Union Superintendent Responds to Proposed Cuts to Specials Programming

UNION, NJ – At Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting, Union’s school superintendent discussed the proposed changes to the elementary schools Special programming, with caused many parents and teachers to voice their concern to the plan at the board meeting on May 14.

“We heard and listened to a lot of community members last week,” said Dr. Gerry Benaquista. “I just want to discuss a couple of things so all the public knows.”

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Benaquista said, “nothing that was discussed regarding the possibility of an elementary schedule change was budgetary.  It was put out there that we were cutting the budget.  I want to be clear:  we sent in a budget to the county that was approved.  It did not have this scheduling change in it.  It’s not part of the budget.”

Benaquista added, “we are not terminating 15 employees.  That was also out there.  We’re not.”  He said he did not renew a couple of employees, “as districts do yearly for reasons that I can’t speak about because they are personnel matters.”  But, he said, “I want to be clear it’s not 15 employees being terminated.”

Benaquista said some decisions he recommends require board approval, put specifically on the board agenda. “This does not have to be board approved.  A lot of people in the public were asking the board not to approve it.  I want people to understand that it is not the board members approving or not approving this change.”

Beneaquista said he has been meeting, and will continue to meet, with Union Township Education Association (UTEA) leadership, staff, and parents. “Everyone that emails me will get an email response inviting them to a meeting.  I will sit and listen to their concerns.”    During the early summer break, Benaquista said, he will provide an update as well as a more comprehensive academic vision for the school system.

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“Fifty-percent, I agree is not acceptable,” added Benaquista. “Who would ever say I want to be fifty-percent.  We can’t accept fifty-percent for our children. I’m not going to be in this position and accept our kids’ failing.  I’m not.”

Benaquista said test scores in Union, like many districts, fell after COVID.  “I cannot allow our students to continue sliding.  I wouldn’t be doing my job if I just sat back.  I can’t do that.”

Benaquista reviewed recent district test scores.  “I can’t allow our kids to not be proficient.  I’m going to keep trying to impact our academic positively, allow students to not fall behind in reading, literacy.  It’s going to take time and it’s going to take us working together to come up with a system that really meets our kids’ needs.”  He said he will make a decision this summer as to what the schedule looks like next year.  “It’s hard for me to leave it exactly that same when I see those [test] numbers.”

Related story: Many Union Parents/Teachers Outraged Over Proposed Cuts to Special Programming

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