After reviewing Cresskill’s failed school budget, special consultant Joseph Martin has spoken.
He indicated that the Cresskill school district may have to rethink the following line items in its budget: a $20,000 purchase of equipment and supplies, a $50,000 salary breakage among teachers, a $65,000 middle school gym teacher hire and a $45,000 custodial hire.
"These choices, I think, fulfill the commitment to reduce the budget in response to the voter mandate," said Martin.
The third party consultant issued the recommendations at a May 7 meeting between the Council and school administrators. Council members are expected to approve the recommendations at a scheduled meeting May 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Local officials had appealed to Martin last year when voters defeated the 2007-2008 school budget. This year, the 2008-2009 school budget again missed voter approval April 15 in a vote 894-884.
As a result, the consultant has returned.
There were certain aspects of the budget Martin said that the Council cannot "tinker with" – namely teacher negotiations and special education obligations. Regular and special education instruction, tuition and support comprise 61.6 percent of the rejected budget, according to budget figures.
Where cuts can be made, said Martin, "The goal is to determine which cut has the most minimal impact."
The educational consultant did praise school administrators for exercising what he called "fiscal responsibility."
As outlined in the 2008-2009 budget, the district did provide for two new special education programs that return Cresskill students to their home districts. Except, the $270,000 that school officials said they expect to save from tuition and transportation will not take effect until future budget years, said Martin.
Parents lamented the school budget failure, with parent Patricia Brown asking Martin, "Are we ever going to get [these services] back?"
"It’s essential that you work harder to get the budget passed next year," said Martin in response. "Second part of the answer is, voters have spoken. And I believe unequivocally that if a budget goes down reductions are essential, [or] otherwise it makes a mockery of the process."
Mayor Benedict Romeo reminded school administrators and parents that in no way is the Council "pitted against the Board of Education."
He said that for the budget to pass next year, it is necessary to incorporate the ideas of all the people in the town.
"Let the Board of Education get input from those that are against the budget and let them become allies with them," said the mayor. "There’s nothing we want more than to get this budget to pass."
E-mail: gonzalezso@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6711
