. Okay.

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He's uh he's known he's wanted to be a music teacher since seventh and eighth grade after being taught by Mr. Ryan Kruer at Liberty Middle School. Sheldon took a chance with marching band and as he said after his first rehearsal, "I've met my people." Mr. Lewis Kelly and Mrs.

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Aaron Legatic saw leadership qualities and talent in him and made sure he was involved in any way possible with leading the band. They both taught him to be inclusive of all regardless of talent or ability. At the urging of Mr. Kelly, Sheldon began private French horn

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lessons, who then later became his mentor throughout college. He ended his high school career as drum major and now is a visual technician with the very group that inspired him. My last music shoutout goes to Mr. Mark Legatic, whose

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unique professional performance perspective brought my son to a new level of musicality. Yeah. Brought my son to a new level of musicality he had not before realized. Sheldon could not have seen the path to

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being a music teacher if it weren't for the music education community in West Orange. Each music teacher who taught him has ingrained a lasting impression in his musical heart. Next week he graduates with highest honors with a

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master's of teaching in music education and a certification in special education. He has accepted a position in the Mawa school district as elementary school general music teacher. My son is just one of hundreds of kids

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who have grown from the West Orange music program. Do not deny these opportunities to our young talent by eliminating the very people who create these successful foundations. We all enjoy music, Broadway shows, in

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documentaries, podcasts, blockbuster movies, and even in your child's favorite toys. music education at young ages. Its bring the talent to light. Why would you choose to stifle the future of music? Now is the time to embrace and

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thank and preserve our outstanding music educators, not dismantle our incredible program from its foundations. Thank you. Hello, my name is Caroline Matias. I am the mom of two kids. I live at West

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Orange. My kids are at Gregory Elementary and Valley Settlement House. So, we're going to be in the school system for 18 years. First of all, I want to thank everyone in this room for making it here and everyone online. This is a really difficult time, which I

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acknowledge. It's a difficult time for every single party involved. The board has to make difficult decisions, very difficult decisions under pressure. The teachers are facing undeserved uncertainty or have been cut. The parents are worrying about the

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children's education. And I want you to know we all want the same thing. Okay? We all want the same thing. Providing our children with the education that they deserve. The situation is real. We have a real financial challenge mainly

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driven by the increase of healthcare costs. It's absurd if you think about it. It's not going to be better. It's going to be worse and it needs to be tackled sustainably across the short, medium and long term. This is the time

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where we cannot leave any stone unturned. Some thought starters and I first I want to preface we need to think differently. We need to do things we have never done before. We cannot point our finger to Trenton even. That's what leadership

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means. We all have a voice and I'm going to demonstrate it to you. But some thought starters. Technology spent. You will be surprised how many of us new generation of parents who grow up online offline are actually against it. We wouldn't mind for the laptops to be cut.

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They distract our children and the quality of their education. Seriously. And then about thinking differently. Let's talk to the mayor. There is another side of the budget which officially, no, we haven't done it before. It's not in the system. Blah blah blah. Let's just talk to the mayor.

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If the town has 30% of the total budget in West Orange, maybe they can give us some money. Okay, we have Target coming. We have Trader Joe's coming. We have more cannabis shops in West Orange than Starbucks. It's kind of, you know, there is money to be found. We just need to

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ask the question, have the conversations and put some pressure there. Healthcare is a national problem and we need a long-term initiative and we need to but this will make the biggest difference. Healthcare, we need to work across communities. I'm asking you to work

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across communities with other boards to put pressure at least on a New Jersey level because if we have all school districts in New Jersey arguing with a healthcare company for one plan that is good for teachers but you know has still good pricing that is how we can

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meaningfully start to tackle this challenge and I'm sure that other states will join. This is a long-term solution but we need to start these conversations today. So we don't want to lose teachers. We don't want to increase class sizes. We don't want to lose power professionals, especially outsourcing

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them when these children need consistency. Every teacher will tell you that psychologically they need the same person is not the right solution. But >> thank you ma'am. Your your time is up. >> May I please >> Thank you.

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>> If you have one more sentence that that that'll be fine, but otherwise your time is >> okay. I just want to tell you you have an opportunity. West Orange is a bright community, bedroom community to New York City. If you can make it in New York City, you can make it everywhere. Parents have collect

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>> Thank you, ma'am. That's that's enough. >> We We have many other speakers that have to go. So I three minutes is the limit. Hi, my name is Eileen Johnson. I've been a par professional in this district for 18 years.

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Tonight, thank you. Tonight, I'm here as Kelsey's mom. She started at the preschool program at Betty Matalina in February 2020, just three weeks before the world shut down. Since then, she has had the support of shared power professionals. I can say without hesitation, they have not simply

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supported her education. They have been essential to her growth and success. When my daughter was younger and couldn't clearly communicate her needs, they didn't just follow a plan. They took the time to truly understand her. They learned her cues and her way of

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expressing herself. Because of them, her voice grew stronger and her frustration grew smaller. They knew her. They all know her. They know when to laugh with her, when to help her through challenges, and when she needs a firm, steady boundary.

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They know how to push her, how to motivate her, and how to bring out the best of her. When she struggles, they lift her up. When she succeeds, they celebrate and cheer her. They understand her so deeply that they can tell what kind of day she's going to have just by the way she walks through the door

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without even a word. Earlier this year, I received a call from the school nurse at Kelly. Her teacher was out, but her par profofessional noticed something wasn't right. My daughter wasn't didn't have a fever. She wasn't complaining, but they knew. They trusted their instincts enough to call me, and we

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trusted them enough to act. That night, she tested positive for the flu. That is not a replaceable service. That is not something you can outsource. What you are considering is not just a staffing change. It is a loss of consistency, trust, and relationships

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that take years to build. Outsourcing may place someone in a classroom, but it cannot replicate the knowledge, intuition, and connection that in district parrofessionals bring to these children every single day.

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When Thanks. When there is a school break, my daughter doesn't just look forward to seeing her friends again. She looks forward to seeing the people who understand her, who advocate for her, and who help her succeed. To her, they are a constant. They are safety and they

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are trusted. You are not just making a budget decision. I know it's hard. I don't envy your position. You are making a decision about the quality of care, stability, and support our most vulnerable students will receive. I urge you to consider

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what cannot be measured by on a spreadsheet. The relationships, the trust, and the life-changing impact these power professionals have on a child like Kelsey. Thank you. >> He's gonna pick the mic up for you.

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>> Thank you. Uh, good evening. Uh, Mark Kaine. Uh, been a town resident for 62 years. Graduate of West Orange High School, class of 75. Two children, both graduated from top 10 universities. So, I certainly understand

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the value of a of a good education and I understand how that draws people to town. I also understand that taxes drive people away. As part of my profession, I I was an actuary. So maybe nobody in this room appreciates more than your comment that

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numbers don't lie, Mr. Moore. So um I have uh two suggestions. Uh I as part of my responsibilities with my company, I I calculated and valued the company health benefit plan. There are a lot of ways to deliver those benefits and I hope that

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both the education association and the board is exploring all of them. Please everybody be flexible and and the costs are not going to go down. They're going to continue to increase far above any and the cost of inflation and certainly

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town budgets of 2% etc. I also normalized the figures that you included in your letter Mr. Moore and uh I threw out East Orange and Orange as outliers and I heard earlier it's because of the amount of state aid they get. So looking at the other three school districts, uh

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Livingston and West Orange are virtually identical when you normalize things. Um living uh Montlair and the one thing that stands out is the number of students per staff.

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Okay, West Orange is 5.3, Livingston is 5.4. Arguably no difference. Monontlair is 6.11. So that's a 15% difference. I'll say it's more efficient. The real outlier in terms of efficiency

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is South Orange 9.15 students per staff almost double West Orange is 5.3. What are they doing? We need to talk to them and find out how they're delivering the services so so efficiently. So I I'm just throwing

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those two things out as as possible solutions. I know it's hard. I salute you for your efforts to try to keep things in line costwise and also serve the needs of the students in town. Thanks for your time. >> Good evening, Julie Bookbinder, Colmore

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Circle in West Orange. as you can see from this Roosevelt baseball jersey, which is probably the fourth I've bought in the last two years with the whole reorganization of middle school sports. But I'm fortunate to be able to afford to do that. I'm glad to hear that there will be a place for these jerseys to go

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next year with the Wreck program. Now, what can we do for music and arts? There has to be a solution for the elementary schools. I appreciate the letter and the presentation that was given tonight, but that's not a plan forward. That is the

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status quo. That is where it is today and where it seems you are going for this next year. There seems to be no path that's been disclosed to any of the stakeholders about what happens next. You've heard it. I'm going to say it

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again. Our kids deserve a plan. Not only from Trenton, not only from DC, not from Mr. Moore alone, from this board. The community, the children, the parents deserve a plan. If you're tired of that

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slogan, how about this? Help us help you. I have three requests for you tonight. Will this board create a community budget advisory committee? There are parents with personal and professional experience who are ready,

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willing, and able to volunteer their time just like all of you do. We know you all have day jobs that take time. You've signed up to do this. We are here to help you. You just need to accept that help.

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Will this board come to the table with the teachers union to collaborate? understanding that is likely going to require sacrifices on both sides. And lastly, will this board share a line

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by line budget with the community in advance? Not a week or a day or a month, but a year, at least a semester. This goes back to where I started. There is a community here ready to help you if you

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accept the help. if you engage, if you share the information. I'm a graduate of a public school system in a much smaller township in southern New Jersey that's also much less diverse. I chose to move here and raise

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my family here. I have an outgoing Roosevelt student and an incoming Roosevelt student. If the pattern that we're experiencing year after year continues, we are going to dramatically diminish the ability to recruit and retain outstanding educators, we are

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going to drive families out of town. We are going to damage property values. You are making choices here tonight, and I hope and I pray that going forward, you are not going to make me and other parents in this room regret their choice

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to be here. Thank you. Good evening. Uh Jackie Hendy Beverly Road. Um so I'm here I am a parent of two children in district. One and a junior at the high school and one uh seventh grader at Roosevelt. It's deeply

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disturbing that the the education and opportunities that my son have are not going to be extended to my daughter. I find that very troubling and that the paraprofessionals that led to the success of my son are also not going to be shared with the children coming behind him. It's hurtful to watch the

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last people over the bridge to shout the loudest to raise it. Anyway, um I know that the deficit is real. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. I know it requires hard decisions. I respect that. But, you know, hard decisions require full information. We've heard many people up

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here talking about a plan and that's because it's what's required. Um, and what this community received so far is just summaries, you know, line items, insurance costs, this, salaries are this, and respectfully, that is a ledger, not an analysis. We haven't seen

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the deeper work. We haven't seen a full central office review. We haven't seen vendor contract audits, facilities, technology, food service, wasteful programs like I Ready, My Ride, PreK, even Power School, which honestly is

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just the most anxietyinducing piece of crappy technology I've ever seen. Anyway, I digress. Um when sorry we haven't seen the net savings calculation on paraprofessional outsourcing that accounts for vendor

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management fees the significantly higher turnover rates in outsourced workforces and we haven't seen the legal exposure analysis under IDA if continuity of services is disrupted when you outsource a workforce you change the employment

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relationship their benefits their protections their stability. Staff who feel insecure leave. And when a paraprofessional leaves, a student with an IEP loses the person who knows them. Sometimes the only person in the building that they fully trust. This is

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not a loss, just a feelings loss. Under federal law, this is a potential compliance problem that could cost this district far more than it saves. I want to say something about trust. It

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has been completely fractured within this community and I don't think that's a controversial statement to make. When the deficit is announced and the details come in summaries and major structural changes like outsourcing are floated without a a full public accounting,

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people feel managed rather than informed. This erodess confidence and makes every subsequent decision harder to accept. I believe that everyone in this board cares deeply about our children. I really do. But decisions of

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this magnitude, leadership must not undercommunicate. It must overcommunicate. It needs to show its work. It needs to bring the community in as partners, not present them with foregone conclusions. And before I guess I'm asking this vote to commit to

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releasing any analysis publicly and to answer one direct question. What does the managed services model actually mean for our paraprofessionals? what protections are in place for the students whose services depend on them. And by the way, I did file an OPER request over a week ago for budget

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documents and I still hadn't received them. Thank you. Good evening board members, Superintendent Moore. when I decided to come tonight as you have all >> Oh, I'm so sorry. >> Cindy Matu Brown, Corwell Circle,

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resident um taxpayer for 26 years. Children went through this school district as you all know how proud I am of how much you did for my children graduated. The last who graduated was in 2013. Prior to that 2011, prior to that

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2017, you know where my heart is and you know how much of an advocate I am. So I came with heart in hand also because I've been where you are as a former council member receiving a budget from mayors

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who I did not agree with. And it was that work and it was hard work. So I know how hard it is. I know how much each one of you have to consider when you're looking at a budget. I came here tonight because of what I've been seeing

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on social media, the video that I watched because I was in DC and I could not be here the last time. And after the admonishment of the welcome that I felt we all received, I'm disheartened,

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very disheartened. I felt disrespected because I came here because I care. I don't come here for slogans. I come here for our community. I've been a public servant. I continue to support public education because it matters.

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That was the offscript. Here's the script. I'm here to speak against the proposal to privatize paraprofessionals. And I want to ground my comments firmly in the district's fiscal year 2025 audit,

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not on speculation, not on slogans or emotion. The audit makes one thing clear. The district budget deficit is not the result of par professionals or other frontline staff. It is the result of documented fiscal administrative

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failures. First, the audit that the district did not reconcile bank accounts on a monthly basis. That blew my mind. As a result, the business office reported one cash balance. Bank records show a second.

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And auditors had to calculate a third number just to determine how much money actually existed. So, here is where the trust fails. This is not something that I am making up. This is in your audit.

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Millions of dollars were unaccounted for until end of the year. Adjustments were made when leadership cannot reliably state how much cash is on hand. Claims that outsourcing staff is fiscally necessary should concern

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everyone. That's why we are all here. Second, the district incurred nearly $75,000 in IRS penalties because employee payroll taxes were not made on time.

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That is money lost entirely. Money that could have paid for student services, materials or staff. That penalty was not caused by power professionals. It was caused by the failure to meet basic administrative deadlines. Thank you, Miss Batu Brandon.

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Nicole Rufo, overlook a what Cindy said. of course echo that I have four children in the West Orange School District. My children have gone through Gregory, Edison, Roosevelt, and the high school. First, I want to say happy teacher appreciation week to all of you and acknowledge the fact that this special

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week often occurs during contentious budget budget negotiations, which is difficult for teachers to feel celebrated when their jobs are at stake and there's a level of fear and stress circulating in their work environment. Hopefully, most of us here have seen the movie Back to the Future. In this movie,

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Michael J. Fox's character Marty McFly uses a time machine to travel to the past to influence the future. Has something ever happened in your life where you wish that you could travel back in time to change something for the better? I know I have. We are at a place right now where we have been warned what

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will happen in the future if the pair of professionals are outsourced. At the last meeting, we had many people who spoke about real situations of what has happened in other districts when they have made this disastrous move. Instead of figuring out how to time travel, especially since I don't think we have

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it in our budget to buy a Delorean or a flux capacitor, then please listen to the warnings from everyone sounding the alarms. With this testimony from a teacher in a neighboring district, we can pretend like this is a call from the future. This is their words. As a parent and teacher in the South Orange

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Maplewood School District, I have seen firsthand what a negative impact outsourcing par profofessionals can have. Before we outsourced, the majority of our paras were experienced, well-trained professionals who were invested in their students. When our district made the switch to outsourcing, we lost a lot of great paras who needed

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health insurance. Over time, the outsourcing agency has changed, apparently going to the lowest bidder, regardless of training or how they treat their employees. I have spoken to good paras who feel bullied by their employers even though they know that we the teachers and parents and students all appreciate them. But the number of

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quality paras is dwindling. New parrots receive little to no training. Some are willing to learn from teachers and are fantastic with their students. But many spend the day on their phones and lack the skills to need help with their students. Paras work with the students who need the most support. Yet we have drastically lowered our hiring and

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training standards. I cannot overstate the importance of keeping paraprofessionals in district. It is a price worth paying for the people who spend the most time with our neediest students. I this is my words now. I have a lot of empathy for the current superintendent and board of ed members at what they are facing. Cutting $14

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million from an already tight school budget is devastating. But the choice of cutting from the most vulnerable is not acceptable. I have a child with a learning disability and advocating for them has been the most intense work of my parenting. Having to demand services, making sure people are looking out for them, and always checking for

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accountability for what legally is bound in their IEP is exhausting. Parents of students with special needs trust their children in the hands of amazing teachers and prepare professionals. Taking away that trusted parah is ripping out a huge safety net for the student, teacher, and classroom. Let's fix the future before it's too late.

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Thank you. Good evening, Debbie Anderson. Um, 8 Coral Circle in West Orange. Um, and my daughter is Juliana Harris. I will commend everyone on the board because this job is not easy and hearing parents

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and hearing everyone come up. We have to really start to listen because our children's future is at risk. Having a child that have a disability is no joke. We are challenged every single day. But

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I have to say proudly, I didn't have to worry when she came to school in West Orange. I didn't have to worry because my child was taken care of by the paraprofessionals that from kindergarten to senior year helped her to be successful.

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I am not trying to talk emotional, but it is emotional because the future she has because of the West Orange School District, the teachers and the paraprofessionals that really care. I am the director for the department of human

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services in Union County. Close connections with the superintendent of Union County Schools. Elizabeth and other places have outsourced challenges that's happening one background checks

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for those par professionals. These are people that are going to see our children every day. Are they safe? There are things that were slipped through the cracks. How much research have you done in the agency that we're looking to bring on board? Is it really

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a costcutting measure? because what is at risk on the financial side? Cindy mentioned there's a lot of red flags. I haven't even gone through the audit, but that's a woe what's going on because for me, I had to cut. I had to cut. But why

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I had to cut is helping me and all of you should look at thinking outside the box. What doesn't seem common make it common. Look at other vendors that could provide health care. look for other things, but not cutting these programs

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because my daughter and children that are in the autism neuron neurody divergent community deserves better than a vote that will impact their life because it's either health safety that's

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your education and we have to wake up the teachers, the arts, the music and all that is so important and you're taking that away. There's other solutions. Like a teacher, like a parent just said, I'm willing to come sit on a community board. I have raised over

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hundred million dollars. I used to had two nonprofit organizations. So, I know how to go to foundations or whatever. I'm willing to give my time because our children in West Orange deserve better and I'm willing to do that because I know there's money out there and I'm

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willing to help you go and find it to make that budget. Hey, look at that timing. Molly Eisen, West Orange resident, WOEA vice president. Let's talk numbers. The business administrator's office employs six

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people at a total cost in salaries and benefits of a million dollars of taxpayers money. And yet, not one of them can seem to remember to pay the district taxes on time. That's right. In June of 2025, the district incurred a fine of $78,784

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from the federal government requiring that, and I quote, "The district's budget funds must be utilized to pay the penalty." Don't believe me? Check page 144 of the annual comprehensive financial report audit conducted by the firm of Lurch, Vinci, and Bliss. But it

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gets worse. The audit also indicated on page 143 that, and I quote, the district's ledger and related bank account balances were not reconciled on a monthly basis, resulting in significant year-end audit adjustments to ensure accurate cash

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balance, and that the district's financial statements may not reflect actual cash available. The BA's office isn't balancing the books. These issues beg the question of what other mistakes lie hidden in the audit. What's more is that after making a mistake that cost

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the district $78,000 in June of 2025, the business administrator received an $18,000 raise in the 2025 2026 school year with her salary increasing from $181,827 to $200,10

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plus an additional $8,000 allowance for expenses. How can you justify a 10% raise to a single person in this school year when last spring you also claimed financial stress and let go of more than 30 employees? How is that sharing the

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burden? The board says trust us that the only way forward is to outsource the Paris which if the district numbers are to be believed total less than 1.5% of the entire budget. The board is willing to fire every one of the 230

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paraprofessional staff members to torch the literal support of the special education students and replace them with subcontra contractors all to save 1.5%. The board has repeatedly stated that 70% of our budget is due to salary and

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benefits acting as if this is abnormally high in New Jersey and implying that the staff is to blame for the deficit that the board helped to create. What the board of ed did not advertise is that that is on the low range of school budgets in New Jersey. Just last week,

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Mr. Moore sent a letter about the budget comparing the 70% to the actual dollar amount spent in other districts. Comparing percentages to numbers is using statistics in a way that is knowingly manipulative at best and purposefully deceitful at worst.

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Well, I'll cut this short, but why should we trust you? You refuse to give us actual numbers and repeatedly cry, "Woe is me. This is hard. We're losing sleep." What about all the people who are losing their jobs? >> Hi. Uh, good evening. My name is

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Danielle Carr. I'm a West Orange resident on Silver Spring Road, parent of two children in the district, um a board member on the Gregory PTA, as well as a member of Um I'm speaking tonight though as a private citizen as well as a on behalf of more than 1,600

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community members who signed the petition to keep pair professionals in our district. That was submitted to the superintendent and the board last week. I've only been given a response from Superintendent Moore. Received a

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response within 30 minutes of submitting the petition that you are going to continue to go and outsource the parah professionals. There was no conversation and I've heard nothing from the board even though all of you have seen this petition. The petition not just has the

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signatures of community members. It also has success stories of people who lived in this district for generations and have grown in this district and the success that they've seen from the paraprofessionals. It also has direct commentary from those who are outside of

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this district and who are teachers outside of this district and have seen the immense um burden that has been brought on school districts when we have outsourced paraprofessionals. Um, a lot of other more astute people have said things about the

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paraprofessional program tonight, but I don't understand how a board who consistently says to us that they want participation, they want to hear from us, they want to see it in paper, they want to see it in writing, and yet crickets when you're given a petition

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from 1600 community members. And that was done in 48 hours. We are vocal. We are upset. And to be honest, it's crazy to me to think of last year when we were seeing another deficit and we were seeing all these other problems and

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everyone else going to be get laid off and we were able to save different language programs with one school board meeting. And to know that we're firing 230 PAR professionals without even a plan in

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front of this district. The community deserves a plan. Our kids deserve a plan. The security of this district, the security of these kids deserves it. And I just I can't understand it. Um and I understand that we're all in very

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difficult process, but to not address 1600 community members is crazy. And that is all I have to say tonight. Thank you. Hi, good evening. Good evening. My name is Patty Richardson. I'm a Bernardville

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resident, but I am a 30-year veteran teacher, 25 of which have been in this district. I wasn't planning on speaking um but I felt compelled that I needed to. We have been looked at as I feel as though we the teachers have been looked

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at the as the enemy. We're not the enemy. It is not our fault that health care is rising. Personally, I rely on my health care. I am a breast cancer survivor.

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To have to go undergo a mastctomy, reconstructive surgery, rely on my colleagues to help me out, but to I paid into my health care so that I could be taken care of so that I could come back

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to serve your children. This is not this isn't taken lightly. Not lightly. And I feel as though there's this projection that we as educators don't pay for our health care. That it's all the board who's paying for

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our healthcare. That is not true. I pay a very high percentage for my health care. And there was a time when I paid a family plan. It's just my husband and me, but I paid my share, paying it

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forward for my colleagues. These are trying times times, excuse me, and our par professionals. I have to tell you, I have been in multiple classrooms. I have had the distinct

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honor and pleasure of working with the phenomenal power professionals. I went into a sixth grade class. Teacher was absent. The par profofessional just ran the whole thing. I sat there and I was in utter awe of

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what she was able to do. It was seamless. You cannot You cannot outsource that. You cannot outsource relationships. You can't you cannot.

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I know that the budget is 13 plus million dollars, but there has to be creative ways. Why don't we do renewable energy? Why don't we look at maybe refinancing bonds? Why don't we try to um not a popular position, but Edison

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could potentially be a title one school and we would get funds from the government to save jobs. Not popular, but that's a solution. We work way too hard and it's ultimately going to be on the backs of our

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children. We have to do better. Please, please vote no on this budget. Look at your resources. The community has embraced it with open arms. We have millionaires who could help fix this budget.

