It makes no sense that the children who need the most consistency will be subject to "outsourced" caretakers who can feasibly change daily based upon the staffing circumstances of the parent corporation. In addition, it seems to relegate these students to a second-hand position within the school population. While the claim is being made that these employees will be "fully vetted" one has to wonder what safe guards are actually in place - especially in light of other "outsourcing" providers across the state.

I completely agree!! Outsourcing the classroom aides is just plain wrong for the kids. Cut the busing and the Administrators first. These outsourcing cuts are DIRECTLY impacting the students and education.

It is far better to have aids employed by the district rather than some outside agency. They have a more personal investment because the district is committed to them: it's a symbiotic relationship. Outsourcing does not provide that kind of personal investment from both sides. In the long run, it costs districts in the form of poorer quality service. There's far more accountability with in-house employees.

The aides should be laid off. It's about time the BOE started reducing its heavily bloated budget instead of increasing spending nearly every year.

How many of us have visited a Teaneck school, spent time teaching, currently are a parent, are unemployed now, or in fear of being unemployed at any moment? I know some Teaneck students from BF and TJ. They are terrific but they barely mention their teachers let alone the paraprofessionals who work with them. For those of us who are "just" taxpayers, its even worse. We want good education for Teaneck's chldren but not lavish, excessive or mishandled education. Don't tell that doesn't happen - it does. Just pick up the papers.
My concern is that protected workers can get complacent, hard to control, inattentive. Is that the case for the group in question? If yes, perhaps it is time for new talent. If no, then its probably best to leave things as they are.

While Teaneck may have taxes and budgets and per student spending that outpace neighboring districts and state averages, I do not believe the areas in which the council are focusing their cuts are appropriate and proper. That is not what created a $90M budget!!!

The last thing any child in our district needs is instability in their education. If one looks at recent reports from Englewood, NJ, one can see outsourcing lead to lots of instability, turnover, "no shows" at work. Parents and school administrators were ALL disgusted and disturbed. Yet, despite examples from our neighboring district, this is the approach being chosen?

Why not sit down with our strong staff of teachers, educators and assistants, achieve a fair, balanced and long lasting contract, with modest, but COLA adjustments and other incentives and balance our budget, over time, that way? Let's have stability and a feeling of comfort for our school children. When they walk into the lunchroom and "Jen" knows your child's name, because she is a Teaneck employee, been there every day for 4 years, it makes your child feel secure, comfortable and happy. That will help your child learn.

Areas where we can consider some savings:
1. Put the food contracts out for bid at end of contract
2. Negotiate a long, stable contract with teachers and employees
3. Minimize overtime for janitorial and other services, but keep them as employees

These 3 items shoudl save MORE mney than what is proposed and protect our children.

Can see both sides of this argument, but playing devil's advocate with regard to concern over the vetting process: Does anyone know how the vetting process worked in the cases of former THS principal Joe White and TJMS award winning teacher James Darden, prior to their arrests for sexual abuse of students?

I think instead of responding to their proposal we first have to ask the question "what did they look at first to cut and decided not to and why?" From there we then need to judge whether this is a right or even the only thing to do. My children went through Teaneck schools. I certainly do not want to see our neighbors, that many of these individuals are, lose their jobs. Do we know if there is a deal to have these people work for the outsource company? Lets ask some questions before we react

When the budget was defeated for the 1962-63 school year, the Jr. High "graduations" were cut. But we also lost 9th grade (jr. high) football for a year. Seriously, it's time to get more teachers involved in all decision-making processes at our schools along with the administrators. Unfortunately, the Board of Education is made up of the same low-information people that vote in our elections without fully knowing all of the facts. Nobody can fully understand what a teacher goes through without having spent a healthy amount in an active classroom. The only thing more challenging than teaching a class full of kids that really want to learn, is trying to teach a class where 1/3 to 1/2 the "students" couldn't care less about learning and cannot see a value in an education. More money does not necessarily translate into better education.