Wayne Students, Parents, Blast School Officials Over Impending Cuts

WAYNE, NJ - Dozens of parents and students blasted the Board of Education Thursday night regarding possible cuts to extracurricular groups and sports programs at a standing-room only meeting.

At issue is implementing full-day kindergarten in the district, something 95 percent of all school districts in New Jersey already have, including every other district in Passaic County. More than $2.1 million is needed to fund the expansion in every one of the district’s nine elementary schools.

Residents voted down adding the funds to the budget in September 5,048 to 4,455. The Board of Education approved implementing the program, which was not on the meeting agenda, with a 6-2 vote Jan. 7. Now, officials must scramble to make cuts in the budget.

Dozens of students spoke about the importance of athletic and extracurricular programs, especially at Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley high schools.

“These programs shape us into who we are. You’re taking the one opportunity we have to express ourselves,” said Isabella Thomas, a freshman at Valley and the member of the school’s marching band and theater program. “You’d never cut math or science, but you’d cut these programs. It’s not a bunch of students playing music, we respect each other and help each other.”

‘These programs shape us into who we are. You’re taking the one opportunity we have to express ourselves.’ — Isabella Thomas, Wayne Valley freshman

Parents opined that adding another few hours of instruction to kindergarten will not help them in the long run nor will it make a difference regarding what college or university they attend.

“If our college acceptance rates decline and our secondary schools are not affording our students the opportunities, our property values will decline,” Eileen Domico said.

Students agreed.

“In reality, a 6-year-old going to school for a full day doesn’t matter,” said Kate Pavlak. “When we have nothing left, noting good can come out of it. You’re supposed to be fighting for all of us, not just some of us.”

Several athletes spoke about what high school sports have done for them personally.

“Work ethic, courage, football has taught me to set high standards for myself,” senior Mike Ludwig said. “Football has taught me to strive for greatness.”

The estimated maximum the tax levy could be for next school year’s budget is $143.2 million. As it stands now, the tax levy is exceeding that amount by about $10.2 million, according to estimated budget projections presented at the meeting.

Almost $6.4 million in possible reductions have already been proposed, including $2 million in capital equipment purchases and projects, $1 million in “general” budget reductions, and a savings of $500,000 in salary breakage. Breakage is when the district saves money due to not having to pay teacher or staff who leave the district and hiring people with lower salaries to replace them.

Other possible reductions include: Reducing the number of administrators and eliminating the Environmental Education program and the Meadowlands field trip, a potential savings of $345,000.

Reinstituting activity fees, at a cost of $300 per family, is also a possibility. Doing so could mean a gain of $300,000, according to the district.

Even after all the possible budget reductions, another $3.8 million is necessary to get to the $10.2 million in cuts needed.

If voters had approved raising the tax levy $2.1 million to fund full-day kindergarten, the average homeowner’s school tax bill would have increased by about $47. A dedicated group of parents worked tirelessly for months to get as many residents to approve the referendum.

‘We are essentially saying that we’re going to give them half of what we give every other kindergartener in this county.’ — Seth Ruderman, full-day kindergarten supporter

“Nobody who is in favor of full-day kindergarten is in favor of cutting programs at the high school level,” said Seth Ruderman, a long-time supporter of bringing full-day kindergarten to Wayne. “Kids are expected to show up to first grade knowing how to read and we are essentially saying that we’re going to give them half of what we give every other kindergartener in this county.”

Preliminary budgets and updates will be presented to the public Feb. 18 and April 21. A preliminary budget must be submitted to Robert H. Davis, interim executive county superintendent by March 22.

Davis spoke about what some said was a poorly-wording referendum question regarding full-day kindergarten.

“The public was conducting a referendum to approve a $2 million increase over the 2 percent increase cap,” Davis said. “If the district had simply asked: Do you want a full-day kindergarten, you might have gotten approval.”

Wayne Superintendent Mark Toback said that the referendum question was reviewed by legal counsel and worded so as not to be misleading.

“We don’t really have any say it how it was worded,” Toback said. “The referendum has to have more information in it than just a simple question.”

Davis must review and approve the 21 Passaic County school district budgets before they are implemented. He said the board can approve the addition of full-day kindergarten if the budget comes in under the 2 percent cap.

However, Davis said, the budget must meeting the “constitutional mandate of a thorough and efficient education.”

“You can’t just arbiteraly take money from somewhere that denies children a thorough and efficient system,” Davis said. “They can’t provide full-day kindergarten if they can’t provide a thorough and efficient education elsewhere.”

Some people blamed the Board of Education for rushing to vote on the matter during the first meeting of the year. They said the vote was done to fulfil campaign promises.

Toback said a process was in place for administrators to discuss the method of possibly putting in full-day kindergarten with the board at a future meeting.

“We felt that by going through the process, we would have put the board in the best position possible to come to a good decision,” Toback said.

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Related: Board of Education Approves Full-Day Kindergarten For September

Related: Wayne Full-Day Kindergarten Brings With It Budget Cuts