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Thank you. Hello, my name is Kristen Darenzo. I live in Hakong, New Jersey. I'm speaking on behalf of Mike Denberg, who is an alumni and AP statistic teacher for 15 years. In my AP and CCP statistics class, among my first lessons is the

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topic of how often statistics are cherrypicked and weaponized to manipulate information. The data Superintendent Moore sent out to the district staff, students, and community last week, I'm sorry to say, is a textbook example of data manipulation.

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The data starts out by listing the total cost of salary and benefits for various school districts similar to West Orange. It then states that this represents 70% of our district budget as if that is unusual when it is in fact completely in line with other high-erforming districts

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like Livingston, Milbourne, and West Essex. You then proceed to compare this percentage to raw dollar amounts, which are different units. You use the same example that WO taxpayers are paying $42 million more than Monontlair when that is a school district in the middle of a

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dire financial strait due to its fiscal mismanagement. I don't see why we should be comparing ourselves to them. This is statistical manipulation. Now, let's actually compare apples to apples. Let's look at Livingston, for example. We have about a hundred more staff and $500 more

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students. But with simple division, they in fact pay over $6,000 more per staff member than we do. Yet, they do not have a $14 million budget crisis. More importantly, their salary and benefits total 80% of their budget according to their BOE pres budget presentation. This

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leads to one conclusion. Salary and benefits are not the primary issue here. If Livingston can make it work with 80% of their budget spent on salary and benefits, how is it that they are meeting their needs with only 20% of their budget? It appears to me that the

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other 30% of our budget, which totals about $62 million, should be in question here. Instead of cutting 80 jobs and 230 paras from the staff members who actually meaningfully interact with students, there must be other solutions.

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You claim that outsourcing the 230 PAR professionals will save us $3 million using an average salary of $35 $35,000 each, which is approximately what they make. This equals $8 million. Add in benefits and this means we still have to

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pay 8 to9 million to this new company. Their salaries and benefits only equal 6% of the district budget. How is it possible that decimating the special education department to save a mere 1.5% of the district budget is our best option?

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Is it possible these stats are wrong? Sure. But they're based on the data that you provided. So that means the community is being misled either intentionally or recklessly by providing us with bad data accidentally. Either option would result in an F on this

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assignment in my AP statistics class. My name my name is Samantha Lynn Palmer of Lind Drive Verona. I have been a PAR for 12 years, five years with West Orange Schools. I have worked in ABA, LLD, and

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ERRI. I love my job. I have shared in student milestones, victories, laughed and cried with them. We are not babysitters. We do not sit and do nothing. We are not easily replaced. We are highly trained professionals and deserve respect. I understand that there is a budget deficit. But how can you ask

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your already lowest paid employees to take a pay cut to lose their health insurance and possibly their livelihoods when you yourselves are unwilling to do the same? Thank you for your time. Um, okay.

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Deb Cohen, 26 years teaching. I live in Madison. I've said it before. The union and the staff understand there is a massive budget issue that needs to be addressed. Unfortunately, we knew that may mean staff job loss, but the district chose to make it so much worse by how it was handled. Hiding behind the deficit rather than being honest about

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what was being looked at from day one. Even with moving targets, information could have been provided to the community and staff. You have asked staff and community, "What do you suggest we cut instead?" over and over. It's a hard question to answer when we are never given the full picture, including tonight. No details. Today

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marks the start of teacher appreciation week. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. It's not just those holding a certificate that are teachers in all our buildings. We work our butts off and we do what we can do, but we can't do it without the help of those pair of professionals in our classroom that help all the students, not just the

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special needs. Our administrative assistants, our school counselors, our CST members, our librarians, and so many other contribute to the student education experience through soft skills, guidance through various situations, ensuring they get the education they deserve and are capable of doing. When anyone in this district who interacts with students

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every day, regardless of their position are devalued, you're devaluing all of us. We now have eight techs for 14 buildings and no network manager because of firings on Friday. Is this another outsourcing plan that we haven't seen yet? I hope not. I've directly seen the

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results of that when my own husband got outsourced at his IT job in higher education. What is the long-term plan for all of the above? There still hasn't been one presented. In addition to all of the people, programs, and departments that have been cut or reduced signific significantly, there is one person that

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needs to be singled out, and she's going to kill me. Lauren Graisa, aka Cookie, sitting right over there, is known throughout the district and the town. She does everything and then keeps working. Things happen without people knowing who does them. She doesn't sit behind a desk, but goes to buildings throughout the district to ensure that

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media needs from setup to performance are ready for use when needed, planned or last minute. Her jobs are too many to list, but what her impact is not. things get done before people even realize they need it. If it's a last minute emergency or something planned ahead of time, she works non-stop from the time she gets in

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to the time she leaves. Sometimes two in the morning, like the last board meeting, and then sometimes after that on weekends. However, the biggest impact she has had goes well beyond anything in her job description or job expectations. Cookie has mentored students in stage management, lighting, sound, technical theater, and so much more. Some of these

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students have gone on to continue in the world of theater or broadcast TV. Some have used the skills wherever their career choice led them. Cookie always has time for students. These students still reach out for advice, mentorship, and to keep Cookie in the know of what they are up to. They're the ones that matter. Students first, right? Love you,

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Cook. Um larger larger class sizes, unpredictable support for our special education students, and loss of technology support and opportunities outside the classroom for all our students is not acceptable. I ask that the crocodile tears of sleepless nights and hard decisions stop. Those making

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the decision still have jobs unlike 77 plus staff members, potentially another 230 if you outsource the Paris, who now have to figure out health care and income for themselves and their families. Our family has been fractured. And we are a family here, not just with job loss, but a lack of trust due to a

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lack of the willingness to work with the union leadership and members to solve a problem that could have and should have been anticipated well before this fiscal year started. Do your jobs. real transparency in what is being cut and why. What the plan is going forward to not have another blood bath next year and how you truly are keeping students

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and safety first with the decisions you have made this year that put in putting in danger. >> Good evening. Um Mark Legatic and Erin Legatic. Uh 12 Fairway Drive, West Orange. I come before you uh speaking on behalf of my wife, a 21-year veteran of

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West Orange High School, myself as an 11-year veteran of Gregory and and Mount Pleasant elementary schools who left a tenure position in another district to come back to the district that gave me so much. Three years ago, we put it all on the line to move. We sold our house. We moved in with my parents for nearly a

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year and found a home in West Orange. We wanted nothing more than West Orange for our daughter because we believed in the stability and depth of educational opportunities for the students both in and out of the classroom. How could we not? We've been witness to it for almost 30 years. I stood before you a year ago

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and heard Mr. Stevenson marvel at how impressed he was at his child's artwork at the art show and the amazing art teachers that teach our students. Do you remember my remarks to you, Mr. Stevenson, a year ago? I stated that I hope that one day my daughter has the same chances and opportunities that your

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children were afforded. After April 24th, our trust and faith in the district was shaken. We understand that there are tough times ahead and tough decisions that have to be made. But are we done? In one fell swoop, one-third of the music department was let go, specifically the vocal music department.

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Amazing educators who in their short young careers have made and left an indelible mark upon the children of this district have been let go. Understandably, a music teacher's license in New Jersey certifies that they're able to teach all disciplines of music, but as in most professions, you specialize and spend years training and honing your specific area of your craft.

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Would you ask a podiatrist to stand in for your cardiovascular surgeon? Both are medical professionals with licenses to practice. Sure, they can both ethically practice, but is it providing the be best care? As many others have echoed, what is the plan moving forward? What can what can and will you do to

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work with the teachers and parents of this district who are all invested in the great things that we do here? The teachers uh are expensive because we choose to work here because we are supported, valued, and full of talent and experience that flourishes when supported. Parents are moving here for

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all of the opportunities for their children, not just ELA and math programs. We attended both middle school productions at Roosevelt and Liberty and the high school musical production, and our daughter was captivated. Mr. Rock, you were in attendance. Miss Verah, we saw you in attendance as well. As music professionals, we were marveled and

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blown away at the production value on stage. Most of all, we were blown away by the joy, the joy of the faces of the children performing and the parents and communities. This doesn't happen overnight. This is a result of decades of investment in amazing teachers and programs. A colleague of ours commented

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that it won't be long till our daughter is up on that stage. I know my daughter will be on that stage. My question to Mr. Stevenson, the board superintendent Moore. Will there be programs and teachers with the expertise to teach it by the time she gets there? We know the path ahead will not be easy. We know

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there'll be a time where we have to make and save and everyone pitch in. We will do that. We will not waver in our goal. Supporting the children and faculty of this district so that we can provide the best for all of the students, present and future. Please rebuild trust. Involve the community. Involve our

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staff. Remind us why this district is a special place to live and inspire children through education. Provide us a plan and a pathway forward. Together, we can do this. Julie Brady, Bloomfield resident, WOA chair of negotiations and 22 years

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teaching with the district. Based upon the comments here tonight and on social media, I want to address the misconception that the union can negotiate to save jobs. When Mr. Jacobe stated at the beginning of the board meeting on April 20th that the union had yet to negotiate the impact of these

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proposals, he implied to the public that the union had failed to negotiate to save the Paris jobs. And so I will say again, according to the law, the association cannot negotiate for staff positions or staff numbers. By law, you know, we cannot. How many people are

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employed by the district falls under the decision-making powers of the superintendent's office and the board of education, nor do we have any choice in our healthcare options or the contributions we make to them as those are also set by law. And in case anyone was wondering, negotiating the impact

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for the Paris in this case would mean severance, an exit from employment. I would also point out that the board has attempted to circumvent the law. According to New Jersey statute NJSA34 col13A-46 subsection A, the employer, that's you

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must provide written notice to the collective bargaining unit and NJ perk no less than 90 days before the employee requests bids or solicits contractual proposals for subcontracting 90 days from notification. The union was notified on March 17th. Therefore, the

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board cannot even legally post for bids until after the 90 days have elapsed. And yet the request for bids document on the district's website stated April 29th as the opening of the bids for par profofessional services. The union called out this violation of the law and the district has since removed this

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posting from their website. But as you can see on this dated screenshot for May 1st, the bid opening for par profofessionals was originally scheduled for 429 right there under the snow removal bids that were never awarded. Additionally, this law also requires

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that the employer offer the collective bargaining unit, quote, the opportunity to meet and consult to discuss the decisions to subcontract and the opportunity to engage in the negotiation over subcontracting. The board has not yet made the offer to consult or negotiate. Not on March 30th

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and not since, but you have my number. I'd like to also remind the public that the reason that staff, parents, and the community at large were aware of the plan to outsource Paris was because the union came forward with this information on April 14th. When exactly did the board plan to notify the public of PAR

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outsourcing? The board's own attorney said at the last board meeting that there was nothing on the April 20th agenda about the outsourcing of Paris. It wasn't an agenda item. And yet, the board also had posted plans to open bids for outsourcing of Paris on April 29th. So, let's put all this evidence

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together. The board wanted to have a bid opening for the par outsourcing on 429 which is a clear violation of the 90-day timeline and the law and there was no mention of the plan to outsource Paris in the board meeting immediately prior to this big planned opening. The folks in front of me say trust us when all the

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evidence says you are gaslighting us. I see misleading statements, hidden agendas, legal violations and deleted documents. And after 22 years, I'm sorry to say I have no trust to give Good evening board members and superintendent more. My name is Kim

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Robinson. I have been proudly teaching in West Orange for nearly 10 years. I live in Montlair, New Jersey. I'm a second career teacher. I came to this profession after well over a decade working in corporate retail where the majority of my time was spent with spreadsheets, planning the company's

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purchases, and estimating the return on investment based on our choices. Much like you all, I with my team were tasked with estimating risk and financial rewards, determining how and where to spend money for the greater good. I acknowledge that we have a financial catastrophe on our hands that must be

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met with greater attention to detail, clear minds, and a forward-looking approach. The outline of the proposed budget cuts that we received last week and tonight did not include the necessary detail to assure the community of the plan's efficacy. How can our community feel confident that the

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outline proposal is financially viable and equitable without providing the community a full budget outlining the last several years spending in total by category. The numbers that we were provided were completely out of context with no attempt to provide information

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with that would allow stakeholders to understand the true cost and benefits to our communities. A few of the many items not included in the outline cuts were costs that would reasonably rise associated with these changes. For example, removing our district media

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coordinator required the district to h will rec require the district to hire an outside contractor to run audio and visual equipment for every event in our district. These expenses will definitely cost in excess of the salary and benefits we pay for this single employee

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who miraculously manages our award-winning performing arts and community meetings across the district. Thank you, Cookie. It is a reasonable explan expectation that district legal expenses associated with outsourcing par profof professionals

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will also rise as some parents will find that outsourced employees don't adequately meet even the minimum IEP requirements of their child's uh IEP. Athletics are stated to lose over 500k. No details were provided. Will some sports be discontinued while others lose

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only a small percentage of their budget? What's going on? Where are the details in this outline that will assure our community the decisions are being made equitably? Whether the numbers provided are the result of purposeful or accidental inaccuracies and

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misinformation. Either way, we should be concerned. All of you are tasked with understanding the financial implications at a granular level. Providing strong financial leadership is the work of you as district leaders. Superintendent

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Moore, if the people you rely on are not providing you clear, detailed comparisons and explanations, please look elsewhere. Find adviserss you can trust. You seem to learn for the first time during last month's BOE meeting that our district paid over $78,000 in

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fines for failure to make payroll taxes. Um on so if your adviserss aren't telling you about a fine of this magnitude, what else are they keeping from you? All right. Board of Education, please vote no.

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>> Good evening. I'm John Helier. I live in Pmpton Plains and I've been teaching music in West Orange for two decades. I am speaking to advocate for restoring the fine arts teaching positions that will be terminated by this budget. In Mr. Moore's letter to the staffing community, he mentioned striving to make

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minimal cuts to our extracurricular programs because, and I quote, "Programs like these from the students perspectives help provide opportunities for students to demonstrate pride, school spirit, teamwork, camaraderie, a sense of belonging, and an opportunity for students to showcase their skills

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and talents outside the classroom. With the cuts being made to arts teaching positions, these opportunities and knowledge attained by the students will dwindle as well. There is a direct correlation to be between a robust arts education program and academic success. I run the Triumph Music Honor Society

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here at the high school. Every school year, either or both, the validictorian and saludiatoran are students involved in our music program. Well beyond the academic metrics, music teaches our students how to be human in a choir, a band, or an orchestra. Students learn

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the profound value of collaboration. They discover that their individual voice matters, but that listening to those around them is just as important. They learn discipline through dedicated practice, resilience through their mistakes, and the unique joy of creating

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something beautiful together. It gives every child, regardless of their background, a canvas for expression, and a sanctuary where they belong. Shrinking this department and limiting classes will ultimately lead to gaps in academic achievement. If elementary music is

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limited, students will be less prepared for the middle school programs. In turn, this will trickle up over time to have a significant effect on our award-winning high school programs. Directly related to this topic is the incredibly unwise decision to determinate the district media coordinator position of Lauren

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Grathisa, affectionately known to all of us as Cookie. You can't ignore this. She's right here making sure that you and I can be heard, that this meeting is recorded, set up, broken down, and broadcast online. Cookie is part of the lifeblood of this building and the

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school district. Her steadfast presence, work ethic, dedication, and knowledge have been integral to the success of both events and everyday workings of this school. In fact, she was in the auditorium until 2 a.m. the last board meeting, and back here at 7:30 a.m. to set up for another event. Her former

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supervisor once callously remarked, "Even I don't know what you do here." Well, maybe that's because she does it so well, so competently, so dependably that it's all done before you even need to think about it. Outsourcing the multitude of responsibilities Cookie takes on will be expensive and only lead

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to the quality of meetings, events, broadcast, concert, musicals, guest presentations, and assemblies greatly diminishing. If you've been fortunate enough to see our concerts and musicals, you need to know that the quality of those events is directly related to her work in the school district. If co-curriculars and arts are as important

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as Mr. Moore has indicated, then I implore you to retain her position in the district as we will be lost without her. Thank you. >> Good evening, student ambassadors. Mr. Moore and members of the board, thank you for listening. Um, I see you

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listening and responding and taking notes and that's uh heartwarming. Um, my name is Wendy Mapes and I live in West Orange. I've been teaching for 25 years and 11 of those years are in district at the high school teaching theater. I am so moved by our community and everyone

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who has spoken tonight, parents, staff, uh other members of the community offering alternative solutions to the major cuts that have been proposed in your budget. Uh these past few weeks have left all of us all of us exhausted,

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sad, and in turmoil. And while I am extremely extremely grateful that the theater program has been preserved, I'm extremely grateful. I am deeply saddened by the cutting of so many colleagues, including our district media

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coordinator, Lauren Grafisa Cookie. While Cookie does many different jobs in our school district, I know and love her for the creative work that she has done to make theater thrive for our students, faculty, families, and community. Cookie was central in turning the little theater at West Orange High School into

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a blackbox theater. She ordered and installed the new soundi sound system and new lighting systems. And she trained students to operate those programs on the new boards. She assisted my students in the 10-day film challenge with videography, camera training, and

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editing, a a nationwide contest in which our students have won first place and second place multiple years in a row. Cookie with Central and turning the Oops, I just repeated myself. That's something an actress never does. As the producer and technical director for the

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plays and musicals, Cookie brings our productions to a professional level, ensuring that our sets, costumes, lights, and sound are the very best they can be. Our productions are lit and they sparkle because of our hard work and artistry. Cookie oversees and mentors

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our student stage managers and several theater alumni have pursued technical theater in college and successively in in their careers because of her mentor mentorship. Why I while I have what I have mentioned is just a fraction of what she does. Outsourcing the number of

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jobs that Cookie performs will be expensive and diminish the quality of all of our events. I ask that you please retain Cookie's position in the district. She is essential to all of the work that we do. And I would like to conclude by saying that outsourcing any job such as the paraprofessionals to the

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private sector may save money in the short term but will cost us much more in the long run when those privatized companies increase their costs and sink us further into debt. I ask that you please rehire our pair of professionals

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as district employees. Thank you. Ed Ed Stevens uh 22 yield terrace. Uh good evening members of the board, Superintendent Moore, and members of the community. Uh I'm a 26-year resident of West Orange and a proud parent of two graduates of the West Orange public school system. Lily in 2021 and Randy in

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2023. I haven't come out to speak at a school board meeting in quite a while, choosing to leave the business of education to those whose children still benefit directly from our great schools. But when decisions of the board of education are a threat to my community, I cannot sit on the sidelines. Your pending

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decision to outsource our paraprofessional services is exactly that, a threat to our community. The paraprofessionals who will be terminated from the district and will are part of our community. Nearly 40% of them live in West Orange. Another 40% live in surrounding towns here in Nessex County.

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They are our neighbors. They are caregivers for our children. They are our friends. Many of them are graduates of our schools. And as as is so often the case with a decision like this, it affects the lowest paid, most diverse, overwhelmingly female members of our community. I understand that the budget

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is tight and difficult decisions must be made. But why must we choose to punch down at the lowest paid workers in our schools and expect them to take the hit? Superintendent Moore, I've read the statements you've released about this plan. I have long respected and supported you as a principal, as a

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superintendent, as a member of this community. But your statement did not sound like a member of this community. Instead, it sounded like the tones of a corporate spokesperson justifying a decision to cut compensation or bust a union. In it, you state that the intent is to explore partnerships with

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qualified vendors that may allow us to onboard our current pair of professionals through an outside provider while keeping them working in our schools in their current roles with the students they already know and support. In other words, you intend to end their employment, arrange with a profit- driven company to give them jobs

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doing the exact same same thing they do now in the same schools and expect them to come back for less money. You want them to show loyalty to a district that is showing them no loyalty. Put another way, you are counting on their desperation,

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hoping they will continue to work with our children for lower compensation, worse or no health insurance, and a lost hope of any security in retirement. You go on in your statement to say that our goal is not to remove familiar and trusted staff from our students lives, but to find a fiscally responsible structure that allows our pair of

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professionals to remain part of the West Orange school community. fiscally responsible structure really means undermining the fis fiscal security of these quote trusted staff who will no longer actually be district staff but at will employees of a private company. They will no longer have security. They

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will no longer have stability. They will be at will hourly workers. You won't have the choice to keep them in our schools. The company they work for will have the ability to fire them with or without your approval. Our children will have a new pair unpaid paraprofessional underpaid paraprofessional the next day.

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and you know it. Finally, you say that you were prioriti prioritizing vendors that offer health benefits and retirement plans because we recognize that our staff members and their families deserve to be considered with care and dignity. That's a false promise and you know that too. Even if you can

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find a provider that offers health benefits and retirement plans. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevens. Your time is up. >> I'll send you my comments. Excuse me. Uh, good evening. My name is Margarita Sansoto. I'm a West Orange resident, taxpayer, and a proud Redwood

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parent. I'm here also with the West Orange Parents for Education. I want to begin by acknowledging how difficult this budget moment is for our town. The rising costs we're facing, especially health insurance, are not the result of local decisions. They are the

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product of large systemic failures and national policies that continue to harm public education. Yet, these are pressures that we as a local community need to address. That is why I'm asking the board once again

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to consider increasing the tax levy. The state provided this tool specifically to help districts manage cost increases like the ones we are experiencing now. We should be using every option available to protect our classrooms. Please don't make our kids pay for the

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shortfalls of adults. Not all West Orange families will pay the same amount. The levy is proportionate and it will reflect the many different financial realities that exist in this wonderful town. A levy increase will not solve the entire problem, but it will

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help the deficit and it can save some staff. Every position saved matters. As you have heard today, the heartbreaking letter we received from Mr. Moore was mainly a list of cuts and rationale for them. Cuts are not a plan. Cuts do not

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tell us how we move forward. Our kids deserve a plan. A real long-term plan that addresses the structural issues we face and protects the quality of their education. And I want to share something personal. Education is what gave me the

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many opportunities I've had in my life. I did not come from a wealthy family by my mother, but my mother, a public school teacher in Peru, made every sacrifice possible to give me the best education that I that she could. I want

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to do, excuse me, I want to do the same for my daughter. That is why this matters so deeply to me and to the to the so many families in this community to build that plan. We need transparency

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as well. I'm calling on the district to share the full lineby line budget with the community. If these decisions were made out of budgetary necessity, then please show us the community how they were made. Families deserve to

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understand how dollars are being allocated, especially in a moment like this. We are also asking the creation of a community budget advisory committee. We expect open dialogue, not just written communication. Trust has to go

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both ways, and the only path forward is real transparency and collaboration. And I close with this. Our kids deserve a plan, a real plan, a long-term plan, and a plan that protects their education in the future. Thank you.

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>> Good evening, Superintendent Moore and members of the board. My name is Danielle Sakola, resident of Dover, New Jersey, teacher at Redwood School, district employee for 23 years, teaching for 22. I'm not here to say that your job is easy because I don't envy any of

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you. I don't. That's why I teach. I like the little ones. That's what keeps me going. I don't. This isn't about teachers and the board. This isn't a back and forth. This is about why we are all here. We are here for our kids.

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And I say our kids, my kids are at home in Dover, not sleeping in the back like they were at the last meeting. They're home right now. But I say our kids because the West Orange community, while it's not my home, they are my kids. I right now teach the second and third

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grade ERI program. And I am would not would not be the teacher I am without the paras in my room. The paras in my room are not just people that come in. We have outsourced substitutes that have come into my classroom when I've been at

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PD in the building, popped back into my room to make sure everything's okay. And that outsource substitute is on their phone while my parents are running the room, not getting my salary. They run my room.

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Last school year, the first 18 days, I was put out on workers comp. Not because I wanted to. I begged Connie to let me come in and sit at the back. My parents are the reason there were no disturbance in education because they

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took it upon themselves. They know my students. They are not outsourced in on their phones looking for an hourly paycheck. And unfortunately, while I want to believe they are going to come back, would you please just just ask

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yourself this and I mean it with the utmost respect. I am not negating how difficult your job is. I'm not. That's why I teach. I don't I I can't even imagine. But just humor me for one maybe

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45 seconds. Okay. If you are a proud member of this West Orange community, clap once for me. If you are a teacher, a parer, or have been a teacher or parer in this West Orange Community Club twice.

