The press conference followed a packed City Council meeting where more than 100 district employees aired their concerns
TRENTON -- The teachers and unions received a show of support from three Trenton city council members Friday, who called a press conference to protest the budget cuts, layoffs and superintendent finalists.
The district's $5.9 million shortfall forced it to make cuts in staff and programs, including a net loss of 164 jobs and the closing of its early childhood learning center.
The job cuts -- 10 percent of the district's 1,575 full-time employees -- would include 92 paraprofessionals, specialists and teachers who work with special education students and secretaries.
"I am appalled and angry that we are at this place right now," Councilwoman Marge Caldwell-Wilson said. "We need to reevaluate these decisions and save these jobs. By saving these jobs, our kids will continue to receive the attention they need in the school system."
She was joined by council members Phyllis Holly-Ward and Alex Bethea and union representatives. The trio called the press conference after more than 100 district employees packed Thursday's City Council meeting to air their concerns.
Caldwell-Wilson said the budget process was not transparent enough.
"No one really knows what they're actually spending things on," she said. "Nothing is itemized for the public so it's very difficult to figure out where they're spending these millions of dollars and then they end up with a $5.9 million deficit. What happened?"
The school board approved the $299 million budget on March 21 and on Tuesday, the Board of School Estimates approved the city's portion.
Friday was the last day to deliver the budget to the executive county superintendent of schools, but Trenton Education Association president Naomi Johnson-Lafleur said changes can still be made.
She questioned the cost savings predicted by the district, saying that laying off staff in favor of a private vendor would likely cost the district more, she said.
"If you outsource it, you're still going to pay more and then if you bring these private entities in here, the parents are going to say, 'These are not adequate services for my child, you're going to send my child out of district where they can learn.'"
Bethea, who retired as Robeson Elementary School's vice principal Jan. 1, said the cuts are unacceptable.
"The board of education needs to go back to the drawing board and find other areas to cut," he said. "I'm against the privatization of our most vulnerable employees -- paraprofessionals and teachers -- and many of these employees live in this city. They're taxpayers, they're homeowners, they have children in the system and they are very, very important to this district and I say no."
The council members also spoke out against the district's choice of superintendent finalists.
Sergio Paez, the former superintendent in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, the former superintendent in Albany, N.Y., visited the city this week for meet-and-greets and a public forum.
"Go back and get some more qualified candidates," Bethea said. "We do not want them here. ... They're not certified, not qualified to be here in this district."
Caldwell-Wilson said no information was given on the 32 other candidates or how the finalists were narrowed down.
"There are several candidates from this area that not only know the community, are invested in the community, grew up in the Trenton school system and understand what needs to be done to improve this educational system in the city," she said.
The school board is expected to make a decision on Monday.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.