West Orange board advances 2026–27 budget after heated public opposition to proposed paraprofessional outsourcing

The West Orange Board of Education on May 4 presented a $26,821,351 general‑fund budget for 2026–27 and voted to advance the advertised budget to the county after hours of public comment and roll‑call votes.

The plan, presented by Superintendent Moore, frames a structural shortfall the administration quantified at roughly $13.5 million. Moore told the board unavoidable cost drivers include a planned 3.5% salary increase, transportation cost growth of 3.58%, special‑education tuition projected to rise about 6%, and insurance and health‑benefit spikes the administration described as in the mid‑teens percentage range. Moore said the district must consider staff reductions and program consolidations to protect core classroom instruction.

The superintendent also said the district was exploring outsourcing some paraprofessionals (PARs) as a potential cost‑saving measure. "Numbers don't lie," Moore said during the presentation, arguing the choices reflect a difficult fiscal reality and a duty to preserve student experience.

Why it matters: West Orange parents, teachers and disability‑advocacy groups called the PAR role essential for students who rely on consistent, trained one‑on‑one support. Speakers — including Josh Goldbar, president of the West Orange Education Association — warned that outsourcing would disrupt services for students with individualized education programs and would put low‑paid staff at financial risk.

"The budget that the board is voting on this evening will be destructive to West Orange," Goldbar told the board, urging members to reject the advertised plan.

Public response and requests: More than fifty residents spoke in an extended public‑comment period. Speakers repeatedly asked the board to publish a line‑by‑line budget and to create a community budget advisory committee to review contracts, technology spending and alternatives to layoffs. Parents and union representatives also cited items in the district's 2025 audit — including a payroll‑tax penalty and late reconciliations — as evidence that the community needs greater fiscal transparency before accepting large programmatic changes.

Board discussion and votes: Board members pressed the administration for details about reserves and capital spending. The business administrator said combined maintenance and capital reserves currently total about $3 million and told the board they would not cover multiple large emergencies. The administration said planned capital work had been reduced from an earlier $4 million proposal to about $1.8 million to help balance the budget.

After discussion the board approved routine personnel, curriculum and business/finance items by roll call. One personnel motion recorded Vice President Vera as abstaining; others carried by majority vote as recorded in the minutes.

What's next: The advertised budget will be submitted to the county as required by the New Jersey open public meetings law (cited in the meeting notice as NJSA 353‑5). Administration told the board and the public it will post the user‑friendly and detailed budget documents following the vote and continue outreach. Community groups said they will press for a community budget advisory committee and for further review of outsourcing proposals.

The board scheduled its next public meeting for June 16, 2026, and the administration said it will provide additional documentation to the public. The public comment record and the board's roll‑call votes are part of the official minutes filed with the county.