Hardyston school passes budget

HARDYSTON — The Hardyston Township School Board of Education passed the budget, while the debate about the reduction in preschool classes continued.

Board member Nick Demsak was the only dissenting vote

"Regardless of how it started, the students have benefitted from the program as it exists," he said "I cannot vote for a budget that cuts a special education teacher, especially given that we haven't met academic achievement progress targets in special education."

Teacher Terri Zinck asked what else had been cut from the budget, aside from the adjustments in the preschool program.

Business Administrator Jim Sekelsky said that the district had cut one teacher in integrated pre-kindergarten and one aide from the same program, as well as a nurse's aide in the elementary school. They also eliminated the budget line for a middle school library aide position that was vacant. The funds that were budgeted last year for the SWEEP School to Work Educational Experience Program were moved to the salary for a special education teacher that was taken from part-time to full-time status.

Parent Chris Romeo asked where the tax increase of $181,000 went, with all the cuts.

Sekelsky replied that a 2 percent raise for the teaching staff will take up $120,000, while another $107,250 is needed cover the increase in health benefits costs.

“Right off the bat, I'm already over,” he said.

The health care costs are a continuing concern, as the scale of payments made by the teachers for their health care has stopped, so there will be no additional funds after this year. This also doesn't include other increases, such as transportation, which will rise 2.6 percent, but is balanced by a settlement from a lawsuit about the middle school roof, which is going directly to tax abatement.

Most of the audience, however, was there to discuss their concerns about the preschool cuts, which leaves the program with one session each morning and afternoon for special education students, and possibly some general education students, depending on space.

David Sasso, the elementary school social worker, came again to register his objections.

“I understand that it is the purpose of the board to provide for the needs of the students in preschool disabilities program. We are supposed to provide the least restrictive environment and I don't believe that we can do that,”

According to special education law, the preschool disability class has to max out at 12 students per section, he continued. The district has 20 students starting in September, are evaluating three more students and according the early intervention program, there may be as many more as five.

“Given those numbers, it appears we won't have any general education students in the class,” Sekelsky said.

“There are no other general ed preschool classes in the district, so the special ed students will not be spending time with their peers,” he continued. If the IEP team determines that this is needed for a student and lacking, “The IEP team is now forced to look for the least-restrictive environment outside of the district. It could be a private preschool or another public school. This is not the decisions of the district, this is the law.”

In those cases, the district would pay for the tuition and transportation costs for those students.

“I'm not going to have a child study team meeting at this meeting," Chief School Administrator Richard Corbett said. "I have an email from you indicating 16 students. Based on that, I have no concerns based on the law. The integrated program, as intended, has been vetted by the attorney. You can stand up and quote all the law you want, but I'm going to rely on the attorney.”

He also said that the district has a contingency plan based on a larger influx of students.

Parent Lorenzo Grandioso asked exactly what the backup plan is and where would the funding be coming from. Corbett said the program would be expanded with a part-time teacher, depending on how many students came into the program. In regards to funding, Sekelsky said the preschool tuition for general education students would be increased from the current rate of $230 to a rate that would help compensate for the cost. He also said Principal John Brennan has written to the state regarding how Title I funding can be applied to certain services, which would free up some funds.

“It's a situation in flux. It really depends on how many students come in and how many hours are needed,” he said.

Bringing in a part-time teacher and a part-time aide will cost the district $32,000.

Another parent, Danielle Romeo, said that she wasn't sure it would work either.

“I have three kids in three different programs, including the special education preschool and the general education preschool," he said. "I've seen the different classes and this is not going to work. You have different children with different abilities in each class.”

Robyn Stoll, a speech-language therapist in the district, said she was anxious about standing up at the meeting but had the same concerns.

“When you have all the preschool children in one room, it won't be OK," he said. "It will be a mess.”

Romeo also addressed the concerns of many parents when she said that she needed to know what was happening soon if she needs to place her general education preschooler elsewhere. Corbett promised that he would not wait until the last minute and that he would be able to give her an answer as to the placement of general education preschool students soon.