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Board approves consent agenda as staff reductions draw public pleas to reconsider
Summary
The Wood‑Ridge Board of Education approved a broad consent agenda including personnel actions while facing public comments and teacher pleas over planned reductions of 11 paraprofessionals, one teacher and two lunch aides that the superintendent said were needed to finalize the budget.
The Wood‑Ridge Board of Education approved a multi-item consent agenda on motions from the floor while public commenters and teachers asked the board to reconsider planned staff reductions that administration said were necessary to finalize the district budget.
Superintendent Mister Alvaro told trustees the district will take action that “will result in the reduction of force of 11 part‑time paraprofessionals, 1 teacher, and 2 lunch aids” to complete a budget the district submitted to the state. He said he had met with affected staff and “we will do everything we can to bring them back before the next school year begins.”
Why it matters: the cuts directly affect support staff who provide daily, often one‑on‑one assistance to students with individualized education programs (IEPs). Teachers and parents said those relationships are central to student stability and learning, especially for students with high anxiety and complex needs.
At the meeting, high‑school special education teacher Justine O’Brien urged trustees to “reconsider, laying off the 11 paraprofessionals in our district,” saying the staff “are the backbone of our strong special education programs” and asking the board to search for alternative solutions. Parent Denise Bogoch said two of her children rely on the same paraprofessional who has supported them for three years, and that removing that person “is going to rock her world.”
During a question from resident Melissa Cruz, the superintendent said, “There are no reductions in elementary generalist class sections for the next school year.” He said administrators would review IEPs and staffing needs immediately after the meeting and that he expects to rehire some affected staff if additional state funding is awarded over the summer.
The business administrator, Mister Lisa, reminded the board and public that the district’s extraordinary‑aid application for the 2024–25 cycle previously yielded approximately $740,000 in state aid for special education tuition and services, and that final award notices for the current application are not expected until July.
The consent agenda that included the personnel items passed by roll call; recorded affirmative votes included Mister Fallon, Missus Milano, Mister Biamanti and Mister Nieves. The superintendent stressed the board’s intent to minimize disruption and promised follow‑up as state funding clarity emerges.
Next steps: administration said it will review classroom and IEP staffing, pursue any additional state aid, and attempt to restore positions over the summer; trustees provided no further vote or amendment on restoring roles at the meeting.