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If you have been hugged because you are a parah in this room in this district, you have been hugged today by your student. You have been vomited on because they got sick and you came back to work. If you can say that you have been there step by step and did not miss

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the next day of work when you were covered in tears or vomit or urine or whatever it was or hugs and kisses from your child, please clap four times. That is the round of applause they need because forget teacher appreciation.

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Paras are our teachers. They do our job. Assist us and we make I will take a pay freeze. I will you can freeze my whatever my raise is for the next five years. I will freeze my own salary to keep my pairs in my room for the best

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interest of my students. Thank you. Um, Madison Cogdale, 200 Mount Pleasant Avenue. Um, hello everyone. My name is Madison. Um, I've been a West Orange resident my entire life attending Mount Pleasant, Central 6, Roosevelt, and the high school. And I see many of my fellow

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teachers here today. Growing up with my mom who's an educator, I always looked up to her as my role model and too wanted to become a teacher. But some people say it takes a village to raise a child. I write to my former teachers every few years to express my gratitude and love for them, shaping me into the woman and teacher that I am today. As a

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child, I remember playing playing school on snow days with my dolls and making lesson plans for bring your child to work day. It has been a passion passed down to me and taught to me by example what it takes to be a great teacher. It has always been a dream of mine to teach in the district that built me. A young,

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driven, passionate educator and young woman. Mr. Moore, you can attest to the countless emails I sent you last year trying to get a job before graduation as well as this school year about any potential job openings in this district. It's unfortunate that we have to be up here right now demanding for good people to keep their jobs. The people that

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shape us, the people that take care of us. If I were to if I were to be hired last year, I would be standing here now saying the same speech, but hired and then fired. Teachers, and paired professionals, custodial staff, no matter the job description, we are that village altogether. We're shaping the

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youth, and we are not only and you're not only damaging their careers, but you're also damaging these kids' futures as well. I'm still in contact with my teachers from 15 years ago. Now, that's impact. I see old teachers here, and even with a few seconds, they still remember my name. I can still tell you

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my elementary school custodians named Mr. Glenn and the secretaries Mr. Vivo and Mr. Romano at Mount Pleasant. I can also tell you about how Miss Brady, my high school social studies teacher, gave us a message on Google Classroom. Sorry. Um, gave us a message on Google

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Classroom about her newborn during CO from the bump that we watched grow all year when she didn't even have to. Even your good morning mountaineers every single morning, Mr. Moore, I'll never forget it. I can tell you countless stories about Miss Fest, a par professional for a former classmate, and

630
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realize how I said a classmate. She wasn't my personal para, but she treated everyone like we were her own. That's impact. I say all this to say connection matters. Schools are home away from home for a lot of students. As a first year teacher, I've learned that we become a

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family, a community. I would never insult you, Mr. Moore. I have the utmost respect for you. And I may not be a student anymore like you said, but I'm speaking for the students that are not here. If Western schools taught me anything, it taught me to stand up for what's right and speak out with for when sorry and speak out when something is

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wrong. Custodians, counselors, coaches, teachers, everyone who works in a school has an impact on someone. Those connections matter. I'm talking as an advocate for those children, and I wish they could get the same experience that I did. I may be new to this field professionally, but I know it's always

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about the children for for an educator. Our kids deserve their support. Good evening. My name is Anna Sonamu and I'm a PAR professional in this district. I know I have to mention where I reside, Cherry Street. Um, I support a student

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who needs consistent in individualized assistance to safely and meaningfully access their education. I'm concerned about this decision to lay off my colleagues and I par professionals to address the budget

635
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deficit. I understand that difficult financial decisions are necessary, but they reflect priorities. And right now, it feels like the people providing direct legally required support to students are being treated as expendable. The district has over

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millions of dollars in total appropriations. Why are paraprofessionals being considered for cuts before other areas? There are still funds allocated for travel, outside services, stipens, and additional assignments. These may have

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value, but they are not the same as what paraprofessionals provide daily. Cutting paraprofessionals, especially onetoone aids as myself, reduces direct individualized support from specific students. So for students with IEPs, a

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onetoone aid is essential. Without it, students may not be safe, may not participate in instruction, and the district risks falling out of compliance. So, if classroom sizes are growing, more support staff is needed,

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not fewer. Increasing class sizes while reducing paraprofessional only increases the burden on teachers and decreases student support. So remind me, how will the district ensure full compliance with student IEPs if one-to-one

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paraprofessional support is reduced or eliminated? And which support will be provided to students who lose their one-to-one aids as a result of these layoffs? This isn't just about staffing. It's about access, equity, and responsibility. I understand,

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Mr. more. You being the superintendent, you're considering all of this, but once again, why are paraprofessionals the first solution? What alternatives were explored? What was ruled out? Please pause paraprofessional layoffs and

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conduct a transparent public review of cost-saving measures before proceeding. Every paraprofessional position supports a student. Removing an aid removes a student's access to education. One last thing, Mr. Moore. What happened

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to Once a Mountaineer, always a mountaineer? Thank you. Good evening. Uh Todd Deovi, Bernett Terrace. Um, I've lived in West Orange for over 30 years, and this is only my second or third time attending a school board

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meeting as I've been prim primarily focused on the municipal budget and township administration as a CIT citizens budget advisory board member. But now, I feel compelled and obligated to speak up about our schools. I've been told this body has held numerous budget

645
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workshops. However, I was not aware of these workshops taking place. I don't fault the board for my not knowing about those workshops, but I'm here to say that many of the issues that exist at the municipal level also seem to exist with our school administration. The

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first being transparency. It's apparent that this board has not this this school administration has not released a full and complete copy of the school budget to taxpayers. I've also heard that Oprah requests for the full budget have been rejected. So, this

647
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means that this school administration is refusing to release the full budget. A summary, as was shown tonight, is unacceptable when we're talking about the expenditure of $263 million of our taxpayer dollars.

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It is the opposite of transparency to refuse taxpayers their right to know how their funds are being spent in explicit detail. Shame on any board member or supports keeping the information from taxpayers. In addition, it's not transparency when

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this body tells us they're laying off approximately 270 staff members yet not provide taxpayers with a detailed analysis of what options were considered besides layoffs and outsourcing. To suggest that we have to do something

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and we can't do nothing is obuscation. We want to know why this district is facing a $13 million shortfall. I've heard it's due to unfair state aid formulas. Yet, this year, West Orange has received more in state aid than any previous year at approximately $34

651
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million. So, while unfair state aid formulas may be partially to blame, it certainly doesn't explain everything. I'd like to request in the name of transparency that this body stop any further layoffs and outsourcing until such time as a complete budget is

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released and details surrounding what other options were considered. It is disingenuous to call these meetings and say you want to hear from residents, yet you unilaterally take action without proper feedback from the public. It is time for this school board to be fully

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transparent with current decisionmaking as well as a long-term view of what this board is intending to do as future years will likely be similar to this year. This situation did not happen overnight. Refusal of full disclosure should be grounds for dismissal of anyone on this

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board who's complicit and continuing to keep taxpayers in the dark as to how our tax dollars are being spent. Thank you. Good evening members of the board of ed and superintendent Moore. My name is Sharon Ortiz, Lel Avenue resident,

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mother of two West Orange graduates, and for 20 years, I have proudly served the children of this community at the high school. I stand here tonight and not just as an educator, but as someone deeply invested in this district professionally and personally.

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Superintendent Moore, I want to remind you of something you once said when you were our principal. You supported your staff because you knew you would be here long after the then superintendent was gone. And you are.

657
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You called yourself a lifer. and you understood that respect from your staff mattered. That perspective mattered then and it should matter now because right now many of us are struggling to see that same level of

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support and commitment being extended to the people who work here with our students every single day. We keep hearing that students are the first priority, but I have to be honest, right now it doesn't feel that way. When the professionals who serve those students

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are undervalued, when decisions are made that destabilize classrooms, when support staff are reduced or replaced, students feel that they're going to feel that impact immediately. You cannot separate student success from the people who make that success

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possible. If students truly are the priority, then the decisions we make must reflect that, not just in words, but in action. I didn't just come here with concerns. I came with suggestions. What is the long-term plan to bring all

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of our preschoolers into our community schools? Doing so would reduce busing costs and limit expensive contractor services while strengthening our district from the ground up. And finally, we need an audit, a forensic audit, because despite an increase in

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funding, the deficit is even higher than it was last year. that demands transparency, accountability, and honest answers. We all want the same thing. Strong schools, supported staff, and successful students. We are not asking for miracles, and we are ask All we're

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asking for is leadership that is transparent and leading with integrity. The choices you make now will define this district for years to come. Our students are watching. This community is watching. Our staff is watching. Show us

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that they truly come first. We deserve a plan. Thank you. Andrew Lambertson, Gregory Neighborhood West Orange, and I teach special ed here at the high school. After attending a West Orange parents for education meeting last week featuring our union

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leadership, the parents were able to see and connect something that us in the union have seen for a year now. The board treats the parents with the same hostility as they do the union. has been offering its resources to sit down with the board at every turn and the

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board has said thanks but no thanks. Deploying these same tactics to stonewall the parents as you do the union is making everyone wise up to the fact that you don't actually want to fix anything. You just want to wield your power. So let's get right down to it.

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You are using the paras as a cudgel to go after the union. This is textbook union busting and the cruelty is the point. It's cowardly. It's almost as cowardly as the board president trying to hide from the union by running for

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mayor. Mr. Rock, you can run for mayor. You can run all over this town, but you will carry the weight of the 77 teachers and 230 paras that you helped let go. Cutting the jobs

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of the paras and the greeters that only make upwards of $36,000. Again, the cruelty is the point. Shrinking the departments of music and fine arts, middle school sports, 30 minutes for all elementary school specials where my daughter is. The

670
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cruelty is the point. If this board actually cared about its schools, then it would do what Bloomfield just did. Raise the tax levy by a little bit, 2.5% to 4.97%. So, not quite double, but almost. and

671
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used the capital funds to ensure the class sizes don't go up, which is what they did. Sure, some teachers and staff lost their jobs in Bloomfield, but they were able to save many more. For the rest of the board, you might think that you can use your power to improve your

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child's grades or ensure that private school parents don't have to pay as many taxes or just use these meetings to hear yourself talk while saying nothing at all. But you can't hide from us. And if you don't try and run for mayor, we will

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vote you out. It's a shame that Miss Vera is the only one who's up for reelection this year because out of all of you sitting here, she is the only one who has shown us any kind of empathy. Our kids deserve a plan. Fund our

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schools. Solidarity forever. Good evening. Eric Fritz. I live at 37 Fairview Avenue. Um I have one son in the school system. He's in Gregory right now in first grade. Uh he went to Betty Metalina and a quick thing to mention

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about the Paras is that he had a really rough kindergarten and he has completely turned it around. And I I wish you guys could have been at the IEP meeting we had this year. Um such a huge amount of that was because of the 2 to1 parah that

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he had. Um I don't like the idea of the school district in my name turning around to those paras and saying we're going to outsource you. Maybe you'll get paid less. Maybe you won't get your health benefits. Uh I think that's anti-worker.

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I don't like that. Um there was something I wanted to mention. Um the the letter that Superintendent Moore sent, there was one line, you know, I read the whole thing, of course, but there was one line that really stopped me and like really irked me, I got to

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tell you. Um just to quote, "For those who have suggested to increase our taxes above 3% and up to 6%, I appreciate the generosity going on." That's not what generosity means. That's generosity is something

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you do voluntarily to be nice. Paying your bills is not generosity. The school costs what it costs. It's okay. We have a budget deficit, right? That

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means that the school is going to cost more to run. Our school systems cost more to run. Therefore, me as a taxpayer, it costs me more. When PSEG sends me a higher bill and I pay it. They don't say thanks for the generosity, they expect me to pay it because that's what you do when you have

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a bill, you pay it. So last year when I was here, I said we need to raise taxes more so we avoid these cuts. And I believe it was President Rock, you said the max we are allowed to raise by law is 2%. And I left that meeting saying,

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"Okay, I was uninformed. 2% is the max by law. The board is doing the most it legally can." But now I'm seeing that it was 2.5% was chosen and it could go 4 point something percent. The letter said maybe six. What is the max it can

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actually be? And how can you sit here and get emotional about the hard choices that you have to make if you're just leaving money on the table? You know, if it costs more to run the schools, it costs more to run the schools. And as a

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taxpayer, as a member of the community, this is like just purely ideological. This is basic stuff. Members of the community have a responsibility to the children. We do. We have a responsibility, especially in New Jersey. That's education is what we're

685
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known for. It's a good thing about us. We have a responsibility to make sure every child is educated to the fullest extent that they need to be. and paying less than we are legally able to is insane and I don't appreciate it.

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>> Ian Spitzer, Carolina Avenue Superintendent Moore, you have and do show you truly care for the students and the staff. My family hold you in very high regard. You are a wonderful person and exceptional leader when the board lets you lead versus using you as a scapegoat.

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The rest of you should be ashamed of yourselves. You were not elected as experts. You were elected as the least toxic candidates to the board. We do not trust you. You want to regain some trust and support,

688
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then open the books. We want details, not subjective and manipulated bullets on a slide deck like that ridiculous 24% increase in salaries that was there today. that includes consultant dollars. Your responsibility to the student,

689
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staff, and the community is to effectively evaluate opportunities, identify trends, both negative and positive, seek out the most qualified and capable resources to address and deliver innovation and progress. Grade F.

690
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Your current practice of Einstein's definition of insanity needs to stop. Since you obviously require a refresher, it's the act of doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Show us where you inflicted the same pain and anxiety you are instilling with real staff, students

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in the community by providing artifacts that you stopped all payments to special consultants who artificially inflate the staff count of the 1320 staff. What's the percentage of consultants? Dare I say 10% at $500 a day. There's $11

692
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million. Show you where you called every vendor and have are in the process of ne renegotiating their agreements and securing best price guaranteed. Show us where you've engaged with a financial institution. There's six banks across the street for Pete's sake to

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restructure the debt and the capex depreciation schedules. This is basic budget management. Show us where you've inflicted the same pain and concern to everybody else who have sweetheart agreements in place, draining a budget behind the curtain,

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like the legal billable hours and special advisors, all prior to you jumping to staff layoffs, student program cuts, and outsourcing in direct reflection of effective contact contract renegotiation. Signed the union

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contract, they offered you a contract that's less than it was. Okay, call it a win. You dealt with the evil union. Move on. Finally, reverse your course immediately. The days of gaslighting us is over. Check

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your egos and arrogance at the door and focus on your current commitments, not your desire to run for higher office. God bless the students, staff, and our community. Good evening, Mr. Moore or Superintendent Moore and members of the

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board. My name is Melissa Sandy and I've been teaching for 13 years, 10 here at the high school. I live in North Arlington. I'm here to speak on two decisions that were made that will directly and negatively impact the student experience. and that is not renewing the contracts of the only

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female athletic trainer, Ashley Civo, and our district media coordinator, Lauren Grathiva. I only have a small window on the immense amount of work both of these women do each and every day, but I think it's important to stand here and state it to you this evening. The needs of the dancers often go

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unnoticed because we're a small program and we don't need much to operate. Yet, since the program began, I have only seen and experienced Ashley and Lauren go above and beyond, not only for the WHS dance students, but for all the students they come in contact with. With

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all the female athletic teams and programs that run in this high school, it makes no sense how you you can remove the one female athletic trainer. As my classroom neighbor, Ashley is always there, willing to see my dancers whenever they have a concern. and the step team dancers. Both programs don't

701
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fall under athletics, but there Ashley is making sure that the dancers are seen as the artists and the athletes that they are. She even inspired one of my alumni, Kayla Ordonius, to become an athletic trainer. And I think Kayla graduated last spring as an athletic trainer. Kayla, quote me on that. Um,

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second, as for Lauren, I cannot say enough. every musical, every show I have ever been a part of. Lauren has been the steady hand who has elevated the collective work of our dancers and our students to the professional level. She essentially planned and executed making that brand new stage behind you make

703
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sure it had sprung wood floors, which is an essential part to the support of the health and safety of the knees and the ankles of current and future dancers. During COVID, when events were cancelled and our students were struggling, I was determined to put an outdoor dance concert for those students. something

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I'd never done or even know how to do to this day. And when I turned to Lauren, she did not hesitate one bit. And guess what? She also ran runs shows outside as well as inside. Like honestly, Cookie, what can't you do? She creates the environment that reminds our singers,

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dancers, actors, and musicians in our high school that they're val as valuable as the athletics that are proudly promoted. If you are truly invested in maintaining the quality and the high standards of the student experience in the arts and the athletics, I implore you, find a way to keep Lauren and

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Ashley. Thank you very much. Good evening, members of the board. Good evening, Mr. Moore. My name is Alan George and I have been a West Orange resident for 11 years with three kids who have gone through or are still in the district. My wife would have been

707
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here but she's a bit under the weather and I'm making this appeal on our behalf. Is this just about data or are we treating people as statistics? This is not about data. This is about

708
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real life experience. I am a father of three wonderful kids who are proud to call West Orange their home. I'll give a personal story. So I'll start with a history and why

709
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history? It tells you about our family's journey and the challenges one of our kids had to overcome in navigating this world. Dr. Polar took us under our wings at Pleasantale Elementary School, now Kelly

710
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Elementary School. And Samuel, yes, my son. Yes, Mr. Mo. You know him very well, who has special needs, had his first para profofessional, Mrs. Colleen Flynn. She took Sam as her

711
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own and helped him navigate the corridors of Kelly Elementary School, a brand new environment for an almost nonverbal child at the time. She did not serve only as a par, but as a third teacher in Sam's life and a mentor whom

712
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my son could relate to. Those meltdowns, tantrums, refusal to sit and listen quietly in class or participating in gym in his first term of school were all documented in his daily class report by

713
03:36:47.040 --> 03:37:05.120
his par. Fast forward to the period when she had become a familiar and trusted face to Lenon. So I moved to progress. Samuel was in school from 8:45 a.m. to 3:23 p.m. In his elementary days, Mrs.

714
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Flynn was able to get him acclimated to the new surroundings, and going to school and being picked up by the boss had become so easy for him. He transitioned to the LLDS class and the autism class. Without the support of

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these aids, this progress would have been difficult. Miss Alicia Mazalu took over for Mrs. Flynn and there was also a bond and then there was the transition to Rosevelt school. By this time Samuel

716
03:37:37.840 --> 03:37:52.399
had become vocal and was very expressive. Mrs. Safel Tabel was inspire teaching him independence and helping him prioritize reading. And then now in the high school I cannot but mention

717
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people like Miss Cipo and Miss Navet Gonzalez who have helped him tremendously. Please do not cut the par professionals. They are needed for our kids to progress. I thank you.

718
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Hi. Uh Christine Canderella, president of the Essex County Education Association. Um I'm going to be finishing uh Cindy Matup Brown's statement. So she was speaking about the uh audit. Second, the district incurred nearly

719
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$79,000 in IRS penalties because the employee payroll taxes were not remitted on time. That is money lost entirely. money that could have paid for student services, materials, or staff. That penalty was not caused by a par

720
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profofessional. It was caused by a failure to meet basic administrative deadlines. How is this possible or acceptable? Especially when the business office has one, a business administrator, two an assistant BA, three an office manager, four an

721
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executive assistant to the BA who is in addition to the assistant BA, an executive assistant to the assistant BA, and a financial specialist whose salaries totaled $750,000,

722
03:39:17.840 --> 03:39:33.520
just shy of it. just about 2,000 and that is exclusive of a car stipen and health benefits. Third, the audit identifies a significant deficiency in internal financial controls that confirms that

723
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the district is not considered a low-risk ought to means that existing oversight problems are serious enough to require increased scrutiny. Privatizing core instructional support staff under these conditions

724
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reduces transparency and accountability at exactly the wrong time. Power professionals provide daily direct support to our most vulnerable students. Students with special needs, behavioral challenges, and learning gaps. Outsourcing these roles risks higher

725
03:40:04.720 --> 03:40:21.279
turnover, weaker training, less consistency for students, and diminished district oversight. Any short-term savings are speculative while the risks to students are immediate and real. Most importantly, the audit does not say that

726
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staffing levels cause this deficit. It clearly points to failures in reconciliation, compliance, and financial management. Before this board considers replacing dedicated district employees with private vendors, it should first fix the documented problems

727
03:40:38.319 --> 03:40:57.920
in financial oversight that actually contribute to the deficit. Cutting supports for students does not fix mismanagement. Accountability does. send this budget back to the superintendent and request that he resubmit a budget that does not

728
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sacrifice our students education by cutting our education support professionals. Thank you for your time. My name is Chris Canella. I am uh an educator in Cedar Grove. I also serve as the vice president of the Essex County

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Education Association. Um, we are here today, I'm standing with a bunch of our leaders to support the 200 power professionals, members of the West Orange Education Association. We stand with them and the members of the West Orange Education Association in

730
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asking you to stop, to pause. Um, from my understanding, um, last meeting you went into 1:00 a.m. and this evening we're at about 10:07. So, you were about eight hours into public comments. So, this budget that you put together is

731
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clearly not supported by this community. So, I think you have one thing you need to do tonight. Don't pass this budget. Start having conversations with this community and find a better solution

732
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because there are better solutions because I think everybody knows, anybody that's in this business knows that outsourcing is not the answer. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Pedal Robertson. I'm the vice president of the

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New Jersey Education Association. And I I first just want to give a shout out to all of the educators who've been sitting here for three hours and are going to be back here very early in the morning. And I know that I know that my time is limited and you've heard from a lot of

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people and everyone has talked about cuts, but I want to talk to you really quickly about paper cuts. And paper cuts, you get one of them and you're like, "Oh man, you get one of them in the web of your fingers and it hurts a little bit, but you get over it. You get a paper cut in the web of all five of your fingers and that hand can't move."

735
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And West Orange is moving towards 227 paper cuts that are going to stop the movement of your district as a whole. And I'm telling you as someone Montlair has been cited many times in here and I'm telling you as someone who was the president of the education association

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in Montlair cutting arts is cutting the whole child. And I also wanted to talk about some of the things that you indicated in your letter superintendent that you cared about. One of them was students of lower socioeconomic means. School budget cuts disproportionately

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harm lower socioeconomic students because it reduces their access to highquality teachers, increases their class sizes, slashes their extracurriculars, and their wraparound services of the students who could least afford to get it on the outside. Privatization with the promise of a seamless continuation of benefits is

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simply impossible. And to promise that just simply muddies the waters and if you could have a seamless continuation, then you could afford to keep the power of professionals. Finally, you also said 70% of the budget was spent on salaries and benefits. Everyone spends 70% of

739
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their salary of their budgets on salaries and benefits. So identifying this without identifying that that is something that happens in every budget and in fact West Orange is paying less percentage-wise than other places feels like union busting and that only muddies

740
03:44:41.520 --> 03:44:57.040
the waters. Cuts cuts like this my time is short. Cuts like this without line by line budgets in the hands of union leadership and stakeholders muddies the waters. And I'm here to tell you that we can clean it up. If you ask for solutions and you

741
03:44:57.040 --> 03:45:13.920
passionately did, you wanted monetary ones over slogans. We can offer that to you at NJA. The first is in case of emergency, we as educators know that we shelter in place and that means no one moves. And in this case, that includes no salary bonuses, no extras. We know that if you present a line by line

742
03:45:13.920 --> 03:45:29.840
budget because this is a projected deficit, that means there's still time to change the projection. And finally, speak to the association. We have staff and divisions designed to help you find solutions that do not include the cuts that hurt kids, the cuts that hurt your

743
03:45:29.840 --> 03:46:03.279
communities. And finally, you can table this just like Verona did until you have actual community support, buy in, and you sat down with the education association for real solutions. Thank you. Thank you. >> Good evening. Robin Iserles, 22 Yale

744
03:46:03.279 --> 03:46:19.359
Terrace. I stand here as a 26-year resident of West Orange, a co-founder of West Orange Cares about schools, and more recently a mutual aid group in town, West Orange Aiding Neighbors. I'm also a parent of two alumni from the

745
03:46:19.359 --> 03:46:36.000
West Orange School District, class of 23 and 21. Tonight, I offer my strong opposition to the proposal to terminate our par profofessionals and contract with a for-profit company to source this staff sector. A disgraceful race to the

746
03:46:36.000 --> 03:46:51.600
bottom. Such a move justified to address our very real budget challenges is a fiction of economics and a disturbing moral choice in today's political climate of hurting those who are most vulnerable.

