Residents Raise Concerns Over New BOE Administrative Positions

Several Parsippany-Troy Hills residents attended Tuesday's Board of Education meeting, looking for answers after several media specialist positions were taken out of the 2013-14 school budget.

The budget initially appropriated funds for five media specialists for kindergarten through grade 12, but only two will be hired, according to Interim Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons.

“We don't need that many,” he said. “We can cover more than adequately what the program requires. We had five (media specialists), now we have seven.”

Parsippany-Troy Hills Education Association (PTHEA) President Joseph Kyle addressed the Board during the public portion of the meeting, saying they were happy to see that five elementary media specialists positions were not cut in the $1.5 million in cuts.

“We all recognize budget limitations but in this particular case, the money was there, it was in the final budget,” he said. “What was not in the budget, interestingly, but is now, is the creation of additional administrative assistant positions.”

The positions he referred to include a Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Assistant to the Director of Pupil Personnel Services and Assistant to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, which were added in the Superintendent Report on Tuesday night.

According to the Superintendent's report, Suzanne Olimpio, the Director of Special Services, who earned an annual salary of $127,963, will have a new title of Director of Pupil Personnel Services and an annual salary of $140,000 effective July 1, 2013.

Assistant to Director of Pupil Personnel Services Bernadette Flaherty will also start on July 1, with an annual salary of $115,000.

Eileen Hoehne, Director of Personnel, will receive an annual salary of $158,000. Lisa Garofalo, Assistant to the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, will receive an annual salary of $115,000.

“Budgets are living documents,” responded Fitzsimons. “After careful analysis, we no longer needed that many library media specialists and that analysis was done by the Director of Personnel in conjunction with the Director of Curriculum Instruction.”

Resident Monica Sclafani was next to approach the podium to ask the reasons for the administrative positions and where exactly the money was coming from.

“Both positions are currently understaffed and overworked to put it mildly,” said Paul Saxton, Director of Personnel. “The main thing is they are pushed beyond reasonable limitations in fulfilling the obligations in meeting state compliance initiatives.”

“Things were moved around and the Administration has been able to find the money to do this,” said Board President Susy Golderer when asked where the money came from.

After an accusation over a lack of transparency from members of the public, Board Member James Carifi took the floor.

“The money is coming from the breakage of people that were retiring and the money by reducing the media specialists to create these positions,” he said. “We are not increasing (the budget) or pulling from other areas.”

“Most of the money for the two positions came from the reduction of the media specialists,” added Golderer.

Resident Alison Cogan approached the podium telling the board she found it “disingenuous” that the board cut the positions after numerous discussions over what was being cut from the budget.

“How can you stay within the two percent cap if you are giving out raises and adding administration?” she asked. “Now you are completely reversing everything you just did.”

“The elementary media specialists, when I spoke to them, are worried,” said Kyle. “We are worried about the quality of instruction to students.”