Board of Ed Adopts $83.7 Million Budget; Community Reacts to Proposed Custodial Cuts

The adopted a proposed $83,673,140 school budget Monday night that includes a $73,158,200 tax levy—an increase of 1.75 percent from 2010—and cuts in custodial staff that drew impassioned reaction from attendees at a packed auditorium as well as a pre-hearing protest outside of .

Superintendent Bruce Watson said the school budget, which goes out to residents for an April 27 vote, should reflect three things: the financial responsibility and accountability of those who manage the budget, how Fair Lawn measures up to nearby and similar school districts, and evidence that local students are learning and achieving because of the district's actions and "not just talk."

Scroll down to the table at the end of this story for an overview of the budget.

Watson detailed a decade of financial obstacles for the school district, including failed budgets in 2002-03 and 2005-06 and a decrease of $4.1 million in state aid last year. The district is "being asked to do a great deal more with a great deal less," Board of Education member Joshua Gillenson said.

Pointing to the figures in his Power Point presentation, Watson emphasized that the school district is "in the people business" and is "spending [the budget funds] on people."

"We work with education and the effect on your children, out students," Watson said. "That's what we're dedicated to doing."

"I know not everybody is going to agree that we're financially responsible," the superintendent added. "I think we are."

The cutting of seven custodians, along with the future possibility of Fair Lawn schools outsourcing custodial services, was the issue that drew the most criticism from audience members during the time for public comments.

Additionally, outside the high school before the hearing, teachers and maintenance workers protested the district's exploration of privatizing custodial services outside. The contracts for school custodians expire in June and "we're still in flux" with negotiations," Board of Education President Eugene Banta said. 

Gene Kuffel, president of the Fair Lawn Education Association, told Patch outside the high school that "when you take a look at custodians in any school, I think it's important to know that anyone who comes into a school is part of a family," and that "having people who are part of your family is critical."

"It's just like a house," Kuffel said. "You don't let a stanger into your house to just stay there, and so we want to make sure that the students and the staff are safe and secure, and to do what needs to be done for their education."

Resident Diana A. Mele said during that public comments portion of the hearing that in tight budget times, the lowest-paid employees—such as custodians, food handlers, and transportation workers—have become a "target" even though they "work hard to serve our children and take pride in the school system as well."

Gene Packer, a former Board of Education member, said the board explored privatizing custodial services while he served on it.

"If we outsource custodial work with a private contractor, we will lose control over who is inside our building," Packer said.

Board of Education member Ron Barbarulo said "I commend the custodians. The schools are excellent. They're clean. And they go beyond just cleaning the schools." However, "people aren't happy" when there are cuts in any area during tough economic times, Barbarulo said.

Reacting to what audience members had to say about the custodian issue, Barbarulo urged the crowd to "please show up at public meetings" and "please bring your suggestions and bring your ideas" because the board is always open to ideas. But those who don't have solutions should "be considerate and don't just start criticizing people that are doing a job and giving up a lot of time for the children of Fair Lawn."

Here is a table with key figures from the board's 2011-12 adopted school budget:

REVENUE

EXPENDITURES