Tom Chaves, Hillsborough
I was happy that the school budget was defeated, as it was in 59 percent of the elections in New Jersey.
My reasons for why this was a good result are numerous, not the least of which is that education in the schools will not be affected very much. What will be affected is the number of staffers and some programs. Seeing the teachers march up and down Route 206 several weeks before the election, I was amazed at the sense of entitlement that permeated the group. Also, the smugness.
Due to the teacher’s union’s power and the politicians it bought, schools have become bloated safe havens for well-paid teachers with benefits unheard of in the private sector. For example, teachers obviously work months less than most other workers and pay nothing toward excellent health benefits.
In addition, teachers receive extremely generous pensions.
But that is only part of the problem. Thirty-five years ago, I went to a high school that was roughly the same size as Hillsborough. We had a principal and vice principal; we did not have an extensive group of highly paid administrators.
My school had a good sports program. We had a head football coach and one assistant. In most sports, Hillsborough appears to have multiple coaches. In addition, the facilities and support seem to far exceed what is necessary. My high school had two undeated football teams that were state champions while I was there over four years so I am not clear why money is the prime explanation for Hillsborough’s well documented recent failures. Maybe its not the amount of money devoted to these programs. My Division III college does not have a turf field and survives (it was undefeated in 2009).
Given the priorities most schools have, it is likely that whatever cuts are made will not be across the board. Thus, underfunded programs like arts, theater, computer robotics and the like will probably suffer much more than sports. Likewise, teachers with less seniority will be laid off regardless of whether they are more competent. Of course, if the teacher’s union had agreed to a one-year wage freeze and to pay 1.5 percent of health costs (an unheard of percent in private businesses), layoffs could have been avoided.
Finally, it would be gratifying to hear from an administrator, teacher or parent, whose position on the school budget is not based solely on how it affects them directly.
