Teacher, Counselor Positions Cut In Next Year's Wayne Schools Budget

WAYNE, NJ — As officials had warned about, the Wayne Township School District budget next year will include staff reductions – with more than a dozen teacher, counselor, and substitute positions being cut.

District officials said removing these 14 roles will help account for a loss in COVID-related aid for some counselor positions, and an increase in costs for special education services and teacher salaries. Some facilities upgrades have also been put on pause, school officials said during a final budget hearing earlier this month.

The cuts include two high school counselors, two high school science teachers, and a high school English teacher, as well as two physical education teachers for the middle school. Also, four part-time counselors at the elementary and middle school levels and three permanent middle school substitute positions will be cut.

District Business Administrator William Moffitt said officials are working to plan for increases in the amount of money needed to cover student support services, including out-of-district placements, professional services, and transportation aid.

"Administration has developed a plan to further address and control costs," he said. "It's something we're keeping an eye on and actively working on it."

The district also had to account for a $5.7 million increase in staff salaries, and a $3.6 million increase in employee benefits in the 2024/25 budget.

The 2024/25 school year operating budget is $189.6 million, which is 1.78 percent smaller than this current year’s budget. Officials said the facilities budget is reduced for next school year, and the Next Generation Science Standards lab renovation program at the high schools has been put on hold.

“We’re just focusing on health and safety concerns” for facilities improvements, Moffitt said.

Board members approved the 2024/25 budget, and the reduction in force, at their meeting on May 2. The budget includes a tax increase of $204 for the average property owner (with a home assessed at $230,435).