TRENTON — When teachers, administrators and other school staff accept wage freezes, districts would be forced to use the money saved to avoid layoffs under a bill that passed the state Senate today. The bill comes as both houses of the Legislature are about to vote on a budget that cuts school aid by $820 million, while Gov. Chris...
View from above the Senate Chamber dais in this January 2010 file photo.TRENTON — When teachers, administrators and other school staff accept wage freezes, districts would be forced to use the money saved to avoid layoffs under a bill that passed the state Senate today.
The bill comes as both houses of the Legislature are about to vote on a budget that cuts school aid by $820 million, while Gov. Chris Christie has pushed teachers to accept wage freezes in order to help stave off layoffs.
The bill’s sponsors justified it as a way to assuage teachers and others who might not agree to wage freezes without the guarantee that they will save jobs.
But Frank Belluscio, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, which opposes the bill, said it is unnecessary and overly restrictive.
“It will, the future, keep school districts from applying such savings into other areas,” said Belluscio. “There could very well be reductions in force that are legitimate due to downtown in enrollment and other changes, and if the economy dictates the need for wage freezes then districts should have the flexibility to use that money where they feel it is needed.”
The bill passed the Senate 34-2 but must clear the Assembly Education Committee and a full vote of that body before it makes it to Christie's desk.
Previous coverage:
• Low-performing N.J. schools with reform plans get $45M in federal grants
• N.J. Assembly committee approves bill allowing schools to charge students for summer classes
• N.J. teachers union joins Christie administration in 'Race to the Top' application
• Gov. Chris Christie criticizes N.J. schools for not stopping student walkouts
| Newark students walk out of school, take City Hall |
| Hundreds of teachers gather to protest Chris Christies proposed cuts |