747
03:46:51.600 --> 03:47:08.000
So I think some basic economic facts are apparently required here. Privatization efforts always mean less for those whose labor we rely upon and benefit from. This is the reality of market-driven

748
03:47:08.000 --> 03:47:25.680
solutions. This savings is only a savings because this group of dedicated workers will necessarily experience a decrease in income, have fewer health benefits, though not most likely none at all, and a permanent interruption to

749
03:47:25.680 --> 03:47:43.600
their pensions. And this reduction will be passed on to the West Orange School District, making all of us complicit in your draconian proposal. As a reminder, 40% of these employees are our neighbors here in West Orange. This is beyond

750
03:47:43.600 --> 03:47:59.600
shameful. Throughout their time in the West Orange schools, my children's lives and countless others have been enriched by many of these devoted power professionals. In the classrooms they were a part of, as coaches on the fields outside, just another pair of caring

751
03:47:59.600 --> 03:48:15.199
eyes in the hallways. They even worked with them as mountaineer as mountaineer mentors. They became among the people my children trusted while in school. They signed their senior yearbooks, hugged them at their senior clapouts, and even wrote

752
03:48:15.199 --> 03:48:32.479
recommendations for them after they graduated. Students first is nothing more than empty rhetoric if one divorces student achievement and experience from the people who teach and support them and the conditions under which they work. I

753
03:48:32.479 --> 03:48:47.040
thought you were calling for truth over slogan. Superintendent Moore. Our power professionals do much good for our school district and they are also our neighbors and friends. Responding to the looming budget crisis in this way is

754
03:48:47.040 --> 03:49:02.960
unconscionable. a moral choice that is as unjustifiable as eliminating our entire athletics, music, arts, drama programs, as you correctly pointed out, Superintendent Moore, or cancelling our

755
03:49:02.960 --> 03:49:19.120
entire transportation contract and instead maybe buying eBay ebikes for our students to use instead. Or what about if we just completely privatize our entire public school system and offer vouchers to parents >> to pay instead?

756
03:49:19.120 --> 03:49:43.520
>> Thank you, Miss. >> You know what that's happened in other states. Thank you. >> My name is Jordan Green. I am a music and a theater teacher in Montville, but West Orange is my lifelong home. I grew up here. I graduated from West Orange

757
03:49:43.520 --> 03:49:59.920
High School, and I came back there to do my student teaching in 2020. This town and its schools are part of who I am. I want to start by saying how much respect I have for you, Superintendent Moore. You're an amazing principal, and I know you care about this district and this

758
03:49:59.920 --> 03:50:16.479
community. I've spent the last six years in middle school music education, and I'm telling you from experience, the cuts you're proposing to the arts program are going to cause irreparable damage to a program that has been the

759
03:50:16.479 --> 03:50:31.520
pride of this community for so long. These cuts, as John Helier said, will trickle up from the elementary to the middle to the high school, and our arts program will be forever changed. You

760
03:50:31.520 --> 03:50:48.640
will not be able to undo the damage. The most short-sighted part of this proposal is cutting Cookie's position. You can't quantify what she does. She's the engine of the theater program at the high school and she is quite literally

761
03:50:48.640 --> 03:51:03.760
irreplaceable. It's quite frankly shameful that you don't see that and she's sitting right in front of you. The West Orange music program made me who I am. It gave me my career, my closest friends and the re and is the

762
03:51:03.760 --> 03:51:19.279
reason I still care so much about this community. That's why I'm standing here. I know you're facing a massive financial challenge. I don't envy your position, but the kids shouldn't be the ones to pay the price for others mistakes.

763
03:51:19.279 --> 03:51:42.080
I'm asking you as a resident and an educator, please reconsider these decisions before we lose the very thing that makes this district so special. Don't make the arts at West Orange a shadow of what it used to be. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Jennifer

764
03:51:42.080 --> 03:52:06.000
Villigran, homeowner of 28 Virginia. And I want to start off by apologizing to Mr. Moore because I've said some mean stuff to you on social media. And so I want to publicly apologize and I want to extend an olive branch. I

765
03:52:06.000 --> 03:52:24.399
do finance for a living and I will quit my job and dedicate myself to you, Mr. Moore. That's cutting nine jobs of those staff members who cost us what? 78,000. So tonight, when you go home, I want you

766
03:52:24.399 --> 03:52:48.080
to think about me. Think about what I'm giving up for this community. Keeping it short and sweet. Think about it. Thank you. Good evening. My name is David Dickman. I've been a power professional in the district for 20 years. Um, there's too

767
03:52:48.080 --> 03:53:03.600
many things I could say, so instead I'm going to read a letter from someone who couldn't be here today, a former student. Dear Superintendent Moore, members of the West Orange board of ed, my name is Kosia Newuamati. I'm a proud alumni of the West Orange public school system, class of 2014. I write this letter with deep emotional connection to

768
03:53:03.600 --> 03:53:19.199
those in the district as a former student, as a former employee, and someone who has followed this progress with genuine investment for many years. My relationship with West Orange Public Schools goes beyond the classroom. From my middle school years through my junior year of high school, I was employed as a custodian at the board of education. I

769
03:53:19.199 --> 03:53:36.080
worked inside these buildings alongside staff, built real relationships across departments, and developed a firsthand understanding of how this district operates from the inside. I say this not to speak about myself, but to establish a perspective on this matter that is not abstract, but is rooted in years of direct experience within these walls. I

770
03:53:36.080 --> 03:53:52.479
also want to address Mr. Moore directly. I knew Mr. Mo when he served as a dean, and I was among those who signed a petition supporting his appointment as the first African-American principal of West Orange High School, a milestone that this community was proud to stand behind. I have also known him to be a man of principal, integrity, and genuine

771
03:53:52.479 --> 03:54:08.479
commitment to the students. That is not flattery. It is a fact that that his record in the district has demonstrated over many years and it is precisely because of that record that I approached this letter not with opposition but with trust and an expectation on the comments he has made will be honored. I have read

772
03:54:08.479 --> 03:54:24.239
the superintendent Moore's uh April 29th, 2026 letter to the community in full. I understand the gravity of a 13.5 million deficit and I understand the salaries and benefits represent over 20 70% of the district's budget. that tax revenue is not kept pace with the rising operation costs and difficult decisions

773
03:54:24.239 --> 03:54:40.880
affecting real people had to be made. I do not write this letter with to dismiss those realities or suggest that the fiscal responsibility is unimportant. But not only unimportant, it is necessary. Leadership that ignores a structural deficit of this magnitude would be failing the entire community and its students.

774
03:54:40.880 --> 03:54:57.120
I am writing to affirm that that to place on record that this is a specific commitment Superintendent Moore made regarding the paraprofessional transition. He stated clearly that clear clearly that parah professionals will remain in the same schools serving the same students and with the same salary, healthcare benefits and retirement

775
03:54:57.120 --> 03:55:12.720
options. He stated that there will be no rotation of paras, the assignments will remain IEP redriven and the administration will demand consistency for student receiving special services. He stated that while the employer of record may change, the people will not. These are not small commitments. They

776
03:55:12.720 --> 03:55:27.680
will be the difference between a manageable transition and a disruption that directly harms the most valuable students in the district. I want to share why this matters to me personally. From the time I entered Liberty Middle School in the seventh grade through my graduation from Wester High School, I was supported by prior professionals who

777
03:55:27.680 --> 03:55:43.920
became trusted figures in my life. I would like to speak specifically about Mr. David Dickman or Mr. D as I and many of his students have affectionately called him. On countless occasions, Mr. Dickman has stayed after school on hours of his own time without compensation to sit with me and work through my homework while waiting for his wife, a teacher in

778
03:55:43.920 --> 03:56:00.319
the district, to finish her day. He did not do this because contract required it. He did because he was generally cared. Because of his consistency, his patience, and his personal investment in me, I was able to complete my coursework and graduate from West Orange High School with honors. That kind of impact does not end at graduation. It shaped my

779
03:56:00.319 --> 03:56:26.080
direction in my life. It led to me to work at Celebrate the Children, a school serving individuals with cognitive and developmental disabilities because I knew firsthand what it meant to have someone truly in your corner. Please make the right decision. Thank Oh, squeeze it. Look at that. Okay.

780
03:56:26.080 --> 03:56:42.880
Hi. Good evening, everyone. My name is Deia Calderon. I am actually a product of West Orange High School, class of 2011. Hi, Mr. Moore. Um, I had my speech on my phone. It died, so I'm just going to wing it. Um, my family moved here in

781
03:56:42.880 --> 03:56:58.000
1997. We were one of the first Latino families in the Pleasantville area. Uh we live on Pleasant Valley Way. Um I was supposed to go to Kelly Elementary School when I was younger. My mom did a tour, said it wasn't diverse enough, and I ended up going to Catholic school in

782
03:56:58.000 --> 03:57:15.040
Jersey City. In 2022, I had my own daughter and my husband and I decided to move back to West Orange and we are currently in my family home. My daughter is always at DNA Park. All of her friends go to Kelly Elementary. Some go to Washington. That's another can of

783
03:57:15.040 --> 03:57:29.760
worms. Mr. Moore, I'll probably send you an email about that. I wrote a proposal. Um, and I was really excited at the thought of having my daughter in West Orange public school. And now I'm not really that excited. We're considering

784
03:57:29.760 --> 03:57:46.239
private school. Can't afford it, but my best friend is a parah in our school system. That's the type of professional that I would want in a classroom with my child, not someone random that I don't know, that's not reputable.

785
03:57:46.239 --> 03:58:01.680
I currently work in higher ed. I'm probably going to be in these hallways in the near future speaking to seniors. I've already met some of our seniors. They're amazing. And I just want to say that I know that kids in the special ed program tend to use our local community

786
03:58:01.680 --> 03:58:18.080
college as their first steps into higher ed. I can tell all the love and the resources and the time that our district has put into these students and I'm just asking that you not rip away all of that and it would hinder the progress for the

787
03:58:18.080 --> 03:58:38.640
future. That's it. >> Thank you. >> I think that's good enough. Michaela Bennett, uh, Old Indian Road. So, I had prepared some uh comments, but I'm not I'm going to go off script, which is always a little dangerous, but I'm going

788
03:58:38.640 --> 03:58:56.160
to do it. I know almost every one of you um up there, and I imagine you do not feel good right now. Um I would encourage you to uh table what you planned on doing tonight and really take a long um hard look at um what you

789
03:58:56.160 --> 03:59:12.319
haven't done. And let me enumerate some of the things that I feel like you haven't done. Um, I am a member of the Citizen Budget Advisory Board. I'm a proud member of the Citizen Budget Advisory Board. And I will tell you that last year we were handed a budget that

790
03:59:12.319 --> 03:59:27.439
proposed a 6% tax increase. You had already passed your budget. I walked into the room in our first meeting and I said, "Negative or neutral, we're not going to 6%." We got it down

791
03:59:27.439 --> 03:59:42.960
to 1%. We left nothing on the table and the township was told they actually had to fund more. What you uh shared with the community is a summary at best. It is not a line by

792
03:59:42.960 --> 03:59:59.520
line budget. I have a 200 200 plus page budget in my house that I have already read through 10 times. I already know where there are places that we can explore cutting. You all need to do that. You've been asked by the

793
03:59:59.520 --> 04:00:16.160
community to create a citizen budget or I think you're calling it a community budget advisory board. I strongly recommend you do that. I have not heard one person come to this microphone in support of what your plan is. They point out different places

794
04:00:16.160 --> 04:00:33.880
where they do not support it, but the bottom line is no one supports what you're doing. Stewardship. Mr. more. I'm going to read this to you because in my opinion, you got through under the bus the last time I was standing here.

795
04:00:36.399 --> 04:00:52.720
Bear with me. Sorry. I'll get there. So, I looked it up while I was sitting in the audience. Stewardship is the careful, responsible, and ethical management of resources, property, or responsibilities entrusted to one's care.

796
04:00:52.720 --> 04:01:09.279
You and you alone are the steward of our children's education. Now, no doubt you're guided by the board of education. They took a pass. They basically said they're going to support you in your plan. So, I strongly encourage you to take that plan off the

797
04:01:09.279 --> 04:01:25.279
table, go back and find some people to look through and understand how every contract, how all the money is spent. At minimum, when you have the citizens looking at it with you, what you get is trust. And there's that is something

798
04:01:25.279 --> 04:01:42.760
that you have to rebuild. This community is suffering right now. So, I strongly recommend you don't do what you're planning on doing tonight. Take it back to the table and you take a long hard look. You can't be feeling good right now. Thank you.

799
04:01:50.640 --> 04:02:06.880
Tony Edelstein, Davy Drive, 19-year teacher at the high school. If we were to create a word cloud of all the words spoken tonight, I think the two that stand out as the most used are trust and plan. We've heard this night from

800
04:02:06.880 --> 04:02:23.760
incredibly thoughtful, creative, experienced people willing to offer their talents to help solve this budget crisis and to create a viable plan for years going forward. We've heard that the town makes use of an

801
04:02:23.760 --> 04:02:41.120
advisory budget council, citizens council, advisory panel, whatever you want to call it. Why aren't we doing that? I think it's either a lack of vision or an arrogance that you would leave you would waste so much talent here to not get involved in helping to

802
04:02:41.120 --> 04:02:58.239
solve this problem. Um, lots of districts throughout the state have a labor management committee that works together collaboratively, collectively to solve those problems. I'd encourage that we do something

803
04:02:58.239 --> 04:03:13.520
similar to that as well as creating a citizens advisory committee. Um it's just we have people here earnestly pleading to help with this problem and

804
04:03:13.520 --> 04:03:39.600
they seem to be being ignored and I think that's shameful. Thank you. My name is Jason Davidson. I live in West Orange. Um, when you started talking to us at the last meeting, you said you were faced with the choice and you had to do

805
04:03:39.600 --> 04:03:54.319
something and then you sat here and you took hit after hit after hit from the community and it takes its toll. And what you did after that was you shared your burden with us. And I'm pretty proud of the West Orange community right

806
04:03:54.319 --> 04:04:09.680
now because I have been spending sleepless nights going down rabbit holes researching and and everything I see tells me this is not a good idea that it won't save us money. I could tell you things you already know like all the

807
04:04:09.680 --> 04:04:25.760
paras are entitled to unemployment and we pay that out dollar for dollar and that's 60% of their salary that doubles the the time they can collect it if they decide to go and take advantage of the programs to get free classes at colleges

808
04:04:25.760 --> 04:04:41.840
any state college in or university in in New Jersey and we pay that and the idea that they would go and work the same job for compensation that the only way the math works that we're going to save $3 million. Especially when you look at

809
04:04:41.840 --> 04:04:58.880
things like people take $2,000 instead of their singlepayer benefit. The only way you get it is if they're going to work for a 40 to 60% pay cut. Why wouldn't they try to get a better job instead of doing the same job for less? But a lot of talk has been about trust.

810
04:04:58.880 --> 04:05:16.479
And I don't I I don't think it it's it's meant to feel the way it feels when people say they don't trust you. The key is you've already been entrusted to make these decisions. And sometimes when you feel like you have to make a decision and and you ask for help, you got to

811
04:05:16.479 --> 04:05:32.960
listen to it. And sometimes you need surgical cuts and you can't just try and find the money with these wide broad sweeping things that hopefully are going to help you. And sometimes the only decision is to wait and do nothing. Sometimes you can't make

812
04:05:32.960 --> 04:05:49.439
a bad decision. Um, as a doctor, you have to go with the philosophy do no harm and the potential for harm by offloading our control to a middleman while retaining the liability.

813
04:05:49.439 --> 04:06:07.199
It's just it's just a bad idea. And and it's not like we're being promised better for less or even the same for less. We can't be promised anything legally except that we are no longer in

814
04:06:07.199 --> 04:06:23.120
control and we're going to try a new thing and hope it works better. And and what we have works pretty well. So to mess with that, it's just too risky. The riskreward, we just have to find another way. And there has to be another way because we

815
04:06:23.120 --> 04:06:39.880
you talked about it has to be an equal equal for all the students. That's why everyone here is advocating fair and equal education for everyone. And and you just you just can't decide to to go forward with this. So

816
04:06:46.560 --> 04:07:03.680
>> well um I know I didn't speak however according to 0167 uh of your policy no participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard. Anyone? Okay.

817
04:07:03.680 --> 04:07:19.040
>> I will need help. So if you want to get online if you already spoke. Thank you. Um, my name is Josh Goldfarb. I live in West Orange, president of the WOEA, and I've lived here for 48 years. There are roughly 300 people currently under the employee of West Orange Schools that you have either already let go or are

818
04:07:19.040 --> 04:07:34.880
looking to do so. They are much more than a combined price of their salary and benefits. These are not just our colleagues. These are not just our members. They are our friends. They are the people that we look forward to working with on a daily basis, and they deserve to be recognized for the dedication and hard work they have put into their jobs. After all, it's teacher

819
04:07:34.880 --> 04:07:49.920
appreciation week. This list is the most up-to-date version I have. If anyone is not on this list, I apologize. And if they pronounce mispronounce any names, I apologize. So, I'm going to go through the list of everybody. Adam Gresbick, Greg Kurab, Emily Blum,

820
04:07:49.920 --> 04:08:07.120
Nicole Kerbanade, Salma Hassan, Gloria Daniels, Nafisa Ali Ahmed, Cynthia Lauren Grathza, Brian Readington, Dana Per, Carrie Fin, Sitlana Vorischuk, Maria Bevans, Melissa Bueno, Henry Chang, Bonnie Dom, David Dickman, Darlene Madden, J Cypio, Amanda

821
04:08:07.120 --> 04:08:23.040
Best, Maria Breeslin, Mavis Brown, Bob Desh, Bonnie Goodman, Bana Griffin, Christian Lighty, Tyler Mandel, Amanda, Amanda Marcelin, Michael Marine, Mova Miller, Iliano Minvino, Stephanie Prao, Anna Samanamu, Derek Smith, Tommy

822
04:08:23.040 --> 04:08:40.399
Tudelo, Michelle Blum, Jennifer Wii, Amy Schwarz, Nadira Muhammad Doier, Danielle Cor Cordasco, Fano Otuba, FA, Lauren Hannah, Adam Smart, Matthew Schiff, Rebecca Frostramm, Stephanie

823
04:08:40.399 --> 04:08:57.199
Chirrobo, Miriam Oadella, Anna Bob, Rita Schneider, Marina Kyifus, Brian Green, Monica Mahia, Audrey Schaefer, Lynette Piknney, Hanin Albana, Guy Ratkkey, Lauren Fortna, Alexa Timone, Brian

824
04:08:57.199 --> 04:09:14.720
Zenaald, Ted Bearan, Jacquellyn Sap, Austin Kerbanade, Alexa Hector, Lauren Walk, Caitlyn Morurell, Megan O'Neal, Amanda Dempsey, Jillian Saria, Caitlyn Kelly, Courtney Molinari, uh, Lisa Landoska, Elmani Viney, Moira

825
04:09:14.720 --> 04:09:29.920
Cunningham, Matthew Wasik, Nichollet Fetti, Nicole Massud, Oliver Brantom, Robert Groonau, Wendy Bourne, Ashley Sibo, Maryanne Mendoza, Alisa Fabo, Douglas Adams, Joseph Anderson, Nicole

826
04:09:29.920 --> 04:09:47.359
Ariel, Tariq Beiels, Christine Bingler, Sarah Cabra Fogerty, Danna Castella, Trisha Castellano, Gloria Senelli, Siobhan Clark, Dwayne Clement, Judith Kofi, Jake Cohen, Kqua Davis, Elaine Delco, Deborah Dillah Hunt, Dwayne

827
04:09:47.359 --> 04:10:04.319
Dyson, Ryan Est, uh, Diana Frasio, Eric uh, Garbra, Tracy Goen, Nicholas Scanella, Kendrick Gray, Erica Gino, Nancy Hopkins, Anie Leenau, Haleem Lewis, Victor Lopez, Renee Lowry, Luis

828
04:10:04.319 --> 04:10:20.000
Lugo, Lucy Macaron, Alexis Martinez, Carion, Dana Mares, Mark Maniti, Nicole Moraglia, Edith Morales, Eric Mortonson, Marilyn Patchcha, Carol Prairie, John Prescott, Samuel Rowski, Laura Rios,

829
04:10:20.000 --> 04:10:36.720
Veronica Sanders, Suzanne Sers, Jasmine Sadita, Yatalene Sagara, Spitlana Saganas, Vagare, Sarinita Simmons, Michelle Spears, Rabob Spore, Carol Stallings, Barbara Thatcher, Angela Terronis, Joel Torano, Derek Ubel, Elvis

830
04:10:36.720 --> 04:10:54.080
Vasquez, Guzman, Kesha Vasquez, Robert Vea, Laura Vulpi, Shaquana Watkins, Karen Weinstein, Banana Aboud, Christopher Absorced, Andrea Alfonso, Ariani Arias, Garcia, Jennifer, Jennica Bal, Sandra Bautista,

831
04:10:54.080 --> 04:11:11.439
Wain, uh, Benan Belton, Melissa Benson, Narine Bur, Julia Booker, Ashley Brennan, Jasmine Bridges, Kesha Brown, Don Bushio, Tamara Cabalero, Brittany Callahan, Simone Callaway, Sabel K, Susan Castanza, Darlene Charlemagne,

832
04:11:11.439 --> 04:11:27.760
Ferdinand Christian, Katherine Kulich, uh, Kazineski, Kretta Chung, Allison Cologne, Daniel Contreras, Michelle Copla, Paula Carreria, Donnie Cortado, Iet Cruz, Jason Davidson, Stephanie Depo, Alonzo Duramus, Edward Duncan,

833
04:11:27.760 --> 04:11:46.000
Steen Alazar, Nancy Evans, Kenson, Felix, Sydney Fensky, Ashley Fior, Surly Francisco Ariata, Leonardo Fuentes, Naomi Gardulo, Maline Gerrio, Christy Jambatista, Brian Glennon, Samantha Goi, Fernandez Gfetti,

834
04:11:46.000 --> 04:12:01.040
uh, Jerome El Bovo, Kiara Good, Jana Gillas, Alice Griski, Isabelle Geranova, Miriam Gutierrez, Anna, Anne Hibal, Crystal Hammond, Sabina Hassan, Iman Hassan, George Hernandez, Benitas, James

835
04:12:01.040 --> 04:12:19.600
Holik, Michelle Hol Scott, Douglas, Jan, Sonia Jeffrey, Eileen Johnson, Lisa Jones, Alustin, Deborah Joseph, Kelly, Maria Kaiser, Valerie Lina, John Lang, Moren Lily, Jazelle Langu, Rosario Lopez, Susan Lynch, Lucille Madinger,

836
04:12:19.600 --> 04:12:34.880
Brienne Martinez, Alicia Marzulo, Justin Maul, Anna McCarthy, Omatio Meabu, Arya Medley, Rhonda Mesa, Antwanet Miller, Angie Musa, Ari Mustafa, Janice Morhead, Lauren Mumford,

837
04:12:34.880 --> 04:12:51.279
Stephanie Mundy, Gabriella Mustika, Mara Myers, Maria Navarret, Patricia Neil, uh, OJ J Samantha Palmer, Celia Pesinovich, Michelle Perearia, Amy Perez, Gina P uh Pis Pizario, Tamara

838
04:12:51.279 --> 04:13:08.800
Raduk Smith, Joyce Reynolds, Tana Ribson, Vanessa Rodriguez, Anthony Romano, Lysa Rosa, Joanne Rossi, Cheryl Scaramelly, Luchana Schneider, Rachel Serino, Cheryl Seagull, Janisa Sims, Amanda Smith, Dural Smith, Vickers, A2,

839
04:13:08.800 --> 04:13:26.319
Sila, William Chalbet, Annaton on Gary Triano, Amanda Tucker, Hillary Turble, Laura Orado, Laura Lee Velasquez, Angela Wade, Terresa Watson, Brush Rod, Sandra White, Kim Williams, Cheryl Young, James, Jennifer Zakia, Dean, uh, Adjuma

840
04:13:26.319 --> 04:13:43.600
and Betscowski, Patricia Cristiano, Yaroslav, Yaroslav, I'm not going to try. I'm sorry. Samantha Clinton, Jean Freriedman, Wayne Hargrave, Sarin Kz, Alisa Couglin, Ashley Kouglin, Julie McGrath, Jeremiah Moore, Lisa Quinland,

841
04:13:43.600 --> 04:14:17.920
Anastasia Riosa, Joanie Stroik, Ronan Trencher. Thank you for letting me go over time, but I think it's important to have all their names out there. They deserve that respect. Thank you. I I want to thank uh Josh for bringing up the policy that I was not aware of. So thank you. Um also yeah it is

842
04:14:17.920 --> 04:14:35.520
research is very good. I have like a sense of anxiety sitting here listening to all the names, names of people, neighbors, friends, members that I know personally that I respect tremendously.

