A large outdoor gathering in Paterson on Monday, may have looked and felt like a block party, but it was formed to protest more than 300 positions set to be cut by the board of education.
The Paterson School Board has a large gap to fill in next year's budget.
They explained that they had no choice but to reduce staffing. However, they did try to find the softest landing. Most of the positions they went after are actually vacant.
"Only 39 teachers were actually cut out of a total of 208 positions that were cut, 39 were actual bodies," said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Luis Rojas.
In addition, 109 non-teaching positions and 15 administrative roles were also slashed. Most of those also were not filled.
The public fought back in testimonies, but Paterson's School Board explained they have to balance the $850 million budget.
In addition to the staffing cuts, they also voted to close four elementary schools and raise school property taxes by 8%.
Eyewitness News was told that what made the process so difficult is the $32 million in state aid which came with an order to spend most of it, $28 million, on charter schools.
Paterson is not alone in New Jersey with budget woes. Almost a dozen other districts have struggled to balance their sheets and have blamed rising health care bills for leaving them in the red.
"When we look across the state, spending all this money on education, we still see 3rd grade reading not where we want it to be," New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said.
The layoffs in Paterson will take place at the end of the school year.
The budget, which was approved Monday night, includes cuts in spending and an increase in taxes. It will likely not make anyone happy, but the board believes it is the best way to make the math work.
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