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After months of contentious meetings and harsh reaction from school personnel, parents and borough residents, the Fair Lawn Board of Education voted Thursday night to retain a private company for nighttime custodial services in the borough's two middle schools and to eliminate seven custodial personnel for the 2011-12 fiscal year.
The two-part resolution, the first of which awarded the contract to Aramark Management Services, L.P., received six votes in favor, one against, one abstention and one absent.
Board member Mary Wallace was the lone “no” vote, and Ron Barbarulo abstained.
“I am a lifelong member and supporter of unions, and am against privatization,” said Wallace. “These kinds of positions should be given to our own people. I’ve believed this for 50 years of my life and I can’t change that.”
Wallace’s vote was met with a round of applause from the several hundred audience members, many of whom represented the Fair Lawn Education Association teacher union, whose contract issues have not yet been resolved.
Wallace was also the only “no” vote for the second part of the resolution, which called for the elimination of positions. Board member Elyss Frenkel was absent for the session.
Superintendent Bruce Watson defended the board’s decisions.
“We’re looking at clean, efficient operation and dollars and cents,” said Watson. “We have bigger problems that we’re trying to solve. We have to stop the bleeding, and unfortunately we have to look at some personnel in order to preserve education. That comes first.”
The approved contract for Aramark calls for a budget of $565,780 for 2011-12; $586,130 for 2012-13. Watson said those figures included an Aramark supervisor fee of $10,000.
When questioned about that item, Watson said, “I don’t see a problem with [having another supervisor]. This person will be responsible for the [Aramark] workers.”
Regarding snow removal and other responsibilities, Watson said there will be a plan put together as deemed necessary.
“The work will be the same, just the names of the players will change,” he said.
In other business, 17 district personnel were recognized for each having completed 25 years of service in the district. Additionally, eight teachers were presented the Bergen County Teachers Award for outstanding work in the classrooms.
They were Heather Sable (TJ MIddle); Peter Goldberg (Memorial Middle); Patty Nolan (Warren Point); Lindsay Pochini (Radburn); Jillian Saffer (Milnes); Irene Crowell (Forrest); Rona Goldberg (Edison); and Isabel Stern (High School).
There will also be a special meeting held on May 26 to formally announce the selection of the new principal of Westmoreland School.
Lisa Yourman
6:29 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
Interesting that the contract never went out for a formal bid.
M. Schachter
7:16 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
It's all so interesting, isn't it?
Adele Artola
9:13 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
The work will be the same, just the names of the players will change,” Watson said.
HOW COLD. These are people, no players ! Fair Lawn workers who have worked here, for some, many years. Why not replace the retirees?
S. Bernstein
11:18 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
An increase of over 3% in the second year of the contract...not bad. If only the teachers could get a contract so easily.
Choosing the bottom line over dedicated, hard-working folks is not a good lesson for the students of Fair Lawn. Kudos to Mary Wallace for having the courage of her convictions.
S. Bernstein
Lisa Yourman
11:52 am on Friday, May 20, 2011
Also very interesting that this was all dragged out until after the budget was voted upon (and passed)
Harold Vogel
3:21 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2011
How much will we be paying in unemployment benefits for the lay off worker? I know in the private sector
the company pays into the program for each laid of worker. Is it different with government? I hope they come up with a plan before it snows or the grass grows. Maybe Watson should take a cut in pay for the
"clean, efficient operation and dollars and cents,”
Gittel
12:19 am on Monday, May 23, 2011
Kudos to Mary Wallace. Only those who have labored in "God's Vineyard" know how much more than cleaning services the custodial staff provides. They are additional protective eyes and ears for the teachers and students; they see potential dangers and warn all; they support the school by being a contributing part of the school community. Would that the Board of Ed could revisit this question and vote accordingly. This vote to destroy an integral part of our schools and substitute "hired help" can have only negative effects.
Peggy
11:39 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Bruce Watson says he's looking at dollars and cents. He didn't hesitate to take a pay raise for himself, and he's making far more than any custodian. Where are the savings he talks about? It seems minimal when all is counted up, but the irrevocable damage to 7 families is enormous. Evidently, Mr. Watson does not care about his staff as people. As others have pointed out, we were not told about the amount of the bids before the budget election; the amount of unemployment insurance that the district will be liable for is not "minimal"; what type of criminal background checks will be made of these contracted workers? The children who attend middle school often stay after school for sports, clubs and other activities when the new workers will be in the school. I applaud Mary Wallace for her "NO" vote and shame on the rest of the board.
Stuart Pace
2:13 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
and yet no one challenged the board elections this year. So as I continue to say, the only way to fix things is get involved. Run for BOE next time. or sit silent. your choice.