843
04:14:35.520 --> 04:14:54.159
And so I came up a second time and and again, thanks Josh u to share a story with you all because some of you have benefited from being union members. Some of you understand the need for us to stand up because were

844
04:14:54.159 --> 04:15:10.000
it not for a union, you would not have weekends. You would not have healthc care. You would not have holidays. You would not have respect in your professions for when you were and not just a union member for all of you because thank a union member for

845
04:15:10.000 --> 04:15:26.880
fighting each and every time. And I will share with you the fact that I was not unlike unlike many members. I was not a union member. I worked at a charter school for 19 years when I was rifted. It was a reduction in force for

846
04:15:26.880 --> 04:15:42.239
community members who don't know what a riff is. I was riffed because I had the audacity to care about the students in Jersey City where I was born and raised. And when I worked, it was an urban district and I had kids coming around

847
04:15:42.239 --> 04:15:59.359
all of the time. Miss Brown, why are my teachers leaving me? Do they not like me? Do they not like our families? Do they not like our community? Do they not like our hair? We had a revolving door

848
04:15:59.359 --> 04:16:16.159
and I chose to put a bulletin. A what? What is that? Help me out here. Right. Like a Thank you. a bullnose on my back because I needed those students to feel secure, to have stability in their education. So, I'm standing here to

849
04:16:16.159 --> 04:16:33.279
those of you who are anti-UN or are practicing anti-UN animus, cut it out because what you need to be doing is thanking a union member for all of the benefits that you have today. Please postpone this vote. Postpone, do better.

850
04:16:33.279 --> 04:17:01.600
Thank you. Good evening. I'm Dr. Kimya Jackson, principal of Redwood Elementary School. And as I listen to that list, oh, I'm sorry, Kimya Jackson, East Orange, New Jersey, principal of Redwood. I have a green face because I dressed up as Alphaba today for my

851
04:17:01.600 --> 04:17:18.640
teachers for teacher appreciation. Um, and we did tatted t-shirts. Okay. So, as I listen to that list, a tenth of those people work in my school. They are a third of my staff. And I just want to know what it looks like. This is the

852
04:17:18.640 --> 04:17:35.640
very first time I'm ever doing something like this. I just want to know what it looks like for my ERRI class, for my visually impaired student, for my student who has Down syndrome who is now in general education,

853
04:17:36.720 --> 04:17:52.479
for my students who who need their oneto ones when they're trying to test and they're dealing with their emotions. From you, the board members who I truly truly respect. I just need to know what it looks like when I'm in a reset room

854
04:17:52.479 --> 04:18:09.439
and my thumb is broken or I'm bitten in my stomach by my students. I need to know what September looks like. I hear the outsourcing. I'm seeing it all throughout the country, especially on the East Coast, but I need to know what it looks like.

855
04:18:09.439 --> 04:18:24.720
So, I would like to hear from you. What does it look like in September when I don't have Miss Nancy, who is the mayor of Redwood, who knows everyone's birthday, who knows every last name, who's known all of the children for her

856
04:18:24.720 --> 04:18:41.040
last 29 years of service. I just need to know what it looks like. And I'm respectfully asking, what does it look like at Redwood where I have a third of my staff gone? when I hear them on

857
04:18:41.040 --> 04:18:58.600
interviews during their lunch break and they're leaving me. What does it look like for us at Redwood? That's all I have to ask. President Ro. >> Thank you, Dr. DS.

858
04:19:14.479 --> 04:19:30.720
I just need to know. And I truly I don't want to make this hard for anyone. I just truly need to know because you you haven't been in my building to see my little and I I know I can't say names, but my little first

859
04:19:30.720 --> 04:19:45.520
grader And when she's in her PO room with Mrs. Lily and she's the teacher in front of that class, you don't know what it's like for NJSLA to start today. And when one of my

860
04:19:45.520 --> 04:20:02.319
babies who's new to ERRI, breaks down and when we get to the bottom of it, 45 minutes into the test, he says, "I'm hungry." Like you don't know what it's like to have to send one of my babies home every day at 12:35

861
04:20:02.319 --> 04:20:18.560
because he's really really really trying to manage his emotions. So I just ask for you to come to Redwood, spend a day with us, and then just tell me what it looks like in September. I know you have to do what

862
04:20:18.560 --> 04:20:41.199
you have to do, but I'm just I just I just need to understand. So please, what does it look like? President Ruck. >> Thank you, Dr. Jackson. When comment's over though, I'll let Mr. Moore speak to that. >> With 29 days of school left, I invite

863
04:20:41.199 --> 04:21:14.880
you all on any day with 29 days of school left. Mr. Stevenson is always there. Miss Vera has been there on several occasions. >> Thank you, Dr. Jackson. >> Thank you. All right. Thank you all for >> I'm sorry. I am one of the paras that

864
04:21:14.880 --> 04:21:32.319
works at Redwood. >> Could you please introduce yourself? >> Eileen Johnson. >> I spoke as Kelsey's mom earlier. Now I'm here as myself as a par in this district for 18 years. This year since last year I have worked at Redwood and it has been an honor.

865
04:21:32.319 --> 04:21:48.800
That building is impeccable. The staff is above and beyond and I work in an ID class intellectually disabled for anybody who doesn't know. My students have made progress because of all of the paras who show up every day.

866
04:21:48.800 --> 04:22:04.239
We have been CPI trained because our children go into crisis. Who will be doing that next year? Dr. Jackson can't do it all. Mr. Holmes can't do it all. So, who's going to keep those children safe when

867
04:22:04.239 --> 04:22:18.960
they need to be in the reset room when they need to be put into a hold, which is horrendous to do? As somebody who's trained to do it, I don't want to. Nobody wants to. the child is in that

868
04:22:18.960 --> 04:22:35.199
much distress that they are unsafe and that is the only way to keep them safe. So will you be going to the schools? Will you be helping toilet children? Will you be changing diapers? Because that's what the paras do day in and day

869
04:22:35.199 --> 04:22:50.880
out. We toilet train children in the preschool until they are done. We do it at Redwood. And I want to know who will be responsible because the teachers can't take time away from their instruction to do it.

870
04:22:50.880 --> 04:23:06.000
No one will be educated because they will be spending the time in the bathroom. So unless you want to put smartboards in every bathroom in the building, I don't see how anybody's going to learn. So I want to know from the board as a resident of this town and

871
04:23:06.000 --> 04:23:25.600
as a parah, what is your plan? What are you going to do to keep those kids safe and educated to the thorough and efficient education they are entitled to? Thank you. >> All right.

872
04:23:25.600 --> 04:23:48.800
>> Well, that thank you all for your comments. Public comment is now closed. Hold on one sec. Uh without objection, we'll take about a five or 10 minute recess so we can >> and then we'll respond and be back. So

873
04:23:48.800 --> 04:37:16.160
yes, uh just turn the mic off while we're gone here. Yeah, sure. you guys. >> No, no, we're not Hold on a second. ready. >> All right, we are back in session. Thank

874
04:37:16.160 --> 04:37:35.039
you for your uh your patience there. Um I don't did Mr. Stevenson or anyone want to say anything at this point because >> Sure. >> Okay. >> Um yeah, sure. Dr. Dia Bryant. I live at Digitano

875
04:37:35.039 --> 04:37:52.000
Terrace here in West Orange, New Jersey. I am the proud mom of two children that go to West Orange public schools. One right here in the high school and one at St. Cloud Elementary School. I am a taxpayer. I have been a public servant my entire

876
04:37:52.000 --> 04:38:10.879
life. I am a union member and have been throughout my life. So to be clear, I understand all sides of where we are. And the most important thing I can offer

877
04:38:10.879 --> 04:38:27.840
is when I decided to run again last year, I asked myself, am I a stronger ally on this side of the table or being the agitating parent that I can be?

878
04:38:27.840 --> 04:38:44.400
So I decided to be a part of the solution. And being a part of the solution doesn't mean that you have all the answers. It doesn't mean that you know everything. It means that you're willing to give the

879
04:38:44.400 --> 04:39:00.879
time away from your children, away from your family to study the formulas, to speak to the legislators, to have conversations so that I can actually understand what's

880
04:39:00.879 --> 04:39:17.039
happening. And I spend my time doing that. I enjoy being of service in general and I especially enjoy being of service where my children are being

881
04:39:17.039 --> 04:39:36.561
serviced and I think it's very important for all of us to understand that the children are watching. They see the name calling. They see the fingerpointing.

882
04:39:36.561 --> 04:39:59.200
My daughter comes home from her 11th grade class and says, "Mommy, what's going on? They talked about X, Y, and Z all day in every class." And I'm wondering, I'm sorry. I'll continue. And I'm wondering

883
04:39:59.200 --> 04:40:18.080
why in her math class is she discussing things that are kind of like adult issues. And then I got to have a conversation with my child that I wasn't really ready to have

884
04:40:18.080 --> 04:40:36.080
about civics and negotiations and politics and unions and all the messy adult stuff that we all have to manage. The long and short is I just don't want us to lose sight of

885
04:40:36.080 --> 04:40:50.718
the fact that some of us have skin in this game, too. We sit behind this table. The tax bill and assessment comes to my house as well. I send my children out on the bus

886
04:40:50.718 --> 04:41:10.160
daily. I get the nurse call. My child sat in a class his second grade year where the teacher had 25 absences. This is real. My child was in fourth grade. He's had two teachers

887
04:41:10.160 --> 04:41:26.240
already. I don't know who to call. I don't know who to email. I don't get answers back. That's why I'm on this side of the table. Because on the other side of the table,

888
04:41:26.240 --> 04:41:43.798
I can't contribute to the solutions in the way that I want to. I can't carry the voice of people who may have children growing up how I grew up. I grew up in poverty in the 80s in Detroit, Michigan.

889
04:41:44.480 --> 04:42:00.240
There are people in this town, we talk about diversity, that are on all ends of the spectrum. I personally have a lot of experience with both poverty and privilege.

890
04:42:00.240 --> 04:42:19.280
Detroit in the 80s. I got a doctorate from Harvard. So hold that tension. There's a lot of tension to hold here. And throughout the state of New Jersey, districts, counties are suffering

891
04:42:19.280 --> 04:42:34.958
because of a formula that makes no sense. It says that when income goes up and property value goes up, you need less money from the state. And that is

892
04:42:34.958 --> 04:42:52.280
illogical when inflation, the cost of energy, and the cost of health care continue to rise on all of us. I'm sure many of you have been to shop, right? A loaf of bread is like $5.

893
04:42:52.798 --> 04:43:09.120
Gas hit $5 this week. So to be clear, we're all feeling it at work, at home, and in our volunteer service. So trust and believe the decisions you

894
04:43:09.120 --> 04:43:25.520
see are not because I mean I some of the names I've seen us called online are wild, incompetent, don't care. My children are on the bus. They're in your classrooms.

895
04:43:25.520 --> 04:43:42.400
I go in the same grocery store. We're driving the same roads, y'all. And I generally don't say much up here, but it's been kind of like really hard to hold this all. And I've been grateful for people who've

896
04:43:42.400 --> 04:43:59.958
organized or who've reached out and say, "How can I help? How can I defend what y'all are doing?" because I know that it's hard. People who during this time are texting from home saying, "I know it's hard. Keep going." Hard emojis.

897
04:44:00.160 --> 04:44:16.878
This is the work. And it's uncomfortable and it's disgusting at times and it doesn't always feel good. But at the end of the day, we got to leave our kids something to work with when all of us have moved on.

898
04:44:16.878 --> 04:44:33.840
My son is 10. We got a long road to go here in West Orange. I don't plan on leaving, but right now we got tough decisions until we can get Trenton to change this formula. And that's real life and that's

899
04:44:33.840 --> 04:44:49.600
real work. And if you want to know how to do that, feel free to talk to me. I'll talk to you about what to do, whatever you need to do. WO is doing it. I know you I know you have there's no defense

900
04:44:49.600 --> 04:45:14.958
Emily and I talk about this all the time. It's an ongoing process. That's how legislation works, right? So, we're on our way. That's all I got. >> Thank you, Dr. Bryant. Mr. Stevenson, did you have anything? Uh, thank you,

901
04:45:14.958 --> 04:45:30.638
Mr. Rock. Uh, I mean, so it's a tough it's a tough evening. Like I said last time, uh, in an ideal situation, you wouldn't want to outsource pair of professionals or any

902
04:45:30.638 --> 04:45:52.718
part of a bargaining unit. Um, and I think it unfortunately did boil down to cost savings, right? And that sounds um it sounds insensitive

903
04:45:52.718 --> 04:46:09.520
and the reality is it it likely is insensitive. Um, and as you all know, the community knows, just not this community, all budget decisions are trade-offs. That's the unfortunate reality. So

904
04:46:09.520 --> 04:46:24.480
last year, Mandarin got famously saved um at the expense of some other program for which there was no public advocacy for

905
04:46:24.480 --> 04:46:39.520
there is no uh so whatever that program is I have no idea at this point what it was but Mandarin was saved because there was a contingent of people who came to the mic to save Mandarin. Um, and that's actually a good segue to the budget

906
04:46:39.520 --> 04:46:57.040
advisory committee proposal, which on its face I don't I don't oppose, right? Uh, I don't sit here holding some u bag of tricks or

907
04:46:57.040 --> 04:47:14.040
gain any uh pleasure by believing that people believe that I'm personally hiding a ball. There's no ball to hide. Uh yesterday's promises not made by this board

908
04:47:14.240 --> 04:47:30.638
have not kept up with today's resources and the proposal to tax the community at significantly higher rates into perpetuity until there is a state solution.

909
04:47:30.638 --> 04:47:45.600
um defies logic. It does. Why does it defy logic? A lot of people on social media, a lot of emails we've gotten always want to

910
04:47:45.600 --> 04:48:02.638
make the the anti-West Orange and that everybody else does it better comparison, which I personally find insulting. Um, one of our neighboring towns raised their budget levy by 5.2%

911
04:48:02.638 --> 04:48:20.958
5.6%. They're raising $5.6 million while at the same time having to reduce staff by at least 47 people. This is the unfortunate situation that we find ourselves in, not just in West

912
04:48:20.958 --> 04:48:38.638
Orange, but in communities throughout the state. I'm not convinced that uh for for those of you who we've met with the I I have met with the the West Orange Parents for Education.

913
04:48:38.638 --> 04:48:53.600
We've gone through the budget scenario. I mentioned a member of the of the of the parent group and so we spent an hour on the call going through their scenarios. If I if I if I may say so. Their

914
04:48:53.600 --> 04:49:12.160
scenario did provide West Orange with more money than we got this year. But the money that they believe would come in their scenario was still insufficient to close the budget gap that would be present today.

915
04:49:12.160 --> 04:49:27.200
They also have in their formula Representative Begoli's proposal for state funding reform which actually would have been a reduction as proposed than what we got this year.

916
04:49:27.200 --> 04:49:46.160
And while the 36 million is the highest amount we've received, second highest amount we received in the last 5 years, costs are still outpacing the money we received. And we don't have

917
04:49:46.160 --> 04:50:01.520
within the traditional 2% tax levy enough money to to raise it. When you see communities now raising this above the 2%, it's for one of two reasons.

918
04:50:01.520 --> 04:50:19.040
One, they've got bank cap because in previous years they did not raise taxes and so that bank cap allows them to go above the 2% so that the so that the schools don't lose it uh because at some point it will expire.

919
04:50:19.040 --> 04:50:35.760
What's happening now? why so many other communities are able to raise the cap and is being asked of this board is the health care waiver. I won't get into the to the particulars of the legalities of when you raise the health care waiver, what that money is supposed to be used

920
04:50:35.760 --> 04:50:51.280
for, but it's called the healthc care waiver. So there limits one to where we can raise taxes and is directly proportional to our increase in healthcare. So if we were to raise the

921
04:50:51.280 --> 04:51:07.120
maximum if our projected cost was only 17 5% so let's say if we we even said 20%. And healthcare cost was 30 million and projected to be uh 35.

922
04:51:07.120 --> 04:51:22.400
We could only raise under the health care waiver that percentage which would take care of the increase in healthcare. That too would not close the deficit and is no guarantee. Although we know health care

923
04:51:22.400 --> 04:51:38.958
costs are escalating, but it would be a year-to-year assessment as to what we could raise utilizing the health care waiver which should based on the way that the legislation is written should go to health care to offset the cost of

924
04:51:38.958 --> 04:51:59.440
healthare. uh with respect to the with respect to why do we get to this place every spring? Well, I think really that is an unfortunate reality too of New Jersey. communities

925
04:51:59.440 --> 04:52:16.560
throughout the state wait for funding to come after the governor gives a budget address and last week of February, you got to pass a budget by May 15th. It's not a lot. Let me tell you the mistake and hopefully we can change this. Uh Mr.

926
04:52:16.560 --> 04:52:32.160
Moore, we wait for the money to fall from the sky. We wait every year hoping and believing that there'll be enough money that comes down the pipe that nobody's got to get

927
04:52:32.160 --> 04:52:47.840
cut that no layoffs have to occur. And that is a mistake because now since 2024, at least we know in West Orange, the funding game has changed for us.

928
04:52:47.840 --> 04:53:04.958
But we still maybe because of of old habits, we still stay waiting for the governor's budget address to see if we're going to get enough money to fill what is a real structural gap year after year.

929
04:53:04.958 --> 04:53:22.000
The alternative is not easier, right? The alternative is someone said, "Well, where's the planning?" So if the budget is 200 $26 million this year and my woke people I I'll invite you into my time if you're so if you're

930
04:53:22.000 --> 04:53:39.760
willing to do so you can come to the mic each and every year that structural piece for us becomes about $8 million. Right? So in Mr. Moore's letter where he mentioned the salaries and benefits.

931
04:53:39.760 --> 04:53:56.638
I I don't know if it was it was a statistical analysis. I thought it was just a comparison of costs. We were at 70%, other districts were at higher percent. I think the headline that may have gotten buried in that is

932
04:53:56.638 --> 04:54:17.920
that our salaries and benefits are extraordinarily higher in that 70% for us than they are for other districts. Meaning our 70% which almost is approaching

933
04:54:17.920 --> 04:54:34.718
$170 million is larger than the budget the entire operating budget of Livingston. Our salaries and benefits those two lines are higher than the entire school budget for Montlair.

934
04:54:34.718 --> 04:54:52.638
Our salary and budget lines are higher than the entire school budget for South Orange Maplewood. So when we have in this community two parts of the budget which are fixed

935
04:54:52.638 --> 04:55:08.160
so all of those people who are saying mismanagement and this that and the other if there is mismanagement it exists within that 30% or that $62 million that is not salaries and benefits

936
04:55:08.160 --> 04:55:25.760
but I think that is the point that may have been um in the letter that it's such a significant part of our budget such that it would exceed the entire operating budgets of similarlysized districts in our county and in the

937
04:55:25.760 --> 04:55:42.718
state. And I think it was important or Mr. Moore believed it was important and I don't disagree with him, I actually agree with him that our community know exactly what uh we pay for education and that it is such a large percentage of the budget. So, if you were to look at

938
04:55:42.718 --> 04:55:58.400
the budget and say, "Well, what are we going to be next year?" So, you know what? I'll tell you right now based on my own kind of rough calculations, the budget is $26 million for fiscal year 2627.

939
04:55:58.400 --> 04:56:14.878
Expected next year to be about $213 million. So, not holding the ball, not hiding the ball. That's my sitting up here best guess estimate holding the line on

940
04:56:14.878 --> 04:56:32.560
health care understanding yes there will be additional job cuts next year that's why I wouldn't that's why I wouldn't say it'll probably be 214 or $215 million that again is the unfortunate re reality

941
04:56:32.560 --> 04:56:53.840
due to some of the costs for which you can't control. I I'll yield a minute to you, Mr. Wantro, because I think it's I think it's important to have the dialogue. We we we've been here for hours. Truly appreciate this. This is this is a

942
04:56:53.840 --> 04:57:10.480
a massive step forward, I think, to have an actual dialogue. Um, what I would say is if you look at us compared to those neighboring districts, Livingston, South Orange, Maplewood, Montlair,

943
04:57:10.480 --> 04:57:28.000
the state calculates what it thinks it should cost to educate our children. the adequacy budget. That adequacy budget includes our special education students, our free and reduced lunch students.

944
04:57:28.000 --> 04:57:42.638
There are many, many more of those here in West Orange than there are in those neighboring districts. If you look at what the state says, it says we should be spending $30 million more than those districts. Don't quote me on the exact number, but that's the order of

945
04:57:42.638 --> 04:57:59.120
magnitude. So if our salaries end up the same as those districts, we will be failing to provide the thorough and efficient education that our students deserve. I can pull out my laptop and get the

946
04:57:59.120 --> 04:58:17.200
actual but I don't think that's sad. >> No. And you're correct, right? And we do receive in special in special education aid a greater uh special ed education aid slice of the pie than those other

947
04:58:17.200 --> 04:58:31.920
districts. >> That is true. >> Yes. >> Right. And people also don't know that our out of district placement there is no cap to the expenses that the district incurs for out of district placements.

948
04:58:31.920 --> 04:58:54.320
The out of the out of district placements are an absolute >> let I mean I will just say this in response to that which is my son started here in sixth grade. He had an

949
04:58:54.320 --> 04:59:11.520
IEP that had paras in every one of his classes. He's now in 10th grade. He has a parrot in one of his classes. He is on honor roll. He's taking the statistics AP exam on Thursday.

950
04:59:11.520 --> 04:59:35.120
The district that we are about to have is not one that would have gotten him there and instead he would have been out of district. >> Thank you, sir. Um we do

951
04:59:35.120 --> 04:59:51.120
>> so so we so so so we have a we have a statutory limit of 2%. That school boards throughout the state can raise the tax levy for. I've been on the board. This is my I can't remember now. Uh fifth year on the board, sixth year

952
04:59:51.120 --> 05:00:10.160
on the board. I voted to raise the levy every year to the uh maximum allowable amount including this year which is 2.5% because we did take some healthc care waiver of approximately $750,000.

