Cami Anderson on Newark schools’ painful plan: Opinion

By Cami Anderson

School district budget deficits are no fun. They require making tough decisions and confronting difficult questions. Does spending yield great results for kids? Is what we are doing now, at any price, truly working? Where and how should we invest our critical resources to benefit our most precious gifts — our children?

April is a time that causes fiscal angst for many; this is especially true at Newark Public Schools when we submit our budget, largely funded by taxpayers, of nearly $1 billion. And this year, as in years past, we are faced with the tough choices in deciding how best to balance the budget while keeping in mind the best interest of our children.

Newark schools confront these questions annually — and this year is particularly difficult. We have increased costs and declining revenue. As we continue to experience declining enrollment, additional dollars — approximately $33 million more this year — leave the district. The result is a $57 million deficit.

Even more challenging: As we try to “right-size” our district to fit our shrinking student population, we are required by law to retain employees based exclusively on how long they have been in the district, as opposed to their effectiveness or abilities.

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