West Milford parents, students protest potential school closings
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
WEST MILFORD — Nearly 50 parents and students marched in a biting mist outside town hall Wednesday afternoon to protest a school board proposal for massive tax cuts likely potentially leading to closing one of six elementary schools by September.
Children held signs saying “I’m not a tax dollar, I’m your future” while adults hoisted posters calling trustees “The Board of Dread.” Some motorists traveling Union Valley Road beeped while others ignored the group.
“We want to make people aware of what’s going on,” said parent Sharon Brooks. “Classrooms are already overcrowded. How does closing a school help my child?”
The plan to cut almost $2.5 million from the voter-defeated school tax for 2010-11, including closing a school if need be, was introduced by newly elected school board Vice President James Foody at last week’s annual board reorganization. Four other trustees supported Foody — making up a majority — and they issued the directive to Superintendent Bernice Colefield to find ways to reduce the district’s $68.5 million budget.
“We have 800 less kids than we did five years ago,” Foody said earlier Wednesday. “I think we can close a school and free up resources that can be used in other areas.”
Foody, who won a board term along with David Richards and his wife, Donna Richards, in the April 20 election, waged a campaign that encouraged voters to defeat the proposed $50.6 million general fund tax levy. They promised to eliminate waste they say exists in the district.
Hours after being sworn in, the new trustees joined fellow board members John Aiello and Barbara Carter in issuing the directive. Foody noted it was Colefield’s idea to close a school.
Colefield conceded last week she initially included closing a school with other items as possible ways to reduce costs after she found out the state was cutting $3.2 million in aid for the school year.
“But I made that list back in February and March,” Colefield said. “Here it is May and they want to close a school in three months. That’s insane.”
Colefield was out of the district Wednesday and couldn’t be reached.
The Township Council is expected to lop $750,000 — the equivalent of about 5 cents per $100 on the tax
TYSON TRISH / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Buy this photoWest Milford public school students Katie Scala, left, and Erica Martin make their case to passing motorists while protesting school budget cuts in front of town hall.
“We want to make people aware of what’s going on,” said parent Sharon Brooks. “Classrooms are already overcrowded. How does closing a school help my child?”
The plan to cut almost $2.5 million from the voter-defeated school tax for 2010-11, including closing a school if need be, was introduced by newly elected school board Vice President James Foody at last week’s annual board reorganization. Four other trustees supported Foody — making up a majority — and they issued the directive to Superintendent Bernice Colefield to find ways to reduce the district’s $68.5 million budget.
“We have 800 less kids than we did five years ago,” Foody said earlier Wednesday. “I think we can close a school and free up resources that can be used in other areas.”
TYSON TRISH / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Buy this photoWest Milford public school students and parents protest school budget cuts.
Hours after being sworn in, the new trustees joined fellow board members John Aiello and Barbara Carter in issuing the directive. Foody noted it was Colefield’s idea to close a school.
Colefield conceded last week she initially included closing a school with other items as possible ways to reduce costs after she found out the state was cutting $3.2 million in aid for the school year.
“But I made that list back in February and March,” Colefield said. “Here it is May and they want to close a school in three months. That’s insane.”
Colefield was out of the district Wednesday and couldn’t be reached.
The Township Council is expected to lop $750,000 — the equivalent of about 5 cents per $100 on the tax