953
05:00:10.160 --> 05:00:27.718
Um I think I think progress gets lost when the promises made seem a little shaky, right? And and I say that to say um when

954
05:00:28.080 --> 05:00:45.200
you can't you can't raise the levy. If if a lot of people spoke tonight, right, and I said this last week, if we go to referendum in this town, in my opinion, it's to build new facilities

955
05:00:45.200 --> 05:01:01.920
for our children, to build a new Washington Elementary School, which is desperately needed, uh, new West Orange High School, in my opinion, others may disagree with me, and certainly upgrading our facilities. One of the reasons I asked Miss Flowers earlier

956
05:01:01.920 --> 05:01:18.000
about the $4 million that was originally allocated in the preliminary budget to go to deferred maintenance and the capital improvements of our building, which has now been reduced to 1.87 million. Is that how long can we

957
05:01:18.000 --> 05:01:34.000
continue to keep our kids in dilapidating buildings that don't get the proper attention that they need? Most of our infrastructure exceeds 80 years old. uh we continue to kick this can down the road. Uh and if you say we continue to

958
05:01:34.000 --> 05:01:50.480
kick the can down the road because we're going to exchange jobs for building safety, it sounds like you hate teachers. I don't hate teachers. I know the reality that catastrophic things can happen when you do not take care of your

959
05:01:50.480 --> 05:02:06.638
physical plant or when you delay things. the example of the Washington retaining wall. It becomes six times what it originally was. And guess who pays for that? Citizens of West Orange pay for that. And it also gets paid for in what

960
05:02:06.638 --> 05:02:22.080
becomes a shift in expenditures from one line to the other to cover that. So how long now that we've now taken 23 $3.2 $2 million away from planned

961
05:02:22.080 --> 05:02:41.000
capital capital improvements to save jobs. Can we do that next year and next year? It seemingly has been done for years and years and years and there really shouldn't be uh an end to it. Um

962
05:02:41.520 --> 05:03:01.360
people asked about concessions. I assume they were talking about uh union concessions. The board has not asked the WOA to take any concession within the negotiations with them. That is the truth. We don't

963
05:03:01.360 --> 05:03:17.760
typically discuss negotiations uh in public, but we have not asked the teachers union to take any pay freeze. We simply have not. When Mr. Mr. Jacobe, the lawyer, was here the last time. Uh,

964
05:03:17.760 --> 05:03:32.480
he made the comment that the board offered in November of 2025, the union a best and final offer. That was the truth. We made an offer in

965
05:03:32.480 --> 05:03:50.160
November of 2025 that did not negatively affect any current employed teacher. Uh it was a contract comparable to what the district settled with the West Orange Administrators Association in 2024.

966
05:03:50.160 --> 05:04:05.280
Um and that offer was rejected. The offer has continued to be out there since November. The two parties have have have have met uh in a series in one

967
05:04:05.280 --> 05:04:21.600
mediation. Uh we now are moving to the next phase of the the the the the negotiation process which is factf finding where you know third party mediator comes in and tells

968
05:04:21.600 --> 05:04:37.520
each side you know what they think the contract sh should settle at. A speaker last week said before the crowd that the union had made some concessions that was not true. We've not received any

969
05:04:37.520 --> 05:04:55.840
concession offer from the WOEA. Um, another speaker said with respect to paraprofessional outsourcing, how come the district didn't tell the paraprofessionals that they were being outsourced? That on his face is disingenuous. If you

970
05:04:55.840 --> 05:05:11.600
understand collective bargaining and know understand the rules around it, uh the members of that union, the pair of professionals, the district cannot circumvent the relationship in the collective bargaining process and inform

971
05:05:11.600 --> 05:05:28.480
those employees before the union informs them. They are represented by a union. The union was informed in March. The pair of professionals apparently to what the speaker said were not told until more than 30 days after they were

972
05:05:28.480 --> 05:05:47.920
notified. So to say why didn't the district notify the pair of professionals on its face is disingenuous. Uh to that point to pair professionals,

973
05:05:47.920 --> 05:06:05.440
part of the WOEA, part of the the bargaining unit. Um teachers have been out of contract since June 30 of 2025. um them being out of contract since unit

974
05:06:05.440 --> 05:06:22.000
2025 exposed them to being outsourced. the union knew or should have known that that was a possibility that the district might consider that given

975
05:06:22.000 --> 05:06:37.840
especially when we understood wrong as it may have been that when the state aid came that it was insignificant to close the gap. Again, that's the truth. Had there been a teachers

976
05:06:37.840 --> 05:06:53.600
contract ratified at some point between the end of June 30, 2025 and present, then you could not outsource a part of the unit. That's the truth. Uh there's been talk

977
05:06:53.600 --> 05:07:10.480
online about um the union. And I I won't I won't get into the the the the attempted legal ease of the of the statement that was made about the district knows that that we can't negotiate

978
05:07:10.480 --> 05:07:26.400
uh to save the pair of professionals or whatever the terminology was used whether it's a school district whether it is an you know automobile manufacturers whether it's the federal government the

979
05:07:26.400 --> 05:07:42.480
reality is is that the the purview of staffing, the purview of need always rests with management. It always rests with it always rests with it. We had cuts in 2024.

980
05:07:42.480 --> 05:07:59.440
Teachers were under a contract in 2024. We had cuts in 2025 although the contract was expiring. Uh so to say that well if we and I want to say hypothetically not not not this district

981
05:07:59.440 --> 05:08:18.718
not this union but hypothetically if we hypothetical district takes some hypothetical cut to hypothetically save a part of the unit that the district could just go ahead and

982
05:08:18.718 --> 05:08:35.440
outs could just go ahead and lay off additional staff. That that exists no matter what. That that exists inside the contract. That exists outside the contract. The difference is well, no, but here here's the real

983
05:08:35.440 --> 05:08:50.560
point, sir. The state of New Jersey allows for impact bargaining. And I don't want to go into and what impact bargaining is. Anyone interested can do a simple Google search to figure out what impact bargaining is. Impact bargaining is the

984
05:08:50.560 --> 05:09:07.160
the union may make a counter offer to the school district, not this school district, any school district in the state to offer a concession to prevent the outsourcing.

985
05:09:09.360 --> 05:09:26.080
Whether or not that has happened or not in hypothetical districts does not mean that it can't happen. doesn't mean that bargaining units can't despite the gu despite whatever the guarantees may or may not be if it's never explored never

986
05:09:26.080 --> 05:09:44.560
discussed then it never happens but there are no guarantees no >> if you come to an agreement >> so if you so so if you come if you come to if you come to an agreement >> not going to honor the

987
05:09:44.560 --> 05:10:01.360
So, okay. Well, again, >> I will I I don't want to I don't want to debate I don't want to debate what the law allows for impact bargaining. Anybody can anybody can do it. Anybody

988
05:10:01.360 --> 05:10:56.040
can do a search about it. I am just telling you that it exists. That's it. I am not talking to you guys looks like

989
05:10:56.718 --> 05:12:01.718
we have all the question That's why that's why every hours and I know I know. I get it.

990
05:12:12.638 --> 05:12:29.040
>> Well, ma'am, I'm not talking in circles. I don't know if you understood what I said. I I I said I said I said that no it's not no ma'am I'm not being smug. What I'm saying to you is I just was responding to the comments

991
05:12:29.040 --> 05:12:51.280
that were made. I was not speaking. Well ma'am I understand the frustration. I was not being smug. I was not talking in circles. I was attempting to respond to the various people that came to the mic to take the time, right? It's late

992
05:12:51.280 --> 05:13:08.400
in the hour, but the budget vote is going forward tonight. And so, look, we meet once a month. And so, uh, although people may not want to hear what's being said, uh, I'm at least trying to put forth

993
05:13:08.400 --> 05:13:24.080
information without any artifice, without any kind of osha oshucation. I'm telling you what it is and and what my perspective is. Whether you respect it or not, whether you like it or not, that is completely up to you individually.

994
05:13:24.080 --> 05:13:40.878
But I was elected by the people to sit here and do it. The next time I'm up for re-election. If the people decide that they don't want me in the seat, that's their opportunity to vote vote me out at that time. But I will I will finish my comments like and and and hope that the comments

995
05:13:40.878 --> 05:14:09.440
that I make are understood. So that that's all I can do. Eric, could we being done as a way to negotiate and what I heard then that's that's fine. What I heard from the community was it's

996
05:14:09.440 --> 05:14:24.878
too risky. We don't want to negotiate. So the union is speaking to the teachers and I'm talking mainly as a parent that had two children who hate the West Orange school system that that's what I

997
05:14:24.878 --> 05:14:41.760
saying we feel this is too risky don't want to take this chance we don't see we don't see the savings in it that's community that's why I feel like the disadvantage and if I misunderstood and you weren't saying negotiation that's

998
05:14:41.760 --> 05:15:09.040
you But I didn't hear information. >> I appreciate that because I wasn't attempting to be >> Well, I think I think what's represented is concern latitude here, but I think we should let Mr. Stevenson finish, but

999
05:15:09.040 --> 05:15:25.680
pause. We'll have another public comment period at the at the end if anybody else would like to speak. >> Yeah, I this was >> I I don't look I think there are many different perspectives. I'm sure there are perspectives that

1000
05:15:25.680 --> 05:15:41.120
differ with those perspectives that were voiced tonight that are not present in the room. We're a community of about 50,000 people, right? With with with with varying perspectives. And it's not for me to judge whether or not they could have come to a mic and offered

1001
05:15:41.120 --> 05:15:57.520
that perspective. I'm just saying to you in a community this large, there are multiple perspectives, right? And uh we have to as the elected body believe what those perspectives are, but

1002
05:15:57.520 --> 05:16:14.000
more importantly make a decision about what's in the best interests of schools. Even if some of those decisions are not uh favored by some, even if they're not favored by a majority of people that come to speak at public comment, we can't take that as

1003
05:16:14.000 --> 05:16:35.280
the majority perspective in any decision. Um, so what I'll go on and say is >> the Eric, could we >> Okay. Do you want to entertain? >> I I I'll yield a minute to you, sir.

1004
05:16:35.280 --> 05:16:52.240
>> Sure. Thank you. I I actually really appreciate you bringing some stuff up like this because this is feels like the first time in this session, the last one, where somebody brought like options from your side, and I love that. And I don't know the the the board versus the union thing and that whole thing. I'm just a parent and a nerd. But you

1005
05:16:52.240 --> 05:17:07.600
brought up like impact bargaining. Okay, that sounds like a thing. Can we talk about that and figure something out? >> Well, well, we I'm just telling you it's available. >> Sure. >> I again, we we don't go let's put that aside because it's sensitive. I want to go something else you said earlier.

1006
05:17:07.600 --> 05:17:24.638
>> Go ahead. with the referendum and I want to thank you for bringing up earlier with the concerns with the reserve with the budgets and the you know emergencies and so on and like let's do that. Can we just do that? Can we plan for like a referendum to that to do capital

1007
05:17:24.638 --> 05:17:40.878
improvements because we need those. We're deferring them which means we end up paying more overtime. So can we do a referendum on capital improvements and maybe even cut the budget further and save some teachers? So, let me tell you, sitting here tonight, sitting here three

1008
05:17:40.878 --> 05:17:56.480
weeks ago, um, and if if a majority of my colleagues are in favor of it for the uh there there's no opportunity for a referendum, it's >> for this year, it's too late for this year. >> But, but I but I'll tell you, I mean,

1009
05:17:56.480 --> 05:18:11.200
look, >> I have no objection to a referendum. I have no objection to a referendum to build schools. And if people want, I have no objection to a referendum to

1010
05:18:11.200 --> 05:18:27.120
close a budget gap. As I said at the last meeting, I have uh very little confidence that a referendum in this community to close a budget gap would pass. But you know what that would do? If we did a referendum to close a

1011
05:18:27.120 --> 05:18:43.600
budget gap, a projected budget gap, at least a majority of the community would vote. And if the vote occurred and it and it failed, then guess what? We would probably still be here for for 5 hours. But it let but at least then we wouldn't be debating that the people came here to

1012
05:18:43.600 --> 05:19:00.400
speak in public comment are the line share people in the community and this is what the community wants. And so maybe that's some change to the legislation as they're talking about um funding reform formulas that maybe the state should consider uh yearly

1013
05:19:00.400 --> 05:19:17.120
referendums fit the bill for those elections to decide whether or not the communities in every school district around the state wants to raise the tax levy itself without a vote of the board of uh of education. I I could see it work as a once in a while thing if you

1014
05:19:17.120 --> 05:19:33.920
need to catch up and whatnot. But it just sounds like if we do a more open budget process >> and we get ahead of it, then maybe next time we can make something work. >> All right. Comments. >> I have a couple of more comments to the question. >> Let me say this. >> 30 seconds. >> No, let me tell you this. This is this

1015
05:19:33.920 --> 05:19:51.920
is the job, right? So, we've already been here. Um, I do not want to leave here this evening not having my list of of comments out. Uh, everybody wants to go home and I do

1016
05:19:51.920 --> 05:20:10.560
too. But the budget comes like Christmas but once a year and so let's get it out in terms of in terms of the things that are here so at least they can be addressed. And then my conscience is clear because that was my

1017
05:20:10.560 --> 05:20:25.920
kids principal who was asking what it looks like in September surrounded by people that I know and see and appreciate every day. So if I can't be late getting home, my

1018
05:20:25.920 --> 05:20:43.360
kids are already asleep hopefully. U expected it to be late. I apologize to to my to my board colleagues. Something tells me the the impending meetings in the future won't be this long, but I think it's important that the things don't get addressed. If

1019
05:20:43.360 --> 05:20:58.000
you if you don't say enough, people say you don't care. If you say too much, then people say that you're talking in circles when you're really not, and that's not your intent. So, the reality is it's a good discussion to have. We're

1020
05:20:58.000 --> 05:21:14.958
we don't have six-hour meetings. uh I've invited people to come and yield some time to them of things that need to be addressed. So I'll go to a couple of questions. Miss Flowers, a speaker said that there were consultants within the salaries and benefits line.

1021
05:21:14.958 --> 05:21:30.000
Does the salary and benefits line include consultants? >> No, those are only our >> Where in the budget are consultant payments made out of? purchase professional services.

1022
05:21:30.000 --> 05:21:46.400
>> Do you know the amount approximately the district spends on consultants? >> I would have to look that up. >> Okay. Can you can you give me an approximate percentage? >> I would have to get back to you on that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes, sir.

1023
05:21:46.400 --> 05:22:02.240
Uh with respect to the comments made about the items in the audit, particularly the approximately $75,000 uh penalty for late filing. Uh we've got a we we we've got a crowd here

1024
05:22:02.240 --> 05:22:18.320
tonight. The the audit, our books are audited every year by independent auditor. That was revealed at the February 2026 meeting. Each one of those items that were brought up tonight uh

1025
05:22:18.320 --> 05:22:35.760
was revealed publicly at the February meeting. The auditor who uh cited those in his notes, obviously it's public because it was presented tonight, presented the last meeting. Uh no one was was hiding the ball. Uh

1026
05:22:35.760 --> 05:22:50.878
from an audit standpoint, it's our understanding they were not they did not rise to the to a level of materiality. uh to cause the budget not to be clean. But certainly I had a similar concern as those of you that raised it and shortly

1027
05:22:50.878 --> 05:23:08.638
thereafter sent a email to the superintendent and to the business office requesting an investigation to why that late filing occurred. Does that mean that when I'm aware that the late filing has occurred that I come to the mic and say I sent an email

1028
05:23:08.638 --> 05:23:24.798
requesting an investigation of uh those issues with what were found in the budget? No. But uh they shouldn't be used as a means to say there is widespread and rampid mismanagement

1029
05:23:24.798 --> 05:23:42.320
within the school district. Uh, but I as a board member have an incumbent responsibility when something doesn't seem right to ask a question. I asked the question and I don't mind publishing the email that I sent to the superintendent and to the business uh to

1030
05:23:42.320 --> 05:24:09.280
the business administrator about those issues that were raised tonight. Um so Mr. Mr. Dickman, I I understand your frustration. The be my last comment that I yield to my to my colleagues because we do have other business to take care

1031
05:24:09.280 --> 05:24:25.680
of. That is when the audit was presented to the to the board by the third party auditor. Uh there are expenditures that are in every board agenda every month

1032
05:24:25.680 --> 05:24:43.360
which shows the expenditures of the district. If I overlooked the $78,000 penalty when it whenever it was paid to the IRS for the late filing, I own that and take responsibility in overlooking

1033
05:24:43.360 --> 05:24:59.840
it when I looked at previous board docs. But I can give you the assurance that when the auditor made mention of it, despite my overlooking and my due diligence, I sent an email to the superintendent and to the business

1034
05:24:59.840 --> 05:25:18.400
administrator to inquire about it. Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevens. briefly. Yeah, >> I just want to respond publicly and say that yes, there was a $78,000 penalty for late filing due to a business office

1035
05:25:18.400 --> 05:25:35.520
transition. However, that payment will be rein uh refunded to us by the IRS because they we sought through uh the necessary channels to prove that yes, we did submit that penalty and excuse me, we did submit the payroll taxes and

1036
05:25:35.520 --> 05:25:53.520
therefore we will be getting that back. I will publicly share that refund when we get it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Derer, anything you want? >> Yeah. Okay. Um you you might notice that during the meeting I'm taking a lot of notes. I

1037
05:25:53.520 --> 05:26:09.440
love listening to people. I I learn a lot. Uh I'll just go through a few things. I'll try to be brief. Um uh okay. So to begin with um there were a few things that were said were correct

1038
05:26:09.440 --> 05:26:25.200
which I appreciated some things which I didn't know which I learned and some things which are incorrect. Um and just a couple things off the top of my head um there was someone who mentioned um I don't know several hours ago that you know we need to make ourselves more

1039
05:26:25.200 --> 05:26:41.040
available. Um I have a standing table at Panera. I'm there. Weren't we there this week? For an hour, right? For an hour. I meet with Paris. I meet with teacher, school nurse, driver, whatever. This is the

1040
05:26:41.040 --> 05:26:58.958
job. I happily ran for board because I was so appreciative of the education that my son was getting and it was a way of giving back. And then when my first term ran out, I was so honored when people asked me uh to run again all over

1041
05:26:58.958 --> 05:27:16.000
town in different languages. It really meant something to me. So I did it again. So I I take this very seriously as we as we all do. Um and I I made a promise when I first uh ran that if I won, I would visit every school. It's

1042
05:27:16.000 --> 05:27:31.120
not such a doesn't seem like a big deal, but it is a big deal. and you know we do make ourselves available. We we we've all been to the schools together. Um and you know to see I used to love to come

1043
05:27:31.120 --> 05:27:47.280
to schools and see meetings because I'd see uh my son's teachers and Paris and it was wonderful and now it's it's not so wonderful because we're dealing with hard stuff. I don't like it. But we're here by choice because we think we have

1044
05:27:47.280 --> 05:28:06.480
something to offer and we love the schools. Um, I want to address something that happened right when we sat down. The leader, the head of the the union leadership has to watch their mouth a little bit. I

1045
05:28:06.480 --> 05:28:23.040
don't appreciate the comments about Mr. Moore. You want to say Yeah. You want to say he's no good? say is no good. Deceitful crocodile tears. That's disgraceful. And I'm not standing. Someone said at a previous meeting, you're hiding behind behind him. I'm

1046
05:28:23.040 --> 05:28:37.920
standing in front of him. And I'm telling you, that was my first vote. It was a great vote. I'm glad we hired him. We're lucky to have him. And we all just need to tone it down a little bit. That's reasonable. I think it's reasonable.

1047
05:28:37.920 --> 05:28:54.480
Yelling from the back is not reasonable, but okay. So, um, uh, when Mr. Moore uh was interviewing for the job, people pleaded with us and I remember the words are integrity,

1048
05:28:54.480 --> 05:29:10.638
fairness, one of us knows the community. That's who we have. This is a hard. He leaves tomorrow, we're still in this jam. We're lucky to have him. uh with respect to uh some of the

1049
05:29:10.638 --> 05:29:26.480
comments that my uh colleagues made, you know, uh when I listened to uh Dr. Dia Bryant speak, I I'm reminded that, you know, we ran together for reelection and I'm so appreciative that she allowed me to do that because she's right. When we

1050
05:29:26.480 --> 05:29:43.120
talk about what happened to diversity is our strength. If we keep raising taxes, that all goes away. This board raised taxes the maximum every year that I've been on the board and I think all but one year I I voted

1051
05:29:43.120 --> 05:29:58.718
to raise the taxes. I didn't want to, but I saw what would happen if we did not. And now we're being asked to raise taxes even higher. And I'm here to tell you I oppose that. I'm not doing that. I'm not raising taxes for every one

1052
05:29:58.718 --> 05:30:14.000
person that stands up and says raise my taxes, which I understand. They want what's best for the kids. same as we all do. There's a hundred people, 200 people who are ready to move out of town because they can't take it anymore. And if you don't believe me, run for

1053
05:30:14.000 --> 05:30:30.000
something. I I encourage you. I'll sign your petition. When I ran both times, it was the best education I ever had because you knock on doors and people say, "Every time I went out, I would go one hour a day after work every day. And every day I ran I went out, somebody

1054
05:30:30.000 --> 05:30:44.558
would say, "Don't bother, pal. I'm moving out of town or I'm moving out of Essence County or I'm moving out of New Jersey. This is really happening. I I can't I can't support voting on top of the the state maximum that I'm I can't

1055
05:30:44.558 --> 05:31:02.798
do that. Um so I won't be doing that. Uh we talk about making things sustainable. That's not sustainable. So the the the gentleman I don't have my glasses on when he was speaking. I think it was you with the uh the laptop. Yeah,

1056
05:31:02.798 --> 05:31:20.320
that was beautiful. I mean, that really encompassed what's going on here. We're living like East Orange, but they pay us like we're Livingston. That's the problem. We're getting peanuts when we have special needs, English as a second language. All this school, Title One

1057
05:31:20.320 --> 05:31:36.080
schools, all this stuff. That's what needs to be fixed. Not how can we raise more taxes in my opinion. Um, I'll also say that I'm sorry, let me go. I I'll also say that a lot of times we

1058
05:31:36.080 --> 05:31:51.360
get emails from people and what happens is we get emails from people and they say, you know, raise my tax. Well, you shouldn't do this. This is this is what you should do. And you look and the emails are from Rosland, Whippony, East

1059
05:31:51.360 --> 05:32:10.400
Hanover. And what happens is people stay in town, they tough it out with the taxes, and then after they get their diploma, they're out of here because who wants to stay in these t I don't want that. I don't want I I don't want that. Um last year when was originated

1060
05:32:10.400 --> 05:32:26.160
um and we spoke a lot on the phone and on emails and I said I remember they said we want to have budget meetings and I said who could argue with that? These people are smart. They want they're engaged. Let's do it. And we did it. And now we're talking about community budget

1061
05:32:26.160 --> 05:32:45.840
advisory board. How can you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Count me in. I Why wouldn't we want that? The more involvement, the better. Th This is wonderful. So, you know, you had an ally last time. I'm not vice president

1062
05:32:45.840 --> 05:33:02.718
anymore, but to the extent that I matter, you have an ally still. Uh yeah, there's a few things I didn't care about care to hear when I heard I didn't I also had spoken to Mr. Moore about the the late payment. Um whether

1063
05:33:02.718 --> 05:33:20.240
it's material or not, it it doesn't it's not a good look. It doesn't instill confidence. So um that needs to be addressed. >> Mr. Mr. If >> Matt sir is the Matt just asked Miss Flowers is the budget is the full budget published on the website all what is on

1064
05:33:20.240 --> 05:33:35.360
what is on the website president >> the advertised budget that was county approved is on the website after the public hearing statutoily we have to post the user friendly budget within 48 hours. So once this meeting is done and if the budget is approved we then will

1065
05:33:35.360 --> 05:33:50.400
post the user-friendly budget but yes the advertised budget is on the website. The statutoily we have to post the advertised budget. If you go on your if you go on your phone now you will see

1066
05:33:50.400 --> 05:34:05.680
the advertised budget that was county approved. You can look for it. You will see it and then you can cross check with the summary that we presented this evening. It is there. Thank you. Is is there a budget that the full I assume

1067
05:34:05.680 --> 05:34:21.680
people are saying the full line by line two 200page budget there is such such a >> doc again it's based upon the approval tonight then we will uh we will post the user friendly budget and then there is a

1068
05:34:21.680 --> 05:34:37.920
detailed budget that we will be happy to share which is after is upon approval of tonight's budget >> was the 2025 2026 budget after approval last year published for public review. >> Yes, there >> is it still is it still available?

