Union board approves budget resolutions after warning of up to $2.9 million in surprise‑billing claims; community objects to librarian, music cuts

The Union Township Board of Education approved a package of budget and personnel resolutions on a series of roll‑call votes after hearing that arbitration of out‑of‑network medical claims tied to the federal No Surprises Act has exposed the district to multiple large bills.

The superintendent presented the district’s final proposed budget and said district leaders face a combination of shrinking state aid and rapidly rising benefits costs. “We don’t control the increase in the health benefits,” the superintendent said in the presentation, calling the combination of a projected $5 million increase in benefits and roughly $1.6–1.7 million in recent state‑aid reductions unsustainable without program reductions.

Why it matters: District officials and the board said the No Surprises Act has solved a consumer problem but shifted financial risk to employers and health plans, making local budgeting unpredictable. Lisa Narcissis, the district’s insurance broker at Fair View Insurance, told the board that arbitration decisions have typically favored providers and that the district saw about $551,000 in such claims last year and was tracking as much as $2.9 million of potential claims that could be assigned to the employer side during the current plan cycle. “This is all coming down to dollars and cents that’s getting hit to the district,” Narcissis said.

The board voted in favor of multiple consent and committee blocks—covering education, fiscal and operational resolutions—after the administration recommended the cuts. Board members recorded affirmative roll‑call votes on the major blocks (E1–E9; F1–F13 and FB1–FB7; G1; O1–O7; P1–P5), with the chair noting several items had already been approved at work session.

What the cuts include: Administration proposals cited transportation route consolidation (estimated savings about $2.1 million), tightened health‑benefits forecasting (an additional $1.4 million of revenue on estimates), and reductions in non‑salary appropriations and personnel to close an earlier $9.8 million shortfall down to a balanced final plan. The district identified dozens of positions for reduction; union leaders and parents said the cut list eliminates roughly 33 educator positions, including elementary music teachers and certified school librarians.

Legal and compliance concerns: Speakers representing the New Jersey Association of School Librarians and the public argued that wholesale elimination of certified school‑library specialists would violate state standards. Beth Thomas, reading on behalf of association leadership, told the board that the New Jersey Administrative Code requires districts to provide library media services under the direction of certified school library media specialists and urged the board to retain those roles.

Public reaction: More than two dozen parents, teachers, students and union leaders spoke during the combined public‑comment period. James Moser, a long‑tenured theater teacher, accused the district of previous mismanagement and announced he would pursue remedies in court; Margaret Shannon, president of the union (UTA), urged the board to protect classroom staff rather than preserve administrative positions. Multiple student speakers said losing libraries and music would reduce opportunities and harm classroom engagement.

Board response and next steps: Board members repeatedly said the decisions were painful and, in their view, compelled by statute and fiscal reality. Board President Mrs. Scott Hayden read a statement acknowledging the district’s difficult choice to adopt a balanced budget while saying the board remained committed to high‑quality instruction. Administration said it will continue to seek grant funding, vendor repricing and advocacy at the state and federal level to reduce the district’s exposure and, if additional revenue or policy fixes arrive, officials may revisit personnel decisions.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows the board approved the meeting reordering and motions to accept minutes (with named abstentions on the March 24 minutes), and approved the advertised resolution blocks on final reading by roll call (majority yes votes recorded for the education, fiscal, negotiation, operations and personnel blocks). Several items were noted as previously adopted at the April work session. The board voted to enter executive session after the public meeting concluded.

What’s next: The board’s adopted package will be forwarded per statutory timelines; administrators said they will pursue contracted vendors to contest or reprice out‑of‑network claims, press state and federal representatives for policy remedies, and continue grant‑seeking. Community leaders continue to press the board for alternatives to cuts, including administrative consolidation, state loans or other stopgap funds.

The board did not set a new public hearing date on reopening positions; officials said any change would follow new revenue or policy developments.