Jersey School District Agrees to Slash 337 Jobs

A $198.6 million budget approved by the Edison school board in New Jersey Thursday night will result 337 district jobs being cut, which is 200 more than originally planned, NJ.com reports.

The budget, ratified by a 5-4 vote, will also result in area homeowners having their school taxes raised by nearly $200. It comes as no surprise then that more than 700 parents and school employees filled the meeting in protest.

The job cuts include 131 teaching positions and 127 paraprofessional jobs.  School board president Gene Maeroff said some jobs could be restored if Edison teachers agree to a wage freeze, but so far negotiations have failed.

The original budget proposal was for $204 million, which would have included 131 jobs and several programs being cut and an increase in school taxes to $268. However, that proposal was shot down by voters.

The Edison school district has 14,400 students.