1069
05:34:37.920 --> 05:34:54.240
>> It's still there. If you go under budget and finance on our website, you'll see budgets. I believe they go back to 9 or 10 years, but we just went through a website conversion. Uh but I do believe they go back to 9 or 10 years. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And yeah, sorry, Mr.

1070
05:34:54.240 --> 05:35:11.040
>> And just the last two things were that um I guess to echo Mr. Stevenson, you know, he he's the uh head of the negotiating committee. I had asked to be on it last year because I thought I could be of some assistance given my experience dealing with contracts and

1071
05:35:11.040 --> 05:35:27.280
unions. I was in local 54. I worked with 1199. This is not a union thing. This is a dollars thing. Um and you know, I just guess I would echo what Mr. uh Stevenson said, which is there's a contract. There

1072
05:35:27.280 --> 05:35:43.520
was a contract there. There was an offer there which had a was a good contract. Uh in some ways it was better than what the principles and administrators got and sadly it wasn't accepted and here we are. So we just keep trying and I I

1073
05:35:43.520 --> 05:35:58.160
appreciate everyone's I appreciate everyone coming out. I appreciate everyone talking and you know the back and the forth. Sometimes it gets a little rough but we're here. I'm I never say no to anybody, right? I always talk.

1074
05:35:58.160 --> 05:36:13.680
If if it if you want to talk and give me some solutions, I can pass up the line. If you want to talk and yell at me, that's fine, too. Whatever you want to do, it it is public service. You are the public. We are the public. Whatever we

1075
05:36:13.680 --> 05:36:33.200
can do to to get us to the finish line, that's what I'm willing to do. Thank you. Miss Beer, is there anything you'd like to >> Um, first of all, I want to say thank you to

1076
05:36:33.200 --> 05:36:49.280
all of you who were here today, who are watching, the ones who are watching through the uh TV. Um, it was not an easy situation. It was really hard. Really hard because we as

1077
05:36:49.280 --> 05:37:07.360
board members, we are here to support our students, support the community, support our teachers and par profofessionals. Um, for two weeks since we since April 26, I

1078
05:37:07.360 --> 05:37:24.958
was reading the Facebook comments, but it really hurts my feelings because they were talking about some members of the board and it was not good at all. I feel this

1079
05:37:24.958 --> 05:37:42.718
for all those comments. Thank you to Miss Pendergrass who stopped that those comments. And as I always say because I'm still working with the students in Orange High School, I always tell the parents, you

1080
05:37:42.718 --> 05:38:01.840
have the power. You can email Mr. Moore, Miss Flowers, all of us. Even though I don't have much time because I'm working with the seniors, but I will give my time at 11 12:00 at night

1081
05:38:01.840 --> 05:38:20.558
answering back to the me emails that I receive the best of my knowledge trying to always you know relax and you know we are working on it because that's what we are doing. My respect to Mr. more and miss flowers

1082
05:38:20.558 --> 05:38:34.878
because they are doing the best and as all of us president rock all of us have an ideas we were discussing and taking the time to give the best solution of this situation because first

1083
05:38:34.878 --> 05:38:52.718
of all it's our students population the ones that need more from the par profofessionals the ones who needs more from the community from the teachers on the parents and we are here

1084
05:38:52.718 --> 05:39:11.040
we all take the responsibilities of why you know that's the reason we were elected so we are trying to work with the best trying to you know make the best solution and I always you know was thinking no it's something like people

1085
05:39:11.040 --> 05:39:27.440
who dedicate the time the love the compassion and the respect for our students. So I we are going to be I say you know all of us we will be working in order to get the solution but we need the

1086
05:39:27.440 --> 05:39:43.040
community. We need the parents. We need the support. We need to find out the solution not pointing fingers. You are entitled to No, we all need to work together. And I'm telling you something

1087
05:39:43.040 --> 05:40:00.160
because um over the weekends for two weekends I was attending the show Cinderella that it was here and then I went to Rosville Middle School. Uh, we need the support because they

1088
05:40:00.160 --> 05:40:17.440
need the money to put those magnificent shows together and I really appreciate the teachers hard work and all the ones who were behind them supporting them because you know we have talented students, students who are going to be

1089
05:40:17.440 --> 05:40:33.520
maybe one day in Broadway or they will go to you know California to have their own life in famous producers or singers. So you know we have to think about it if we work

1090
05:40:33.520 --> 05:40:49.600
together as a community we will move forward but you know it's something like we need to put the time and as you know it's something like a you know where is the board of education located so you can request an

1091
05:40:49.600 --> 05:41:06.480
appointment and talk to Mr. more so something like you know we work as a team it's not like we were independent we work as a team to to give the best and I want to you know before I close my

1092
05:41:06.480 --> 05:41:24.920
comments I would like to you know recognize all the teacher because unfortunately this week is the teachers appreciation week amazing the work that they do and I'm telling you as a grandparent.

1093
05:41:25.600 --> 05:41:41.280
My nephews, nieces, my daughters, my grandkids are educated here and I'm proud of them because all of them in my family, they are going through, you know, college and get the BA and look for the master. So, all of them were

1094
05:41:41.280 --> 05:41:58.480
educated here. They have a wonderful background, good support from the teachers and that's the only thing I can tell you right now. It was I feel really sad seeing Miss Jackson here, Dr. Jackson here because we visit the

1095
05:41:58.480 --> 05:42:14.878
school, Dr. and I, we went to visit the school. We went to Rosan Middle School. So, we are involved. We know what do they need. But unfortunately, you know, it's what it happened and I was writing to the assembly woman, Boli,

1096
05:42:14.878 --> 05:42:30.718
Kasos, even the former, you know, mayor, Mr. very easy in order to support us to find out the solution to the formula because this is what happened once they evaluate they see western they make good

1097
05:42:30.718 --> 05:42:47.840
money houses are expensive and that's why we are in this situation it's not because something else is because of that and then go that with the cats that we have is getting worse thank you for listening thank you for

1098
05:42:47.840 --> 05:43:04.000
being here today. You know, I really appreciate it and I hope you know all my uh board members they do too. Thank you. >> Thank you, Vice President Vera. Um and thank you all for for coming out and for your comments. Thank you to my board

1099
05:43:04.000 --> 05:43:19.200
members for their thoughtful and long comments, Mr. Stevenson. Um so I'll try to keep mine brief. Uh but to Dr. Jackson, >> I may have I may have something else to say. So >> Okay. Well, >> go ahead. C can we save it for the resolutions

1100
05:43:19.200 --> 05:43:34.320
when we get to the budget vote? >> We'll see. >> Okay. Thank uh to to Dr. Jackson who I don't see any more. I think she might have left, but I will take her up on that opportunity to to visit Redwood and I'll ask Mr. Moore to uh set that up. Uh the question about the referendum. I

1101
05:43:34.320 --> 05:43:50.558
mean, we have had conversations about potentially a facilities referendum. I that may be in the future at some point. There's also conversations at the state level about funding facilities. And so those things kind of go hand in hand. Uh because the state will often provide aid, debt service aid to help when you

1102
05:43:50.558 --> 05:44:06.638
do go out for that. So it's kind of premature to do that until the state is is finalized what that looks like. Uh but we will be sure to to reach out to to the you know, many community members have talked about that when that happens. Um and then just lastly to a couple people had said, you know, put a

1103
05:44:06.638 --> 05:44:21.840
pause on things, don't decide anything tonight, table the budget. uh to which I'd say essentially that this is not the final say on much, right? We have to approve a budget in the next week or so. We have to send a budget to the county to be approved and essentially that's a

1104
05:44:21.840 --> 05:44:38.878
top line of what's the tax levy and how much money you taking in in revenue and then what is the matching appropriations line that goes with that. But once you look underneath the covers, everything else is, you know, changeable and could change quite a bit. Um, right. Last year

1105
05:44:38.878 --> 05:44:53.840
we had supplemental appropriation come through from the state that allowed us to do additional capital improvements. Every year at the June meeting, July meeting, August meeting, someone will decide, you know, never mind, I'm going to retire. I'm not going to come back in September. That creates breakage and then, you know, some of the positions

1106
05:44:53.840 --> 05:45:09.680
that have been rifted so far could be brought back or some of the people that were rifted could be moved into those positions, right? Nothing is final or set in stone other than that that tax levy. And the only reason that we would table this vote and send it back and

1107
05:45:09.680 --> 05:45:24.878
again we would still have to come back and approve a budget within about the next week is if there was support to raise that tax levy from the 2 and a half% and to take some additional healthcare exemption. I don't hear that support from my colleagues and so I don't think there's any point in

1108
05:45:24.878 --> 05:45:48.718
tableabling because we would just come back to approve the same budget a week from now. Um, so not everybody can. You understand? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

1109
05:45:48.718 --> 05:47:16.718
Thank you for listening. I know. And And I don't I don't I have a lot to talk to you about, but it's a little late, but maybe you could >> Did Did I hear that Mr. River had a standing table at Panera? >> Yeah,

1110
05:47:16.718 --> 05:47:32.798
>> you could have a longer conversation there. >> Yes, please send me an email, right? I would love >> briefly, Mr. Stevens. There's nothing else. So briefly uh so so briefly I I just want to raise a point of distinction from my colleague

1111
05:47:32.798 --> 05:47:49.040
President Rock on the fact that budget items are funible that that that that is not uh necessarily the case right 70% of the budget is salaries and benefits those those numbers are for the most part fixed other costs with respect to

1112
05:47:49.040 --> 05:48:05.200
special aid uh other student supports transportation so I I don't want the community to have some belief that we leave here tonight and then you know we easily reshuffle the the deck of

1113
05:48:05.200 --> 05:48:21.440
available expenditures. Those what Mr. Moore and his team have done is put together a budget for 2627 that is reflective of expenses from 2526 and what they anticipate moving forward.

1114
05:48:21.440 --> 05:48:37.040
So, it's it's not a um I'm not really I'm sure I understood what you were saying with respect to uh >> what could change. There's very little that that actually does change. The budget, if it passes tonight, has been

1115
05:48:37.040 --> 05:48:53.280
approved to the for the county because those line items have been specifically delineated and uh with the exception of some small variances uh when the operating year begins where you do shift some funds, but it's not,

1116
05:48:53.280 --> 05:49:09.040
you know, a wholesale departure from what gets approved tonight. I just don't want the community to believe that that that is the case. Uh lastly, uh Dr. Jackson came up, spoke, and she

1117
05:49:09.040 --> 05:49:23.600
asked the question, you know, what does it look like in the fall? Hard question to answer except for the fact that we all have hope that it is not um radically different

1118
05:49:23.600 --> 05:49:41.280
than what we have right now. But but look but that is but but regardless of the plan right so even if even if there is a a pathway as Mr. Moore says like any of us who seek employment get other

1119
05:49:41.280 --> 05:49:56.958
opportunities there's never any guarantee there's no guarantee from year to year that people will remain in their same positions don't seek better or different opportunities that teachers don't retire when you have a sibling and believe that they're going to get the same teacher you had before. So the hope

1120
05:49:56.958 --> 05:50:13.760
is regardless of um the needed outsourcing of prayer professional specifically, the hope is that children still will be served u in a way that is reflective of the commitment that West

1121
05:50:13.760 --> 05:50:36.558
Orange has made to children with special needs over our history. That's that that's the hope. That's what that's what we hope to achieve. finished. Okay. All right. Uh

1122
05:50:36.558 --> 05:50:55.520
>> All right. >> All right. We will move on to our resolutions then. Uh may I have a motion to approve the personnel items A1 through A3? >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Ifer. Want to congratulate the following retiree. Da

1123
05:50:55.520 --> 05:51:10.958
Adajuma, a pair of professional at West Orange High School for his 12 years of service. Thank you for your service to the West Orange students and our school community. Best wishes to you on behalf of the board of education and welcome to the club where every day is Saturday. Is there any discussion on personnel?

1124
05:51:10.958 --> 05:51:26.480
Seeing none, Miss Flowers, please take the role. >> Dr. Bryant, >> yes. >> Mr. Ker, >> yes. >> Mr. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Vice President Vera, >> abstain. All right, President Rock. >> Uh, yes. >> Thank you.

1125
05:51:26.480 --> 05:51:42.878
>> Next. May I have a motion to approve the curriculum and instruction items B1 through B2? >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Is there a second? Sec. Uh, any discussion? Seeing none, Miss Flowers, would you please take the roll call?

1126
05:51:42.878 --> 05:51:58.320
>> Dr. Bryant, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson, >> yes. >> Vice President Vera, >> yes. President Brock. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> The next one for the business office items.

1127
05:51:58.320 --> 05:52:14.240
>> All right. Uh may I have a motion to approve the finance items C special services items A 1 through 4 and business office items B 1 through 15. >> So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Is there a second? Thank you, Mr. Ker. Uh one item of note here is a motion B9.

1128
05:52:14.240 --> 05:52:30.080
This is a resolution to approve the student meal pricing for next year 2627. The administration would like to acknowledge and thank Matios, the district's food service management company, for their commitment to supporting our school community. In an effort to assist families in the district, Matios has agreed to keep the guarantee unchanged for the upcoming

1129
05:52:30.080 --> 05:52:47.040
school year, even without a meal price increase. Despite rising operational costs, Matios will make the necessary adjustments to ensure continued delivery of high-quality meals and reliable service. This decision reflects a strong partnership and a shared dedication to the well-being of our students and community. Um, this would also include

1130
05:52:47.040 --> 05:53:05.040
the budgets. Was there any other discussion that members would like to make about that? Mr. Stevenson, >> I have no comment. >> Dr. Bryant, >> no comment. >> I think we've said plenty in our uh uh comments before. Uh so if there's no

1131
05:53:05.040 --> 05:53:20.400
other discussion, Miss Flowers, would you please take the roll call? >> Dr. Bryant? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ker? >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson? >> Yes. >> Vice President Barra? >> Yes. President Rock. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Finally, may I have a motion to approve

1132
05:53:20.400 --> 05:53:37.760
reports items D1 through three? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Is there a second? Sec. Thank you, Mr. Ifer. Is there any discussion? Um, real quick, this isn't in this line, but uh, Redwood parents that have reached

1133
05:53:37.760 --> 05:53:55.360
out uh to me and to I don't know if they reached out to you. President Rock and I visited Redwood. There's a traffic issue around Redwood uh that is different than any other uh traffic uh around any other school. Uh we're

1134
05:53:55.360 --> 05:54:12.798
working to to figure that out. We've we we've heard you. We're meeting with the city's engineering department and with uh the council people to attempt to find some solution that works for the residents around Redwood and for uh the

1135
05:54:12.798 --> 05:54:28.638
more than 100 parents that pick up their kids every day and drop them off. So, just wanted to acknowledge that. My apology to those parents. >> Thank you. Any other discussion on this last motion? Miss Flowers, please take the role. >> Dr. Mr. Bryant. >> Yes.

1136
05:54:28.638 --> 05:54:44.400
>> Mr. Ifer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Vice President Vera. >> Yes. >> President Rock. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Right. Thank you very much to my board colleagues for that. Uh next up, we will have petitions and hearings of citizens. For any agenda or non-aggenda items that you wish to discuss, you will have three

1137
05:54:44.400 --> 05:55:00.320
minutes to speak. Please approach the podium at this time. State your name and municipality for the record. >> Um Deb Cohen, 26 years in the district. Uh Madison. Couple of things. You can't run a district on hope. That's not how

1138
05:55:00.320 --> 05:55:16.798
you do that. I was on a school board. There's a budget for a reason. And hope doesn't do it. And then running on hope. Thank you, Cookie. Running on hope for our most vulnerable students is disgusting. And I'm just going to say it. And I know you don't like that you're being yelled at and that you don't like that we're using

1139
05:55:16.798 --> 05:55:32.558
words you don't like and don't feel you should have. I've been called worse. I sit on the town council now. I sat on board of ed. I've heard it all, too. It's it's not acceptable. We have paras that change diapers of seniors and 18 to 21 year olds.

1140
05:55:32.558 --> 05:55:49.440
We have selectively mute students that the only person they talk to is their parah and that's after having them for six years in a row as they follow them through. Hope does not cut it. So that's number one. Number two, I'm going to be real honest, Hayden. You and I have a

1141
05:55:49.440 --> 05:56:04.878
relationship that goes back a long time. We've been through a lot together. no response at all to any of this. You've shown anger. You've shown frustration. And you're just going to let four hours of public comment go without saying

1142
05:56:04.878 --> 05:56:22.080
anything to about it other than this sucks and it's hard. And it is hard. I don't deny it. I never want to be a superintendent. But I have a real issue that you know we heard from the board members which was nice but ultimately it's your recommendation of the budget although they're supposed to be helping you and

1143
05:56:22.080 --> 05:56:36.878
you didn't even respond. I have an issue with that. >> That's okay. I don't run from anything and I'll be happy to respond. I did a lot of responding and I did a lot of telling you that there is no uh this isn't just like oh make these tough

1144
05:56:36.878 --> 05:56:52.558
decisions. They've been contemplated. They are difficult but they are necessary to close the budget gap. It is a and someone said you're like a business guy now. You're not like the old principal and so forth. And perhaps

1145
05:56:52.558 --> 05:57:06.878
you're right, but I not just being a business guy. I have to take a look at what I'm I've now been responsible for as I this is my third

1146
05:57:06.878 --> 05:57:24.558
year actually one and a half because I started half a year my first year. So this is my this is going into my third year and I've seen the fiscal pattern that we were experiencing and we have to

1147
05:57:24.558 --> 05:57:41.520
engage in some type of remedi remedy and you know I can only give you an idea of how I can do that going forward for next year and how I can close that budget gap. As far as plans are

1148
05:57:41.520 --> 05:57:57.760
concerned, plans are a collaborative effort which would include Miss Jackson and the other principles and the other administrators and the other supervisors. Although I understand um

1149
05:57:57.760 --> 05:58:15.360
Mr. Stevens's words when he uses the word hope, it is our intent to do what's correct, but we will for sure do what's right by the kids. We will for sure follow the law. We will for sure follow IEPs as I come. That's where I

1150
05:58:15.360 --> 05:58:32.240
originated from. And I don't have much comment to offer that would not that would give any kind of perhaps satisfaction for the crowd that's before me.

1151
05:58:32.240 --> 05:58:49.520
>> And so when you're saying no comment, no more. Well, I'm a person that lives off of the truth. And I told you the truth. And I told you what I needed to do to do what I have what in order to close the budget because I have no choice but to close that deficit in order for us to

1152
05:58:49.520 --> 05:59:05.360
move forward. I I've told you when I first got here, you're not going to like every decision that's being made. Wasn't expecting it to be this one. Wasn't expected to be this big. I was hoping that it would be like my career has always been in the past where

1153
05:59:05.360 --> 05:59:22.400
I'm able to figure it out, move on and and do the right things. But sometimes you face great barriers. What do you want me to do other than to give you my level best and my honest truth? I get it. Let's have meetings.

1154
05:59:22.400 --> 05:59:39.240
Let's bring people in perhaps. But what's before me right this moment is closing a for a $13.5 million deficit which is unprecedented

1155
05:59:39.440 --> 06:00:01.200
because we didn't see that before. And I've heard people say to Mr. Well, I appreciate you talking about not raising the taxes as I and I appreciate what you said as I understand that there may be others that are struggling and can't Well, I hear from them

1156
06:00:01.200 --> 06:00:17.520
and I hear from other parent groups other than the the Gregory group. Great. Well, I 100% agree. But I'm friends with a lot of parents that look very different than you, that look like you, all of that. And they have opinions, too. But they're not coming to the mic

1157
06:00:17.520 --> 06:00:33.360
to say, "I can't do it. I'm going to struggle." No one's doing that. That's not real. People that have the ability to do that come to the mic and say they'll do that. And that's okay.

1158
06:00:33.360 --> 06:00:48.480
But there's other half. And there's more people that live here than just the people that can do that. And if we don't, and maybe you're right, breaking a budget might take time and a little more collaboration, but we're as we process

1159
06:00:48.480 --> 06:01:04.000
through it and go step by step and deal with it. Not I know plans aren't perfect, but maybe we'll see where we are this time around. And if we need to go to referendum for the next or raise taxes next, well, you already knew that

1160
06:01:04.000 --> 06:01:20.558
we tried it one way, we tried it another, and now this is another. There's there's things that we've used, but it's not to say we don't want collaboration. It's just to say that all our efforts aren't in vain. And they and I've heard before it's so incremental

1161
06:01:20.558 --> 06:01:37.440
and methodical. And I tried to tell you, think of it as me trying to be thoughtful about the process because no one wanted to get here. But here is inevitable. And in a crowd here where there are a

1162
06:01:37.440 --> 06:01:53.600
few people, there's 7,000 students. You can imagine how many parents and we hear from a crowd that is of course um pro uh you know taxes, pro parish, which I am too. I'm not against that. I don't want to make that decision. Pro no

1163
06:01:53.600 --> 06:02:10.080
cuts. I understand that. But all of that is easy to say except there's another side that's the fiscal side that has no there is no options there. That side has

1164
06:02:10.080 --> 06:02:27.360
to be met. And all I'm asking is if you don't agree or not agree, at least expand your mind to understand and take a look at what and why these things are being done and not just

1165
06:02:27.360 --> 06:02:43.680
anger or stories of memories. I've affected a lot of kids in this in this town. I've impacted a lot of lives, but it doesn't close the fiscal budget. And that and healthc care, you couldn't

1166
06:02:43.680 --> 06:02:59.840
be more right, has thrown a monkey wrench into what we have. But that's not not real. Why are you so accepting of Spirit Airlines closing themselves down and f

1167
06:02:59.840 --> 06:03:18.240
and just firing 300 people or school districts like Montlair going down in the middle of the year or Hackinack and not understand that we're heading for a fiscal collapse and I'm saying let's do something

1168
06:03:18.240 --> 06:03:42.400
now because I want a tomorrow. >> Mr. Moore, I want to thank you. >> What do you want to tell me? >> Thank I just want to I just want to >> I'm sorry. I'm sorry. >> Fine. But I think all of us

1169
06:03:42.400 --> 06:03:58.080
>> I understand question. >> I think we would all be more open to that if we could see >> I understand what That's what you said. >> Yeah, you said that times. I get it. But I'm telling you, >> but I'm not telling you something that

1170
06:03:58.080 --> 06:04:14.480
doesn't exist. That's all I'm saying. >> All right. Well, if we all agree on that, where we are today is what exists today. >> So, Mr. Moore, thank you for giving some context to what I said. It's unfortunate that my use of the word hope was

1171
06:04:14.480 --> 06:04:30.320
mischaracterized as a pjorative. That's not what my intent was. What what what I said that we hope it doesn't change, right? What what we meant by that was Mr. Moore talked at the last meeting about creating a pathway trying to work to build

1172
06:04:30.320 --> 06:04:45.440
something however insufficient people might think it is a pathway to try to create continuity. So the so the hope is you hope that pair of professionals currently employed by the district

1173
06:04:45.440 --> 06:05:01.600
may come under the outsourcing. You hope that people stay although there may be better opportunities. That's the reality. You hope that kids now as people look for other jobs or jobs

1174
06:05:01.600 --> 06:05:17.600
change or teachers uh retire you hope. That's what I meant that there is always the hope that there is very little disruption to services provided by kid for kids

1175
06:05:17.600 --> 06:05:34.240
year after year day after day as people talked about Mr. Cola talked about, you know, substitute coming in. The the hope is that there isn't some great departure from what kids receive. That that that is what I meant. So, I apologize if it

1176
06:05:34.240 --> 06:05:51.040
was not fully understood. >> Sorry, Mr. Fridge. Go ahead. >> Eric Fridge, 37 Fairview Avenue. Um, it was never said that raising the taxes more would close the budget deficit. Like, obviously, we know it there. No one's saying there's not hard choices. I

1177
06:05:51.040 --> 06:06:06.320
am fully sympathetic to the hard choices you have to make. And I understand. I am not mad at you for making the hard choices. I'm mad at you for making it harder than it needs to be. If you raise the taxes the most you can, it's not going to close the budget, but maybe it

1178
06:06:06.320 --> 06:06:21.040
saves a few positions. It makes it a little bit less hard. We're This is like an austerity like posture you guys are taking. I want a school system. I have a son in the school system. I have a daughter who will be in the school system. I believe in public schools. I don't like private schools. I think

1179
06:06:21.040 --> 06:06:38.558
they're bad for the country. I don't like private schools. I want the public school system to be amazing. And I'm not sitting here happy with, well, we're going to have to cut this year and we're going to have to cut this year. Like, I understand the reality, but do what needs to be done. You are shielding

1180
06:06:38.558 --> 06:06:55.920
taxpayers from the realities of inflation for no reason. Property taxes are schools, municipal, and county, right? Why is it that the children are the ones who are bearing the brunt of it? Raise the taxes to what they need to be in your domain to do your job. Let

1181
06:06:55.920 --> 06:07:11.520
the people complain to the town. Let the people complain to the county. Does anybody even talk to people in the county? No, they don't. If they were that worried, they would. Thanks. Um, first of all, you you're

1182
06:07:11.520 --> 06:07:27.280
you're very concerned that not everybody can pay the taxes. First off, people who do not uh own homes do not pay property taxes. So, they're not the ones who are bearing the brunt of it. And if you think, oh, well, they're just going to raise rents, then you think that the rents are below market value now. Do you

1183
06:07:27.280 --> 06:07:43.280
think that there's just like a magic amount of rent that could be raised, but landlords are just not doing it? No. Rents are at the highest they could be right now because all landlords are trying to make money. That's what any of us would do if we were trying to make money. Um, so there's no reason for you

1184
06:07:43.280 --> 06:08:03.760
guys to not table this now and >> you should have tabled this now and or waited to hear comments again about rape. Like if you need to do um a referendum, then so be it. So be it.

