The East Orange School District votes to lay off more than 90 school staff positions amid a $25 million budget deficit

EAST ORANGE, N.J. (WABC) — Angry parents and teachers made their presence felt in East Orange, New Jersey, where a school board voted for significant cuts Wednesday night.

The decision was a major blow to students, parents and school staff in the East Orange School District.

93 school staff positions will be cut, a decision that could shake parents' trust in their school system.

Hundreds of them, along with teachers, crowded into the board meeting, hoping their votes would influence the board to avert the cuts. It was emotional.

“My son is currently in first grade and currently doesn’t have a teacher. He works from a substitute teacher and is split up once a week. The child learns nothing,” said parent Sascha Singh.

The school principal says that while state aid has remained constant and constant over the past 15 years, it has not increased and operating costs have also increased.

The district has a $25 million budget gap, a figure the board said it was unaware of before this year.

The board says it made the decision to avoid a state takeover and that if a state monitor intervenes, it can cut more jobs and raise taxes without City Council approval.

“When I took this position, we were already nearly $5 million short,” said Christopher Irving, superintendent of the East Orange School District. “If we don’t do anything, the state will intervene.”

“The plan for these steps was developed from day one by our superintendent,” said East Orange Supervisor Thelma Ramsey Bryant.

Some parents and teachers say if they are already facing cuts, their schools may be better off in the hands of the state.

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