Ridgewood School District Proposes New Budget Cuts

March 22, 2010

The Ridgewood school district proposed new budget cuts on the heels of Governor Christie’s budget address earlier this week.

About 40 residents gathered in the Education Center boardroom at a special meeting Friday evening as district officials announced a new wave of potential cuts totaling $2.9 million.

Ridgewood learned on Thursday afternoon that it would receive no state aid for its 2010/2011 school budget. The district received about $2.9 million in state aid for the 2009/2010 budget, but will not see any of those funds for the 2010/2011 school year.

Ridgewood Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein conducted a PowerPoint presentation Friday evening outlining cuts totaling $3.9 million, and asked the Ridgewood Board of Education for input on how to shave down that list to $2.9 million in order to reach the state-mandated 4 percent tax levy cap. Board members discussed the possibility of raising the tax increase above the 4 percent cap to bring some relief. The district would need a waiver in order to raise the increase above the 4 percent cap.

The proposed cuts, which were in addition to cuts proposed last week, include: Teacher/parent conferences ($57,060); two additional supervisors ($205,183); reading recovery ($191,865); an art teacher from either one of the two middle schools ($88,898); director of curriculum ($149,907); one elementary school teacher and two middle school teachers ($212,660); two middle school guidance coun selors ($134,709); additional secretary cuts ($136,708); elementary instructional music ($199,981); 8.5 elementary school teachers ($510,000); flattening out special education purchases ($38,252); capital fund ($850,000); one utility person ($38,893); one staff developer ($59,000); one public information officer ($36,894); one crisis counselor ($82,283); and one middle school assistant principal ($104,813). Officials also proposed increasing student activity fees by $122,000.

Board members discussed each cut line by line during the three-hour meeting, some showing their frustration with the lack of time to present a final budget after learning about the elimination of state aid.

The district will hold a hearing on Monday, March 22 to introduce the preliminary 2010/11 budget. The meeting location has been changed to the Ridgewood High School Campus Center.

After approval by the BOE, the preliminary budget will go to the Executive County Superintendent (ECS). When the ECS approves the budget, the BOE will then hold a legally mandated official public hearing. That hearing will be held on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the Education Center.

"The rebellious side of me wants to tell the state that we can’t give them an answer right now," said board member Michele Lenhard, after which the audience applauded. "We have responsible board members, and we can’t do a responsible job right now."

Board President Joseph Vallerini expressed concern over an imbalance of class size in the district. Fishbein said with the proposed cuts, class size would likely be unbalanced.

Before Friday’s meeting, Fishbein issued a letter via e-mail to village parents, telling them that "professionally and personally, this is the most difficult budget I have had to deliver to a Board of Education in all the years I have been a superintendent."

"Unfortunately, public school districts just aren’t able to create new, meaningful revenue streams, so reducing expenditures has to be our primary focus in balancing the budget," he wrote. "The types of cuts and dollar amounts are unprecedented."

Ridgewood, he said, "is not an ‘average’ school district. It is an outstanding one. Every single idea for a budget cut reflects the loss of a person and/or a program that contributes to what makes us exceptional here in Ridgewood."

Fishbein emphasized that "ultimately, every budget cut that will be made is my decision."

"I would prefer to remain the focus of discontent rather than see our cohesive community be jeopardized from discord between parents and teachers; between teachers and teachers; or between teachers and administrators," he stated in his letter. "It’s normal to be angry and upset. But I urge you to refrain from directing negative emotions towards our faculty and staff."

Last week, district administrators announced the need to cut 40 school employees in order to eliminate a $3.3 million deficit, which grew by $2.9 million this week.

Before receiving news of the loss of state aid, school officials predicted that administration could see $221,736 in cuts, including the elimination of three positions. For grades 1 through 5, an $81,738 potential reduction in salaries is listed; for grades 5 through 8, a $282,813 reduction in salaries might be necessary; and for grades 9 through 12, a salary reduction of $224,944 could be on the horizon.

"The Ridgewood Board of Education is now confronted by the largest budget cuts in the district’s 116-year history," according to a statement issued by the district on Thursday afternoon.