[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6204196,"mediaKeyId","3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2","parentId",3780244,"title","Parents, teachers and students urge board to restore library services and support-staff hours after cuts","audioSeconds",4113,"startMs",6156000,"endMs",10269000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2&start=6156&end=10269","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2/thumbnail_6156000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204196/New-Jersey/Parents-teachers-and-students-urge-board-to-restore-library-services-and-support-staff-hours-after-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204196-c79d81bae6e1d2ebe8b3726ba5a40342/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189677&Signature=o94wEmDbV8mx3TixVj6FN7XEZW-VIWAlEg98sQWCpzN9qZ1qP3cQcYdIBLH-Kc7jkw-0E7RcoPyIpgvw4rDl9dWprvASqVL3uoztXpMmESL4SC2qXFEQT2s0qxO9aldAlCoxWgy93b2eVmfK1VXRNXYQTxAw5ztsO7VQhEf-HlHsSnYs9nyf5j3-hDEeV5vWo5NZyi9GojiXaf7YGTph3T6b9LIGF6dXRneMbPVTgsclukiZixHDmQ5muueXXJ4W2T03kwaAuBLA5MNdruHmhDfsG8XklfvMaFF2FlRm9Dyv2dgABPjwLkLzaMi-lNy4sa6tSEGsN3JeqT5nPF59Mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Township School District","date","2025-06-12T08:14:26.67Z","article","Dozens of parents, teachers, students and union leaders urged the Washington Township Board of Education on June 10 to reverse recent staffing changes that cut hours and health benefits for hourly support employees and reduce library services at several elementary schools.

Speakers described classroom-by-classroom impacts, safety concerns around arrivals and dismissals, and the loss of weekly library access for elementary students. Several Whitman Elementary students and staff urged the board to keep their librarian at the school full time.

Why it matters: District administrators say the changes respond to state certification guidance and budget constraints, but teachers and parents say the cuts will lower program quality and may push some students into out‑of‑district placements — a more costly outcome that could increase special‑education spending.

School staff and parents described multiple, concrete effects. Courtney Stumpf, an art teacher at Whitman Elementary, said library assistants were already cut and librarians have been asked this year to teach “media studies,” combining library and basic computer instruction on top of library duties. Students and teachers said one librarian serving two elementary buildings would mean each school gets library instruction only half the year. “How can one person effectively teach over a thousand students at one time?” Stumpf asked.

Several Whitman students gave short statements about the school librarian, saying she spends extra hours organizing the library, buys books with her own money, runs Read Across America and helps students who cannot afford books at home. “Without library, kids will not be able to get the books that keep them busy and occupied,” student speakers said.

District response: A district staff member said the change was driven by a New Jersey Department of Education certification issue announced in March. The district says the state will require a new digital‑literacy certificate to teach certain standards beginning in 2027; employees without a grandfathered certification would need multiple undergraduate courses to be certified, and those costs would fall to the teacher. The district said one vacant position and difficulty recruiting certified media specialists influenced the decision to have remaining librarians alternate between schools or teach a semester at each site.

Special‑education and paraprofessional reductions drew particular attention. Melissa Chalme, a teacher in a multiple‑disabilities classroom, said 24 specialized assistants were reduced to 5.75‑hour positions and therefore lost employer health benefits. That change, she said, removes “vital” minutes that are used for safe arrival, feeding, toileting and other supports required by students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Paraprofessionals, she said, are usually assigned 1:1 and cannot be replaced by temporary substitutes without risking students’ safety and educational progress.

Angela Teruso, president of the support‑staff association, said the recent cuts affected dozens of workers: custodial positions were eliminated, food‑service roles were reduced from full time to part time, and 59 support‑staff employees in total were affected by changes in hours and benefits. Teruso said many of those employees have long service records and that losing health coverage makes it financially impossible for some to remain employed.

Teachers and parents warned that loss of consistent aides and interventionists will increase referrals to out‑of‑district placement, at higher cost to the district, or leave students without legally required services. Several speakers — including school nurses and special‑education teachers — stressed that aide coverage matters from the bus stop through dismissal and that even 15 minutes can be essential to student safety and instruction.

