Woodstown won't outsource school staff, superintendent says

Despite a budget deficit, outsourcing isn't going to happen, superintendent says. Watch video

WOODSTOWN -- Despite looking at outsourcing services that would replace staff as an option to balance budget deficit, the Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District Board of Education has officially decided against the possibility. 

Superintendent of Schools Tom Coleman confirmed Tuesday that the district has decided against bringing in outside sources to replace current staff in cafeteria and custodial departments.

The district began looking for ways to balance the budget due to a deficit from a decline in enrollment and an increase in expenditures, according to district administration.

District administration and the board of education began discussing job cuts and the potential of bringing outside services into the district.

Staff, members of the community and parents were moved by this potential and voiced concerns at the last board of education meeting, as well as posting signs throughout both Woodstown and Pilesgrove -- "Preserve the PRIDE - Keep ALL Our Staff."

Woodstown-Pilesgrove faced a $1.4 million deficit in the budget in May 2015, which led to layoffs. However, the budget remained at a deficit of $333,223, according to district administration.

Three teaching positions will be cut, as well as three paraprofessional jobs. The three teaching positions that are going to be eliminated occurred through natural attrition -- or retirements, according to Superintendent of Schools Tom Coleman. 

"We said from the beginning that we don't want to do this. We've tried for five years to keep this from happening. We have been open to ideas. We felt the community should have the opportunity to come out and express their opinions and feelings -- it was only fair to do that," Coleman said.

Cutting the three paraprofessional positions and eliminating the three teaching positions will help fill the gaps left in the budget, as well as a few miscellaneous changes.

The district cut more than 30 staff positions since 2010 and began looking at cuts in class-three maintenance, custodial, cafeteria and paraprofessional staff.

So, how did the district resolve this problem? Members of the association, custodial and cafeteria staff pulled their heads together and came up with suggestions for the district, including managing duties differently and finding ways to save money through giving up health benefits.

Managing custodial duties in a more sufficient way, and staff who opted out of their health plans and found other ways of coverage helped the district balance the budget needs, according to Coleman.

"The key here is with all these things is the true north -- do everything we can so it doesn't negatively impact our integrity. Going forward, we look forward to working with all these groups to come up with better resolutions and better ways to increase revenue," the superintendent added.

"We're not in a position to tell them to give up or switch their benefits. We were unaware there was a willingness. And with maintenance, they came to us with a plan," Coleman explained.

NJ school could face staff cuts

Hundreds attended the most recent board of education meeting last month addressed the board on the issue, claiming outsourcing was not the way to go.

"The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Education Association insisted from the beginning that we could collectively find solutions to the budget shortfall that did not involve privatizing positions. Privatization does not save money and compromises the fabric of public schools and their ties to the community," WPEA President Jesse Stemberger said Tuesday.

"Fortunately, the board and administration listened, and we came together and closed the gap. We regret that positions will be lost but we will continue to look for additional savings in order to bring those members back," Stemberger added.

The district will continue to navigate this issue going forward through meetings with different education associations and groups, according to the superintendent.

"I am very pleased with the decision. I think this has opened up a grand opportunity for us as a community to develop a more transparent relationship with the board of education and administration," Maricia Chiarelli, with Community Awareness Regarding Education (CARE), said.  

"I feel the board was very honest and very willing to hear what we had to say. Our work is far from done -- we have submitted several ideas to the district to generate revenue and how to avoid future issues with the budget," Chiarelli continued.