Schools

School Budget Calls for Reduction in Classroom Aides

Board of Ed looks to reduce approximately 15 classroom aides from full-time to part-time status.

As part of a cost saving measure, the Fort Lee Board of Education is looking to save taxpayers approximately $300,000 in salaries and benefits by reducing some of its 87 classroom aides from full-time to part-time status in the 2013-2014 school budget.

Under consideration is a cut of approximately 15 classroom aides district-wide from full-time to part time status. According to Business Administrator Cheryl Balletto, who those aides are and where those cuts will be made has yet to be determined.

Speaking in support of keeping the aides full-time at last week's meeting of the Board of Education, special education teacher from School No. 1 and treasurer of the Fort Lee Education Association, Howard Lipoff, said, "It's so disturbing to do a short-sighted move to cut [the aides] to part-time positions."

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Lipoff said that as a special educaiton teacher he has worked with a number of aides over the years. "Believe me," he said. "the children will suffer because of this cutback."

He urged the Board to rethink this measure and try to find some other options to deal with this situation. "When I look at a budget of $62 million and see that this is a cut of $300,000, it seems a very small percentage of the budget."

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"I think that if the Board took some time I would think there are other options that could be found to save that money," Lipoff said.

Lipoff told the Board that by eliminating benefits and reducing salaries, many of the aides will leave the district in search of full-time employment.

Asking the Board to reconsider their decision, Lipoff said, "I see as a special ed teacher that [the aides] are some of the most important staff members. They are essential to many of our students who have real needs and need support."

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