Board and administration reaction: Board members said they have been receiving many public comments and that some staffing decisions came from the superintendent’s March recommendations. Board members also said they were constrained by the budget process and by the timing of state guidance. Several asked administration to search for alternatives and to return detailed plans showing how safety and IEP compliance will be maintained.

What’s next: Administrators told the board they will continue to review schedule options, meet with librarians about semester/alternating schedules and examine whether grant or levy funds can restore positions. Union leaders and some board members asked for a follow‑up meeting to revisit staffing and for clearer, line‑by‑line budget detail before the next school year.

Votes and formal actions at the June 10 meeting reflected the urgency of personnel items. The board voted earlier in the meeting to move several human-resources agenda items up and later approved a large package of personnel actions (see “Votes at a glance” below). Several board members registered abstentions or conditioned votes on receiving a “not to exceed” dollar amount for contract or consultant line items.

Ending: Commenters asked the board to prioritize keeping students in district and preserving the daily supports that schools provide. Speakers said the cuts are already affecting trust between staff and administration and asked the board to restore hours or benefits where possible.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington Township Public Schools Board of Education 6/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents, teachers, students and union leaders urged the Washington Township Board of Education on June 10 to reverse recent staffing changes that cut hours and health benefits for hourly support employees and reduce library services at several elementary schools.","taxTitle","Washington Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",38343,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6204186,"Board suspends five‑minute public comment limit for June 10 meeting amid high turnout",372,955000,1327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2&start=955&end=1327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2/thumbnail_955000.jpg","/articles/6204186/New-Jersey/Board-suspends-fiveminute-public-comment-limit-for-June-10-meeting-amid-high-turnout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204186-f9e23dff6265a80d59a7be86e29472b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189677&Signature=WJ-m2vpDE6ASagpIvEAipRwPBjZkjwZdmM6FkPQEixIE~BS6vt9ieshoeT7baD6zjp2FfmdF1U2y8tAalJB-CjEKcRxW7yq8F-0hgAPEC6mf1W4sQ~tUQuqRJa7XK~hhuwQjhmWRtooLH-SHI~cXnjT8o0ykFkE2U6iImwQhmRRZDM55JEjUxa8yvwXXg3ZcNk6g01KMf89VrXEMl2pZQX5ue~wT95m5j-mPt92RaI8z5gOrFm~~A8TpE~T63gYIpS9mGVUaVZWdjhUC7kBWmdtA3ASHYkAtDzY9s6JE8q~~QRTeyM0KTsY911kYr4kEVBOjUFcZA2ETflE3eMq~~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Township Board of Education voted on June 10 to suspend the usual five‑minute public‑comment time limit for that meeting, allowing speakers unlimited time that evening.

The motion: A board member moved to temporarily eliminate the five‑minute clock and allow speakers to address agenda and non‑agenda items with no time cap for the June 10 public session. The maker said the change was for this meeting only and that board policy would remain unchanged going forward.

Why the board acted: Board members said they wanted to hear concerns fully because many staff, parents and students were in attendance. The meeting included lengthy public comment on staffing, library services and budget decisions, and several board members said the exception was intended to avoid cutting off speakers who were sharing urgent or personal testimony.

Roll call vote: The motion passed by roll call, 7–1. The recorded votes were: Mrs. Baker — yes; Mrs. Bloom — yes; Mrs. Clancy — no; Mrs. Chilla — yes; Mrs. Hartung — yes; Mr. Serrano — yes; Mr. Ross — yes; Ms. Kazempo — yes.

Scope and limits: The board chair stated the relaxation applied only to June 10; the board’s public‑participation policy was not changed permanently that night. At least one board member asked administrators to consider whether policy changes should be handled through committee work rather than ad‑hoc suspensions.

