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Holmdel board signals RFP review for subcontracting options; staff and parents push back
Summary
Board leaders say they will explore requests for proposals to evaluate potential subcontracting of positions after contract expiration; staff, union leaders and parents urged the board not to outsource paraprofessionals, secretaries and custodial staff.
The Holmdel Township Board of Education acknowledged it has notified the district’s bargaining unit that it will examine subcontracting options and will solicit requests for proposals (RFPs) to assess whether outsourcing could reduce costs. Board President Demari told the public the notice and potential RFP process are a statutory step to investigate options and not an immediate elimination of positions.
“This is not true. In fact, all of our current paraprofessionals are on the agenda for approval in tonight's meeting,” President Demari said, addressing circulating misinformation. He and administrators said no decisions have been made and the board intends to complete a cost-benefit analysis before taking any action.
Union leaders and scores of staff and parents urged the board to remove outsourcing from consideration. Nina Decker, a parent of a child with complex needs, told the board: “Paraprofessionals are not optional. They are not interchangeable. They are not temp workers. They are essential.” Decker described how a long-term paraprofessional supports her child’s daily care and learning.
Denise King, past president of the Holmdel Township Education Association and current Monmouth County Education Association president, said the board’s notices to the state and public that it would seek bids for several classifications prompted staff and community concern. King said privatization “removes [employees] from the direct supervision of this district and this board” and warned of service and safety risks based on past substitute staffing problems.
Patty DeSaro, president of the Holmdel Township Education Association, delivered the association’s account of notices the union received from the district’s attorney identifying target classifications and dates; she urged the board to “cease your plans for outsourcing for next year or any other future year.” The union and multiple staff members described specific safety and continuity concerns for special education students, citing personal examples of long-term paras, secretaries and custodial staff who know students, medical routines and building systems.
Superintendent Dr. Cascone said the administration will perform a “true cost-benefit analysis” and invited union leadership to participate in the RFP review process. The board noted it must explore options in the face of mounting budget pressure, but repeatedly said it prefers to preserve current staff when feasible.
Township representatives and other community members urged collaboration. Rocco Impreveduto, a township official in the audience, called for community dialogue and criticized outside social-media posts he said were inflaming the debate. President Demari and board members reiterated the district’s intent to remain transparent while balancing fiduciary obligations to taxpayers and program continuity.
The board said it put the local education association on formal notice in compliance with a 2020 law requiring such notice before soliciting bids after a contract’s expiration; the board also clarified that some agenda items that evening renewed employment for current staff.
No formal decision to subcontract or eliminate specific positions was made at the meeting; the board directed administration to continue the analysis and to involve the union in upcoming steps.
