Montclair school board meeting gets heated over district's mysterious $20M deficit
MONTCLAIR, New Jersey (WABC) -- A mysterious $20 million deficit was the focus of a contentious school board meeting on Wednesday night in New Jersey.
Parents in Montclair are wondering why their children may be the ones to pay for lost services and programs.
"Right now Montclair is dealing with two deficits. A financial deficit and a trust deficit. Vague answers, missing documents, confidentiality barriers, and delayed explanations," student Mia Yustein said.
It was simmering hot inside the Montclair Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
"You might be shocked to learn that the manner in which the district proceeded with the reduction in force and terminations was so frenetic that it might only be rivaled by the DOGE cuts that the federal employees faced," teacher Syreeta Carrington said.
Parents, students and teachers are piping mad over a proposal to slash up to 150 jobs.
"It raises serious concerns about the integrity of the process and more importantly, how this will impact our students," teacher Erica Daniel said.
The proposed cuts are the result of a failed attempt to raise taxes to fill the school district's $20 million budget hole.
"No one is coming to save us at this point. It's happening and there's not anyone anything can do about it," student Wyatt Foster said.
"Montclair public schools have endured multiple lawsuits, thousands of dollars lost throughout the years, lawsuits that could've been avoided and money saved for kids if true transparency and honesty has occurred," teacher Lisa Rollins said.
That botched voter referendum is dividing the wealthy town in New Jersey where an average property tax bill is more than $21,000.
District leaders are blaming incompetence by prior administrations, and residents are calling for an audit and accountability.
"My goal is to be as transparent and straightforward as possible," school superintendent Ruth Turner said.
That voter referendum, which had been scheduled for this month, was struck down by a judge saying the questions were too confusing.
The district now has until March to rewrite ballot questions.
"I'm dismayed as I'm sure the entire district is at what we saw last week of the cancellation of the special election. In some ways we knew the issues and we knew it was coming and yet it is still disastrous," student Max Pearson said.
"Our intent was to put this decision in the hands of the Montclair voters where it belongs and they didn't happen. And we own our part in that and apologize for any confusion that the ballot caused," Board Member Mfreke Inyang said.
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
