HILLSBOROUGH: Staff cuts mark start of school year

By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
   Hillsborough Schools are prepared to open Tuesday, though with 66 fewer staff members than last year after aid reductions and a failed school budget forced the district to cut positions.
   The reductions included six intermediate school teachers, 16 elementary school teachers, 14 middle school teachers and eight high school teachers. Ten classroom assistants and 12 other staff members, including secretaries, child study team members and administrators, were cut as well.
   Of the cuts, 20 were made by not filling positions after staff retired, 44 were made by not renewing nontenured staff and two were forced reductions of tenured staff, according to the district.
   The cuts increased class sizes throughout all grades, though the district did not specify what the increases were.
   ”The Hillsborough Township Public Schools have been recognized by the state many times for an efficient budget and how well our students perform academically,” interim Superintendent Scott Rocco said. “However, there is no way to avoid the fact that these staff reductions will have an effect on the size of classes at all levels, and challenge us to continue to provide a similar level of services in the school district.”
   The reductions meant fewer summer projects, too, with the only projects being a $54,000 sidewalk replacement at Hillsborough High School, a $24,200 gym divider for the same school, and a $30,000 intercom system at Woodfern Elementary School. The improvements are expected to be finished for the start of school.