Schools face a $26 million obstacle

While divergent opinions are a way of life in this city, I think most residents would agree that Paterson public schools is a district in need of improvement. Indeed, as state district superintendent, my charge is to change that, and I will. But a large obstacle has been looming since my arrival, and now threatens to undo the foundation of our efforts to turn this district around.

The obstacle I'm referring to is a budgetary shortfall of $26 million.

Folks, this isn't a budget crunch or a budget crisis, this is truly a budget tragedy. Why? Because many important programs that were planned, acquired and implemented to help our students read and write, succeed and graduate, are at jeopardy of being dismantled or discontinued, faster than you can say shortfall.

The current "flat funding" received from Trenton left us looking for many ways to cover the increased cost of insurance, supplies, maintenance and more. Annual negotiations on the state level added an additional $20 million in salary and benefits costs.

The result: all so-called "optional" programs and initiatives are at risk of being cut back or discontinued. My staff is dedicated and hard-working, so I believe we will continue to move forward, but where there are costs, there will be cuts, and progress will be impeded.

Let's look at a few of the programs and initiatives now on hold or at risk of being reduced.

• Summer school, field trips, community programs and recreational programs will all be affected.
• A powerful new data assessment system, designed to help teachers direct their instruction to specific student needs, may be set aside.
• Our new Alternate Education Program for older students is on hold.
• The number of pupils in our classrooms will rise, while the departmentalization of classes, allowing elementary children to have a math and language arts teacher, will be scaled back.
• One of the most significant programs that may be impacted is the Secondary Education Initiative.
• We have lost the funds needed for classroom resources and staff training -- both essential to building smaller learning communities.
• Staff development activities created to build leadership and expertise, such as our Emergent Leaders program, will be impacted.
• Non-union employees in the district may not see their usual annual pay increase.

A prominent dilemma lies in the area of employee layoffs.

Faced with flat funding last year, we utilized openings that arose from retirements and resignations in order to avoid layoffs. That is how I intend to proceed. Not only do I believe that it is wrong to issue wholesale layoffs when there are other alternatives, but additional vacancies would only contribute to instability in a district where we need to stay the course.

To me, the $26 million shortfall represents an obstacle that separates our children from the programs they desperately need. It stands in the way of the growth and the challenges our staff members thrive on and bring back to the classroom. And, it threatens to undermine a new era of promise and optimism in Paterson, as we have just begin to witness the results of much hard work.

As Norman Vincent Peale (1898-1993) said: "Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them."

Let's put our heads together as a community and try to rectify this situation. We all agree that our children need a better chance. How do we work around the obstacle and make it happen?