04/19/2021
We are disheartened to hear that at the next Hunterdon Central BOE meeting on April 26th, the BOE will be voting on a budget that calls for the reduction of three staff members.
The following positions are being affected:
- A Media Specialist position is being completely eliminated from our IMC (library) program
- The Teacher of Television and Video Production is being reduced to a part time position (Update: The BOE has decided NOT to RIF this teacher!!!)
- A Teacher of Instrumental Music position is being reduced to a part time position
The HCEA is deeply concerned that the elimination of these positions will have a negative, perhaps disastrous, impact on the programs provided to Hunterdon Central students by these staff members. If our teacher of Television and Video Production is reduced to a part time position, he will have to look for full time employment elsewhere; he is the only teacher in the school who teaches these classes, and has certification very few people have. The reduction of this position may lead to a complete end to all of our Television and Video production classes. A loss of our third media specialist will be a huge hit to the many teachers and students who rely on the media specialists to help with research projects, technology, and special projects, especially at a time when the district has just spent two million dollars renovating our media center. And our music classes are a vital component to ensuring the emotional well-being of our students.
If you have a child who has been positively impacted by any of these educators, their teaching, their mentoring, or their support, we urge you to write an email to the Board of Education expressing your concern over the reductions in these positions before Monday night’s meeting. If possible, consider attending the Board meeting at 7pm to share your experiences and show your support for these teachers during the first public comment section of the evening. It’s important that you share with your concerns with the BOE BEFORE their vote!