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Parents and union leaders press Washington Township board over cuts and raises as motion to drop law firm fails
Summary
Residents and union representatives criticized recent cuts to middle-school programs and staffing, urged the board to delay nonunit raises, and pushed the board to replace Bush Law Firm; the board voted to table nonunit raises but rejected a motion to give the law firm a 30‑day notice.
Dozens of residents, school staff and union officials used the Washington Township Board of Education meeting to press elected members over recent program cuts, staffing shortages and rising legal costs, culminating in a failed effort to remove the district’s outside counsel.
Several speakers said cuts to student programs and staff are already affecting students. "My son will not get to wrestle this year," Mary Williams told the board during public comment, describing the loss of the middle-school wrestling program. April Renzetti, identified in the meeting as the vice president of a township educators’ organization, criticized staffing decisions and pay practices, saying, "You cut 50 assistants 15 minutes to not pay health benefits," and raised concerns about multiple special-education sections lacking permanent teachers.
Patty Soukalas, speaking for the WTA, asked the board to table agenda item 38 — a proposed set of raises for nonunit employees — while three bargaining units remain unratified. The board later voted to table item 38 at the human resources portion of the meeting.
Committee and board business then moved into votes on a variety of consent, finance and human-resources items. Finance motions carried for many docket items but several numbered finance items (23–27) drew abstentions and failed in part; the minutes record those mixed outcomes.
A separate motion in new business to give the Bush Law Firm 30 days’ notice and seek new legal counsel drew extensive discussion. Proponents argued the firm’s advice had led to costly outcomes; opponents warned of disruption during live negotiations and ongoing matters. The motion failed in a roll-call vote.
Union leaders and residents cast the meeting as a moment to demand more accountability on resource decisions and legal spending. Jerry Taraschi, a union president, asked why administrators and board supporters were not doing more to address what he described as "the deterioration of this district," while other speakers asked the board to examine legal expenditures and whether different counsel could reduce costs.
Board members scheduled and referred multiple items for committee review: the tabled nonunit raises will be placed on a future executive agenda; CSA (chief school administrator) goals and any personnel concerns were referred to personnel and executive committees for further review.
Votes at a glance: the board tabled the nonunit raises (item 38); approved a number of human-resources, special-education and student-activities items; most finance items 1–22 passed while items 23–27 failed or drew abstentions; the motion to give Bush Law Firm 30 days’ notice failed.
