The controversy over the possible privatization of the West Windsor-Plainsboro school district’s maintenance and custodial staff has created a new group of concerned citizens — the district’s high school students.
A group of nearly 100 students at High School South organized a walk-out during the lunch period on December 2 in protest of the Board of Education’s decision to study the matter. Students walked out to the front of the building near the flagpole around 11:10 a.m., chanting and carrying signs with slogans, including the popular “Stranger Danger.”
But school officials say that the students had notified Principal Charles Rudnick ahead of time about the protest they organized as part of a civil disobedience lesson in the language arts program. No disciplinary action is expected to be taken against the students for the 15-minute protest.
“This is a topic they felt strongly about, and felt they wanted to show their feelings and opinions on the board’s decision to study the economics and efficiencies of the building and grounds department,” said Gerri Hutner, the district’s director of communications. “They informed the administrators they were going to do this. They were allowed to voice their emotions and concerns and opinions on this topic during this time.”
As part of the curriculum for language arts, there is a unit on civil disobedience, in which students have discussions on various topics, including social contracts, cheating, and honor codes, Hutner said.
Because the students informed the principal about the protest and because it was part of the curriculum, there is no disciplinary action planned. When asked whether the district would condone a protest that was not related to a lesson being taught at the school so long as officials are notified ahead of time, Hutner said a disciplinary decision would have to be made by the principal and that she would only comment on this particular incident.
Officials encourage students to use the lessons that are taught in school to “carefully and safely voice their opinions,” said Hutner.
In response to the protest, school board president Hemant Marathe discussed the reason why the board is studying the option — that the board needs to be able to meet a 4 percent cap on its spending increases in this year’s budget in accordance with state law. And even then, many residents have told board officials that 4 percent is still too high, Marathe said.
Under the 4 percent cap, the district is limited to increasing its budget by $5.3 million. A 3 percent increase would translate into a $3.9 million budget increase, he said. But without making any cuts and with keeping existing contracts and programs in place, the board is automatically faced with an increase of $7.8 million — which cannot legally happen, forcing the board to look at options. “The board needs to find at least $3.5 million in savings to stay under the budget cap.”
When asked how much privatization of the custodial and maintenance staff would save the district, Marathe said that he did not want to discuss the numbers until after the board presents a report done by Edvocate, the consultant hired to study the issue, on Tuesday, December 15. “We want people to have a chance to study the report before they comment on it.”
But Marathe did say that even after December 15, an estimate about how much the board would save on privatization would not come unless the board decides to go with the option. At that time, savings will not be estimated until the board receives bids from private companies for the work.
Marathe insisted that the privatization is not the only option the board is considering. He mentioned the possibility of three-tiered busing and charging for after-school activities as other possibilities. “Neither of the three options would bring us anywhere close to that $3.5 million” the board needs to cut, he said.
“The board needs to balance the needs of the school district with the needs and wishes of the taxpayers,” he said. “Honestly, the board is open to any suggestions anybody has to do things differently.”
The latest in the controversy over the possibly privatization comes just after the members of the unions representing the employees took their message to the West Windsor Township Council. They urged the council on November 23 to pass a resolution opposing privatization.
Speaking during public comment, a few members of the district, including one maintenance worker, as well as former councilwoman and current CWA Local 1033 president Rae Roeder, urged the council to take a stance against the possible move.
Council members did not comment on the issue, and took no action on the request.
“The flaw in the argument is always the money,” Roeder told the council, referring to the argument that privatization of any type of job will save money for the organization deciding to go with that option. On the contrary, it actually ends up costing the organization more money. “The school district is the most important thing we have,” she said. “The kids are our future.”
Susan Levine, president of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Service Association, urged the council to “listen to the residents,” and consider passing a copy of a resolution she drafted.
Approaching the council was the latest step in the unions’ efforts. Members of the custodial and maintenance staff and their supporters have made consecutive appearances at school board meetings and planted signs around neighborhoods with slogans arguing against the move.
The New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) has embroiled itself in the issue, and has paid for two full-page ads in the News.
Coincidentally, the school district’s finance committee was scheduled to have its first review of a report prepared by Edvocate, the consultant it hired to study the possibility of privatizing the custodial and maintenance staff on the same night as the council meeting. The finance committee meeting was in closed session. The board will discuss the matter publicly on December 15.