Ending: The temporary suspension preceded several hours of public testimony; board members later moved into executive session and then returned to act on personnel items.
","Facing a large public turnout and extended testimony, the Washington Township Board of Education voted to suspend its five‑minute public comment rule for the June 10 meeting. The temporary change applied only to that meeting and passed by roll call.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6204190,"Audit finds accounting weaknesses; NJEA delivers critical review as board and administration discuss corrective actions",2783,8832000,11615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2&start=8832&end=11615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3780244-12e1ce0d13adbaafc91da4c9c9ba27d2/thumbnail_8832000.jpg","/articles/6204190/New-Jersey/Audit-finds-accounting-weaknesses-NJEA-delivers-critical-review-as-board-and-administration-discuss-corrective-actions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204190-bce43359869e274f04eb8fb845f74a4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771189677&Signature=Z8FIE3KxL6hSadUIKthJhjiTTDLWU1tbZ7oq8v9vb2KVQgyoo3D3hHU6llVJkIHfncgLV7Flod~ODXrZVTE0Cra~pNJT84p-mAjWiHneHo~hUYU96BOhNAIQ0Delinu-4y8lNFtCjGq4r2SqIGwzhdJdzrS6H-QR-o~97ySh1zo3VCrlYylJyTXGdz2yJ6fsNYpMD38Cm3YG4Cw3xlSaO6VBxu0Z-dD~4vcTaN4KgQxN7mC4h1ErjCe7qepavNRJ2TlZmQcfABylc4StLQcUdT1PM1CzR~L5AvuJdeGdkievYQm0oflmsh~HnnpyHEx0o~u7sOUpsAw~f-c-YesoWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A third‑party audit and a union‑commissioned analysis dominated discussion at the Washington Township Board of Education on June 10, when union representatives and the district’s auditor raised concerns about fiscal controls and several board members requested a detailed follow‑up.

The audit and union presentations: Two speakers from the New Jersey Education Association delivered a review of district fiscal practices and the audit results. Lou Randazzo, NJEA field representative, described the audit as “very eye opening” and said it identified several troubling accounting lapses. Greg Yorty, associate director of research for NJEA, gave a line‑by‑line summary of figures he said were pulled from the auditor’s report and the district’s state filings.

Key findings described during public comment and by union presenters included:
- The audit noted unrecorded state aid and receivables on the order of $6.5 million, according to union remarks quoting the Bowman & Company report. The auditors also found payroll and accrued‑salary items that were not properly recorded, and a lack of readily available general‑ledger detail in some funds (the performing arts enterprise fund was cited).
- Union analysts argued these gaps showed a pattern of overspending and weak internal controls. They said the district’s operating budget rose substantially in recent years and that audit findings support closer scrutiny of the business office.

District response: Janine Wechter, who spoke at length about the audit, said the district moved financial systems during the year and that staff turnover left some ledger support incomplete at the time auditors requested backing records. She said auditors had the corrected figures and that the audited financial statements themselves are accurate; the audit’s findings, she said, in several cases reflected timing issues tied to the software migration and to state guidance on year‑end reporting. Wechter told the board that a corrective action plan is being drafted and that the auditor will return to committee for review; she said the plan will be reviewed and accepted by the board at a later public meeting.

Public‑session exchange: Board members asked whether there was any “hidden” or remaining surplus; the auditor reportedly told board members in executive session that there was not. Several board members and union representatives urged a head‑to‑head session in which the auditor and the union’s financial staff could review findings and assumptions together. The union offered to meet with the board and administration to explain its analysis and said it may file challenges to some personnel and policy decisions tied to the budget process.

What the audit said (as cited by union presenters): Union representatives read aloud specific audit excerpts that described missing or improperly recorded receivables and payroll items, and an auditor comment that, for some accounts, the business office could not provide subsidiary records because staff did not have access to the accounting system. The union presenters argued that lapses of that kind create a “significant likelihood” that material misstatements could remain undetected without corrective action.

Next steps: The district said it will complete the corrective action plan, present it to the board for review and post the final audit and plan to state reporting channels per normal procedure. Board members asked for a follow‑up committee discussion with the auditor and for the administration to supply clearer line‑by‑line explanations of variances that were identified in the audit.

Ending: The auditor’s findings and the union’s analysis raised questions about district financial oversight at a time of politically sensitive staffing decisions. Board members asked administration to pursue transparency and to schedule the auditor and union analysts for a joint briefing so that elected members can compare methodologies and numbers.
","A Bowman & Company audit and presentations from union research staff highlighted accounting and internal‑control issues, including unrecorded state aid and payroll discrepancies. District officials said migration to new financial software and year‑end cutoff timing contributed to the findings; a corrective action plan is underway.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, teachers and students urge board to restore library services and support-staff hours after cuts

Board suspends five‑minute public comment limit for June 10 meeting amid high turnout

Audit finds accounting weaknesses; NJEA delivers critical review as board and administration discuss corrective actions