1185
06:08:03.760 --> 06:08:20.320
like why would you not let us try to uh rally people to vote for that? Why would you not want us to save these schools? There's no reason to not do the best we can. I know you guys are making hard decisions and I'm not saying they're not

1186
06:08:20.320 --> 06:08:39.760
and I'm not criticizing the choices you're making except that you're leaving money on the table and making it worse than it needs to be. Even if it's just a little bit, it's worse than it needs to be for not a real game. >> Just just to clarify, the board is not

1187
06:08:39.760 --> 06:08:55.280
taking any additional action. We we do have public comment for anyone that wants to give final thoughts. So, but yes, go ahead. And the threeminut rule still applies. >> Thank you. Julie Bookbinder again, Colmore Circle. Um, following up on a point from earlier which was discussed

1188
06:08:55.280 --> 06:09:12.480
by the board with respect to the detailed budget, Mr. Stevenson asked in Miss Flowers who directed everyone to the budget website section of the board website. The detailed the long the full form detailed line item budget is not

1189
06:09:12.480 --> 06:09:33.040
there for any years. So I would request and encourage that to be made public as soon as possible. Thanks. So noted as it was >> not a user friendly one. That's a summary. >> Hi, my name is Jordan Pensky, Sunnyside Road. Um I

1190
06:09:33.040 --> 06:09:49.440
wanted to first say that um you brought up that you have been forced to make hard conversations with your children who have been experiencing talk in schools about what's going on. But one,

1191
06:09:49.440 --> 06:10:06.798
why are we not educating them when it affects them as well? Their peers are losing their support. And those support systems also allow that there to be a bridge between kids in regular classes and the special ed

1192
06:10:06.798 --> 06:10:23.760
classes and allows them to have better education of what each class is. And what do you expect everyone to do when they have to tell these kids that they're not getting the support that they need? Are you going to have those

1193
06:10:23.760 --> 06:10:38.798
conversations with them? Cuz now all these people have to have conversations with their children, with their kids that they watch every single day that they're not getting the support. Also, one of the points that you brought

1194
06:10:38.798 --> 06:10:55.200
up was a lot of people supported and really cheered on Mr. Moore to be voted in. Um, if you had asked me however many years ago when he got voted in that I would have supported

1195
06:10:55.200 --> 06:11:15.040
this if I saw this, it would not go the same way. This is not what I expected and I don't think this is the right choice that should have been made. And I think a lot of people would agree. >> Thank you so much for your comments

1196
06:11:15.040 --> 06:11:37.600
because it actually gives me an opportunity to elaborate on something that I didn't mention on purpose. >> Oh, is this the thing where we police a black woman's tone? I'd like to finish.

1197
06:11:37.600 --> 06:12:04.718
May I finish? Is my is May I finish? So, I know the young woman said you and I think she meant plurally, but I'm the only one who spoke about my own child in her classroom. And one of the things that we didn't address, although the names were called,

1198
06:12:04.718 --> 06:12:22.000
were the fact that the dean and the sack person were removed from the high school in a time where our mental health in the high school is really suffering. No one brought it up. Their names were called at this microphone.

1199
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No one brought it up. There's been fights in the high school. There was a gun found two weeks ago. There was a magazine found. No one brought it up. It didn't come up. But we lost our dean and a substance abuse counselor.

1200
06:12:38.958 --> 06:12:54.480
Two other counselors in two other schools as well. No one. No one brought up the mental health of our students. So, am I talking to my child about what's happening? Absolutely.

1201
06:12:54.480 --> 06:13:10.400
Am I telling my black daughter about tone policing and about those who say what she can say and what she can't and about thinking for herself? I absolutely am every day

1202
06:13:10.400 --> 06:13:33.360
and twice on Sundays. Hello, I'm Kim Fields Murphy. I live in West Orange and I work in the district 21 years. I wanted to share just a few points and I'm going to reduce the length of my um message. Consistency builds

1203
06:13:33.360 --> 06:13:50.400
relationships and relationships are built through consistency. And that consistent relationship allows our experienced, knowledgeable, trained paras to be able to anticipate the needs of our students, some of whom are

1204
06:13:50.400 --> 06:14:06.718
extremely vulnerable due to being non-verbal or having an alternate communication style. And our paras can meet those needs. Um, another point I really want to bring up is the need for a power is driven by

1205
06:14:06.718 --> 06:14:24.638
an IEP, which is a legal document and it's intended to be confidential or contains critical and confidential information. The powers are expected to read the IEPs of the students for whom they'll be providing services. So by

1206
06:14:24.638 --> 06:14:41.360
having a transient population of contract powers, are those people then expected to read our confidential information about our students each time they come into the building and provide services to our students.

1207
06:14:41.360 --> 06:14:56.878
Um, another point that I'll bring up is a lot of our athletic teams in district are award-winning and they're coached by Paris. We take a lot of pride in our banners

1208
06:14:56.878 --> 06:15:13.280
and our trophies and our articles stating how well we've done. Those programs will also be greatly impacted. But the IEP issue and the confidentiality and the safety of our

1209
06:15:13.280 --> 06:15:39.120
very vulnerable students is critical and that can't be met by a contract person. Thank you. >> Good evening, Todd Deovi, Renette Terrace. I I want to thank you guys. Um,

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specifically, Mr. Stevenson, during your response, you provide, you were the first one and only one actually up here who has provided detail, specific instances of detail that went

1211
06:15:54.558 --> 06:16:10.480
into your thought process behind your decision. That is what you're hearing from everybody up here that we aren't getting. We don't we don't have a line by line budget. The

1212
06:16:10.480 --> 06:16:26.718
budget that you said was on the on the s on the the website. It's 34 pages every single year. It's a 34 page budget for a 200 or $160 million budget. The town

1213
06:16:26.718 --> 06:16:45.120
budget is only 110 and it's 200 pages. I have it. I have several years in my files because I'm working on that trying to get through it and understand and help this town cut things that can be cut. But you have not provided a

1214
06:16:45.120 --> 06:17:04.240
detailed budget. And numerous people have come up here and said that. And not one of you has really even addressed that in your comments. You folks are elected as fiduciaries. I speak to that specifically because my

1215
06:17:04.240 --> 06:17:20.240
entire career has been as a corporate fiduciary for JP Morgan, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Bessemer Trust Company. What that the significance behind that is because I as a professional asset manager was responsible for the

1216
06:17:20.240 --> 06:17:37.120
management of other people's money. That's exactly what you folks are there for. You're managing our taxpayer dollars and how they're spent. Full respect, that's a difficult job. It's maybe even impossible.

1217
06:17:37.120 --> 06:17:51.120
But for you to be able to do your job properly and do it in a way that the township doesn't come out angry at you

1218
06:17:51.120 --> 06:18:09.200
is be is by providing background and information for us to be able to absorb and understand. So we can kind of figure out what is in your heads as to why you're making the decisions you're making.

1219
06:18:09.200 --> 06:18:24.878
That is the only way to protect yourself from criticism. I spent 30 years protecting myself from litigation from everybody who was trying to criticize those decisions that I made as a fiduciary.

1220
06:18:24.878 --> 06:18:40.000
You have the same obligation. But you have not done that in this process. you have not presented us with a budget. That's the first step. But then you need to have discussions and more

1221
06:18:40.000 --> 06:18:59.760
than that you have to present to us the plan. Everybody keeps talking about a plan. You've presented no plan. >> Thank you Mr. D. >> Thank you. >> Caroline Matias. I live on Freeman Place. Um, this is my first board of

1222
06:18:59.760 --> 06:19:16.240
education meeting and I want to address everyone. I would I want us to work together better. I want us to work more collaboratively. I've been a little bit surprised by the it's it's an intense year. It's an intense crisis. I mean, there are $40 million and I believe even

1223
06:19:16.240 --> 06:19:32.878
if we all work together, we might not find $13.5 million. So, I need to admit that. Um, so let's be collaborative. let's be solutionoriented um and not point fingers and not excuse

1224
06:19:32.878 --> 06:19:47.920
things but re really work towards what can we do better in the future. So I hear on the taxes I learned something as I mentioned before that you know not everyone on West Orange might be able to afford a tax increase even though that

1225
06:19:47.920 --> 06:20:03.440
is one of many different ideas that um the parent group had. Um I do think that transparency as well as you know taking the help that we offer are things that could be accept

1226
06:20:03.440 --> 06:20:20.080
across all social dynamics economics. I think that is something that where we can finally come together and work on different ideas. Um this gentleman there over um in purple he's created a whole

1227
06:20:20.080 --> 06:20:36.320
website which is full of thoughts and ideas and new thought starters and I want us to think differently like my day job is in innovation I need to problem solve with a cross functional team of different experts every day and this

1228
06:20:36.320 --> 06:20:51.920
requires new ideas new solutions things that we haven't done before and this crisis warrants it so let's please starts to have a conversation, work together and come up with ideas that might seem crazy. We haven't done them before. There are laws that might stand

1229
06:20:51.920 --> 06:21:09.440
in a way, but we can, as I we can break it apart systematically and step by step work towards a solution. I I don't only believe in it. I've seen it happen in in my life before. So, I wouldn't even be standing here. I mean, I'm not from here

1230
06:21:09.440 --> 06:21:30.798
and I'm here now if I didn't work surgically towards like step by step to get here. So, thank you, Michaela Bennett, Old Indian Road. So, um,

1231
06:21:30.798 --> 06:21:48.878
the I I went online, Miss Flowers, and I looked at the budgets that are available. They're they're summaries. They're not budgets. Uh, the budget for the township lists every single employees name, salary, longevity, all

1232
06:21:48.878 --> 06:22:06.638
of that spelled out. And when you make that available to the people, they see how the money is spent. So, I strongly urge you to do that. Make sure that the people of this community, you can put a draft budget, but make sure that the people of this community know how their

1233
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money is being spent. Um, there is, you know, people sometimes get upset about it, but then at least they know how it's being spent. Um, I would strongly encourage you to I I sent you an email with my comments

1234
06:22:24.320 --> 06:22:41.440
that I had prepared. There's three suggestions in that email. Um, you know, I would ask that you share. I'd sent it to you, Mr. Moore. Um, just with the limited time that's left, uh, nonbudget, I mean, sorry, non um, agenda item, uh,

1235
06:22:41.440 --> 06:22:56.000
the snow removal. It was brought up at I I believe it was the last township council meeting. um that you had I it might have been the uh budget meeting, but it was at a recent township

1236
06:22:56.000 --> 06:23:17.760
meeting that you um secured snow removal as a result of township vendors and two items were brought up. But first, I would like to know how much you spent that way because as I understand it was 575 575 per truck um per hour and that's an

1237
06:23:17.760 --> 06:23:32.638
awful lot of money. I know the township was talking about an extra $2.3 million. So, I'd like to know what the two storms that you were illprepared for because you failed to secure a vendor for that. I would like to know what that cost all of us. Um, and then I would like to know

1238
06:23:32.638 --> 06:23:48.638
if you violated the rules around bidding by using the township vendor um, in that regard. So, I mean, I don't know that you can answer that now, but if somebody can just send an answer uh, regarding what happened with snow removal um, and

1239
06:23:48.638 --> 06:24:07.920
what you've looked into to make sure that it never happens again, I would appreciate that. Thank you. >> Hi there. Um, while I was in the audience, I was just going through some of my old emails because I when I first addressed you guys, I talked about the fact that I went to my child study team

1240
06:24:07.920 --> 06:24:22.718
and it's like, I think I need to sue you so that my son can get proper uh a proper education. So, I went back through my old emails to like cuz you know us parents, we talk, we share resources and such. And just so a little heads up,

1241
06:24:22.718 --> 06:24:40.160
they you gather data to show that the IEP is not being followed. And things you want to account for are missed hours, untrained staff, regression in progress. Do you guys not see what

1242
06:24:40.160 --> 06:24:56.000
you're setting yourselves up for? Because outsourcing paras you can I can all but guarantee you there would be missed hours. I can all but guarantee that there is going to be lots of untrained staff and I can certainly

1243
06:24:56.000 --> 06:25:15.840
guarantee there's going to be regression in progress. You're walking into an absolute litigation nightmare. >> Can I just ask you for a 20 second uh reminder? Explain to us again why we get

1244
06:25:15.840 --> 06:25:31.760
so little money and what how the state views us as a some kind of wealthy town since co and the the reappraisals of the houses. >> Yeah. Well, at the end of public comment I'll speak briefly about the form. Mr. Wack, go ahead.

1245
06:25:31.760 --> 06:25:48.638
>> Right. So I uh Jay Wacked uh East Hanover formerly of 36 Gilbert Place Roosevelt Middle School. I know most of you very well. Uh D, I don't know you very well, but Eric, Hayden, Brian,

1246
06:25:48.638 --> 06:26:05.440
Maria, Robert, Tanya, uh we've gone, you know, we we we've come a long way over the years. Um there's a lot I could say here, but um I think I I

1247
06:26:05.440 --> 06:26:21.760
think what I just need to address is the PAR situation. Um, and I have shared this with many of you. Um, but it for some reason, strangely, it has fallen on deaf ears.

1248
06:26:21.760 --> 06:26:38.798
Um, so let me just ask if I could suggest another way to save $3 million. Would you consider it? I think the answer would be yes. And I have suggested this. I have sent

1249
06:26:38.798 --> 06:26:54.958
emails. Um but again it doesn't seem to take maybe maybe my idea is not a good one and maybe it's not feasible but I think it is we have a supervisory department

1250
06:26:54.958 --> 06:27:10.958
I don't know how many members 20 maybe more who are supervisors many of whom I know um that department could be modified side.

1251
06:27:10.958 --> 06:27:28.320
Certainly, their salaries must add up to $3 million or more. If you were to modify the supervisory department to lead teachers instead, where uh the present 6 through 12

1252
06:27:28.320 --> 06:27:44.080
English supervisor uh was a teacher for many years, first at Roosevelt, then at the high school. he would go back into the classroom with a modified assignment.

1253
06:27:44.080 --> 06:28:01.200
Let's say uh for the high school, maybe he was normally teaching five classes, maybe he would teach three. With that extra time, he could do all the supervisory stuff that is required and he'd be receiving the salary of a

1254
06:28:01.200 --> 06:28:19.440
teacher and not of a supervisor. You could save over $3 million, I am sure. The uh the one caveat of course is that uh WEA members cannot evaluate each other. So the burden of the observations

1255
06:28:19.440 --> 06:28:36.400
would be on the administrators, the principles, assistant principles and and so on. Other than that, you're not paying all these supervisors salaries. It's got to be over $3 million. So keep

1256
06:28:36.400 --> 06:28:54.320
the Paris who are essential to the students and supervisors are a luxury that the district simply can't afford right now. But you can still modify the supervisory

1257
06:28:54.320 --> 06:29:10.798
department. They most of these people these men and women would not lose their jobs. They just have a different job. and you could keep the Paris. It's really something to think about.

1258
06:29:10.798 --> 06:29:25.840
>> Mr. Wood, >> yes. >> You're fully aware that this is not a topheavy district, that our central office employs 17 people and there are more

1259
06:29:25.840 --> 06:29:40.878
than,300 employees. Um you may or may not be aware that there has been a consolidation of duties within central office. The

1260
06:29:40.878 --> 06:29:55.360
central office roles or supervisors have not been replaced when people retire or transition out. You do also know having been a teacher

1261
06:29:55.360 --> 06:30:12.718
uh of ELA for as long as you were that there still is a requirement for observation and oversight. Uh for which I as a proponent and as a driver of curriculum changes at math and

1262
06:30:12.718 --> 06:30:30.080
ELA in this district believe in supervision and oversight. Uh so this is just the reality of the situation that we have already a very

1263
06:30:30.080 --> 06:30:47.440
lean central office compared to our neighboring districts. we still have an incumbent responsibility to do oversight, to do supervision, >> to ensure that u our data metrics continue to inform instruction and

1264
06:30:47.440 --> 06:31:03.840
everything else that that goes along with it. Um and the notion that as was said at the last meeting and on social media that there are a bunch of you know

1265
06:31:03.840 --> 06:31:19.600
not my words the words used in social media. A bunch of fat cats making big money in central office uh here in West Orange is certainly is certainly not the case. And you know, having been a a a

1266
06:31:19.600 --> 06:31:38.240
union representative that um salaries are tiered. People move through the guide. Supervisors who uh in most cases, not just here, become supervisors where previously teachers and move up the scale. And in many ways

1267
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that dictates what their what their salaries will be, dictates what their longevity is. Uh, and so it's not as if it's the NBA or Major League Baseball where you're where you're hiring, you know, you're you're recruited and paying

1268
06:31:53.840 --> 06:32:12.400
some superstar, right? You've got that uh discretion and salary. We don't this is progression through the guide as you know. And that is not the uh you you're alluding to that supervisors are the

1269
06:32:12.400 --> 06:32:29.840
cost center of around three million a $3 million savings when factually speaking the salary line is 40 times what you just mentioned

1270
06:32:29.840 --> 06:32:45.920
>> really >> $120 million. for supervisors, >> not for supervisors, for the salaries themselves. So your your suggestion of making the supervisors consolidating

1271
06:32:45.920 --> 06:33:03.200
positions, making them go back into the classrooms, you you that doesn't that doesn't eliminate still the need for for cuts. You're talking about double loading people, but the expenditure is still

1272
06:33:03.200 --> 06:33:18.320
there. >> Well, they would still be paid as teachers. Yes. >> So, what would be So, what would So, what would be the net change? >> You can't take away their salaries. >> Well, >> you're aware of that. >> Aren't Yes. But aren't can't you

1273
06:33:18.320 --> 06:33:34.240
eliminate the supervisory department? So, are you suggesting that a district with 7,000 students that teachers under the district's employee do not need supervision? >> No, I'm not suggesting that. In fact, I just suggested that you modify it to

1274
06:33:34.240 --> 06:33:51.680
lead teachers who supervise but aren't supervisors. >> Okay? >> That way, you're not you still have supervisory functions happening, but they're not supervisors. We are we would not be the only district

1275
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that has lead teachers. If you were to add up all the supervisors, I know there are at least two maybe well there's at least two ELA, right? 6 through 12 and K through five. And

1276
06:34:09.440 --> 06:34:27.040
uh you whatever we have for social studies and science and math and related arts and all the other you know I gota I gota imagine those supervisory salaries are if added up are very you know it's

1277
06:34:27.040 --> 06:34:43.040
got to be high right >> well last thing I'll say is that uh to Miss Bennett's question earlier uh and let me say as in as a board member If those budgets the the actual budgets are not there and I apologize as a board

1278
06:34:43.040 --> 06:34:59.040
member uh they should be there. Uh and I will ask a superintendent via email that the budgets for the previous six years. He had a slide with six years looking back the previous six years full budgets uh be published tomorrow. There's no

1279
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reason why they shouldn't be in full disclosure to the community. Uh Mr. to work on your my response and what my colleagues would say uh on its face your proposal doesn't meet the burden that you intend for or suggested it would it

1280
06:35:14.798 --> 06:35:31.200
just simply doesn't >> I you >> but I think your time has expired >> yeah well maybe we'll have to sit down sometime and and you can explain that to me because I don't see how it doesn't add up >> thank you sir >> okay >> thank you Mr. Um,

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seeing no one else, we'll close public comment briefly to Mr. Ifer's question about state aid. Uh, and I'll try to do this in 30 seconds or less. State the the biggest chunk of our aid equalization aid is a function of two numbers. Our adequacy budget, somebody from VOP, I think you were talking about

1282
06:35:47.280 --> 06:36:02.878
adequacy budget. One of you, I forget, it's a long time ago, this morning, this afternoon, whatever it was. Uh the adequacy budget is what the state says it should cost X to provide a thorough and efficient education to all of your students based on certain characteristics of the students within the district. Then they calculate the

1283
06:36:02.878 --> 06:36:18.558
local fair share. Why which is how much they say based on the district's wealth you should be able to raise in local property taxes. The difference of those two if you can raise less than that adequacy budget is equalization aid. The state provides that to us. um that

1284
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number itself the local fair share which is the more variable one is then dependent on two variables. One is equalized valuation of properties. They take how much our property wealth is now about 10 billion dollars. I think they multiply that by a number some little

1285
06:36:33.680 --> 06:36:50.558
percent and then they get another number and then the other half and that's really what it should be based on because we collect property taxes. So based on how much the property is worth, that's how much we can raise. But they also take the gross income of everyone that lives in town, add that up, it's about $3 billion. They multiply that by

1286
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another multiplier and then they average the two together. And the net effect is that if you just looked at property values and used that multiplier and ignored the income, we would have about $25 million more in equalization aid. Thank you. >> But if you just looked at our income and

1287
06:37:06.160 --> 06:37:22.558
forgot about property values at all, we would have no equalization aid. The problem is that income doesn't lead to any income. Income for residents doesn't lead to income for the district because we don't have an income tax. We don't have a payroll tax. income to people does not translate to income for the district, but property

1288
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values are what does. And so the the formula distorts that. And so there are some situated districts like us who are because of a few people that are wealthy bringing up that average income in town and then pushing down our equalization and the amount of aid that we get.

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>> Thank you very much. >> Might have been a minute, but we'll we'll just call it there. Uh thank you very much. Our next board meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. >> No, 6 6:30 close session. There's a

1290
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event earlier, so we had to push it back for an hour. So 6:30 is the close session. 7:30 will be the public session on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. Speeding will be held in the West Orange High School Auditorium. >> We will not be going into executive session after the close of this meeting. There will be no further business

1291
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discussed and no additional action will be taken. May I have a motion to adjurnn, >> please? >> Motion. >> Thank you, Mr. Igret. Is there a second? >> No. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Brian. All in favor? I. >> Thank you for all for joining us tonight. Our meeting is now adjourned.

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We wish you a good night.