East Orange, N.J. school district lets out early after vote to lay off nearly 100 employees
EAST ORANGE, N.J. - Schools in East Orange, New Jersey are on a half day schedule Thursday after the district announced it will be laying off nearly 100 employees.
The school district posted on its website shortly before classes began, saying, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, all schools will be on a half day schedule today, October 17th. We apologize for the late notice."
Parents and students told CBS News New York at drop-off they were blindsided by the news. They said they worry about class sizes and, most of all, the quality of education students will receive.
"What can we do? Unless they're going to increase our taxes, what are we going to pay them? Because if the budget is not there, that's the real issue," parents Keyonda Williams said.
Williams has two children in the district and said the already packed classrooms will only get more crowded.
"It does make us a little bit worried, because now we're going to have our kids more condensed than they were. Because if they don't have the teachers for the classrooms, which already have about 30 students a class, now how many kids are going to be in a class per teacher?" she said.
Her daughter, Niah Anderson-Elliott, said her math teacher was among the cuts.
"Really that's my favorite teacher, and she helps me understand more better with math. I sometimes have a hard time with math, and she breaks it down for me," the daughter said.
Williams added it's another blow to kids who may already be behind because of the pandemic.
East Orange school district says there is no other way
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving, who has only been on the job for three months, says unfortunately there was no other choice.
The district entered this school year with a $5 million budget deficit and has been spending over budget for 2024-2025. Without cuts, it won't be able to make payroll by the spring.
"We want to get out of this place that we are in. But to do that, we have to make some really tough decisions," said the superintendent.
Nonetheless, parents and staff are still furious with the decision. It was an emotional scene at Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting, where the school board voted to eliminate 93 positions that include Spanish and substitute teachers, literacy and math coaches and social workers.
East Orange rallies at board of education meeting
In anticipation of the bad news, district staff and students protested outside the district building ahead of the meeting – but it did little to change the outcome.
"I've been in education 20-plus years and I've never seen this happen," East Orange Education Association President Keith Hinton said.
"We're already understaffed, and now our students are facing the ordeal of having buildings with even less teachers, which means even more crowded classes and less help and support," said district employee Shakinah Lavendar.
Teachers say they were already struggling with no pay increases for the last four years, and now dozens of them will be left without a job.
"I want to see kids get the best, but I also know in order for my children to get the best, each and every one of these folks gotta get the best," parent Dr. Louis C. Mosley said.
"The whole East Orange community should have a vote and say in this," added seventh grader Mehki Scudder.
Many expressed a loss of confidence in the school district, and other community members are demanding a state investigation.
