Plan for administrative cuts right call for board

In a system that requires school districts to provide more programs with less money, Sayreville school officials find themselves in an unenviable position. The Board of Education has been faced with a seemingly endless number of challenges this school year with issues ranging from crowding at the high school to expired contracts to budget caps.

But school officials responded well last month when they announced a plan to cut administrative costs in the coming years. The board is considering a series of changes at its administrative offices that, according to board President Al Cox, will yield $670,000 in savings — excluding the eventual salary of a new superintendent — during the next three years.

While the plan is still preliminary, and will be the subject of a Dec. 21 presentation before the board, it calls for the elimination of positions including one of the district’s two assistant superintendent posts in favor of two new directors’ positions. One of the new positions will focus on planning and research, the other on facilities and operations. The district will also hire a part-time director of curriculum and instruction.

Beyond saving money, the idea is to invest more time in curriculum and facilities, which the board believes is needed.

The move represents a look to an improved future in the face of some daunting challenges.

One of those challenges is the ongoing contract dispute with the Sayreville Education Association. Hundreds of district employees have been attending meetings and school events to send a message regarding their lack of a contract. Their fight has been fueled by the rather large raise given last year to Superintendent of Schools Dennis Fyffe, who is now retiring.

The union has a good argument in asking for more money, but the coffers only have so much to go around, especially given the state’s new cap on budget increases and on surplus funds.

Still, it is refreshing to see a school board getting the message by cutting administrative costs and reorganizing positions to better suit the district’s needs. It is our hope that 2005, which by the way will see a bond referendum for the proposed expansion of the high school, finds many of these difficult issues resolved for the better.