>i do not agree one bit. i have three young children and i do care very much about the schools. but to say there is no fat is laughable.
first of all, teachers are still getting raises this year that probably cost $1m. i know they have contracts but contracts are meant to be reopened when they needed. Other towns did it. Ridgewood can too.
second, the empire building being done right now with the bond issuance is insane. we can’t maintain our current physical plant on the regular operating budget (hence the deferred maintenance in the bond) but we are ADDING MORE TO THE PLANT with the bond. give me a break. turf, bleachers, dozen classrooms, etc. It’s fat.
I’ve had this argument a dozen times on this blog. People have said, things are different now, we need more space, etc. I think that is b.s. The people that say we need all of this shit are probably adding on to their mcmansion-wannabe and trying to get 100% lot coverage past the zoning board. kids do not need all of this stuff.
this is going to bankrupt the town and its residents.
so, in my opinion, there is more to cut. reopen teacher contracts. reopen administrator packages (i.e. fishbein), cut back on the proposed expenditures from the bond referendum.
that would be a start.
when i said there is fat, there is more than just the basic salaries. the benefits need to be cut asap. no normal orgnization would stand for 20+% benefit cost growth. cut back on the bennys and/or make the teachers pay more (if they pay anything at all).
btw i pay over $5k for my share of my medical from work. teachers have to suck it up.
the real answer to the negotiations with the union is coming:
state negotiators appointed to the towns to negotiate the teacher contracts.
this will level the playing field.
no more amateurs at the BOE taking on professional negotiators.
this is what i hear is coming down the road from a reliable source in trenton.
-Thed.
