Do we really need 64 playground attendants? The teachers should take turns performing this task to help save money. But of course we wouldn't ask them to do that. The special education paraprofessionals should have been outsourced if it would have saved $300K. I notice how salaries are stated to be 83.6 million up by over 300K. Why? The true cost is over 105 Million when benefits and pension cost are figured in. I guess the new PR firm advised them to leave this little detail out. School busing should also be outsourced. Do we need to pay insurance, drivers, benefits, maintenance and six figure salaries to the persons running the bus program? Obviously we will be hiring four new EPIS counselors. They should have left it the way it is. Are EPIS counselors really needed in elementary school? They could have slashed more from this budget. For most taxpayers the increse will be much more than $127.00.

Well, I will give credit where it is due. The BOE came in under cap. They could have just come in at cap and according to a previous Patch article added in more for benefits and more for previous unused cap. THANK YOU BOE.

Pad, it is obvious that you are very uneducated in the reasons behind the needs for cafeteria playground aids, paraprofessionals and EPIS counselors...

This is unacceptable. Every year they continue to pick the pockets of the taxpayers of Wayne & they get away with it. They now have a free ride if they keep the budget increase under the 2% cap that was mandated by the Governor. If the cap didn't exist they would fleece us for more of our hard earned money. They talk like well its only $127 for teh average homeowner who is assessed at $229,000. Does anyone one know who is assessed at the average of $229,000? Ya take the $127 + the town & county and I guarantee it will add to and additional $500 to the average homeowner. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the B of E get a windfall from the state last year so where did that money go-into their slush fund? The taxpayers of Wayne need to stand up and demand an accurate accounting of where our money is going and its not for the "children".

I seems to me that there are enough people in Wayne who NOW see through the crap they have been pulling on us taxpayers for years, so why not work on putting together a large protest,( the voice of the people) march down to town hall, and demand they all vacate their positions and replace them with people who really want to do something to get this out of control township back in check. Once the township is cleaned out, we can deal with the root of all the problems, the BOE !!!!!

Although the school budget came in under cap, I still oppose the hiring of this PR firm at a cost of $2500/month until June. I don't see in any way how this expense enhances our children's education. I think this expense is serving our BOE trustees and the administration. I resent that. If you want to spend that money, why not hire a logistics firm to examine our transportation (Bus) costs. Apparently, our buses are 50% filled. You know as well as I , many of the H.S.students drive their cars to school when they are schedueled to take a bus. How many parents drive their kids to school, day in and day out. OK. Then why not look at this and possibly consolidate the routes which could produce a significant savings. That expense of a logistics firm makes more sense than a PR firm. Take that $ money saved and restore programs, supplies and resources to the school that will ENHANCE education. A science program in the middle schools which started this year was removed for budgetary purposes. Science and math are programs we should be enhancing, not cutting. Our Global economy demands good people with math and science backgrounds.

This past school year, Fair Lawn eliminated 7 custodail positions. They outsourced the night janiitorial to Aramark Mgmt Services, saving $230,000. It worked so well, next year they are outsourcing their custodial services with the exception of one head custodian in each school who is a District employee. They will save an additional $450,000. Have we looked at this? The possibility of saving $700,000/yr is significant and should be looked into. I would like to see this potential savings be restored in the budget, not removed, as long as it is put towards direct educational costs and not the hiring of another high paid administrator in Nellis Drive, or some political operative such as a PR firm.

Just not right!!!!!!! 5 TO 9 percent raises for Nellis Drive administrators and getting rid of an enviromental program that Rodger Hawkins had started and been involved with over 42 years. How can the board let this happen??? Allen tried to save outdoor lab but Don shut him right down. Folks remember every person on that board voted to approve those hefty pay raises except for one. That one was Jane Hutchinson. She said that she felt the raises were wrong and she couldn't give her vote to approve them. I think the board has lost sight of why they were voted in. They were voted in to make sure our children receive a great education. They were not voted in to take care of the people at Nellis Drive.

Negative is used on this blog too often towards people who do not agree with the status quo...I state that Negative is also the term used for people who refuse to respect and uphold the Constitution of the United States and all that goes with it. The United States is a government by the people for the people of the people. It is not occurring here in Wayne with the BOE, Council, Mayor (Gag Orders), etc.

Jimbo well you must be happy. You now have 2 superintedents and a very well paid staff at Nellis. Nellis was working with bare bones??? How many jobs were made for friends at Nellis over the past few years??? Come on Jimbo.

This is all Politics...it all goes back to Rumana. Its all about the latino vote...watch and see what happens.

fboy66......there is a lot of credence to that argument. Rumana has a lot to say over who gets what in our school system. Yes, he wanted a Latino Super to help him with the Latino vote in certain areas that fall within his District. People in Wayne don't believe this , but it is true. Just about all of the Trustees are his minions, with the exception of Jane Hutchinson and maybe one other. I know, you can't make this stuff up.

Al well said!

If Rumana thinks that he is entitled to the Latino vote, he is sorely mistaken. Look at what happened when so and so was running against Speziale and then Berdnik..Look who won. Latino's do not necessarily vote for other Latino's. It is all about where the Latino originate from, i.e. Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Peru, down the line..Furthermore, Latino's will not necessarily endorse an Italian. These are not prejudiced words, just HISTORY. No, I will not quote sources for the benefit of the phony screen names that were initiated on this board to discredit those who want financial etal transparency. By the people, for the people, of the people.

Al, all you can do is present the facts. Which is what you are doing.If others choose not to believe it, it is their problem, not yours. Nellie and others would never give in to the likes of the Rumana machine. His law office continues to be under ethics investigation. No one wants to be around when the stuff starts splattering in their faces. By the people, for the people, of the people.

I am disgusted that Freshmen students will all take a half year study. How is that fair to students who want to take courses? Will students be allowed to take something instead of a study such as an art or music course? How do the parents feel about paying taxes to just have their children sitting in studies? I do not like it.

@ the dude, whatever...he isn't Latino either... call it what you like...once again, I guess you weren't taught history/geography/social studies classes. I know you can't help what you weren't taught. I feel sorry for you.

cute

Where are all of these $229,000 homes that the BOE is basing this increase on ?

I don't have to agree with the BOE budget as a taxpayer. I have many family members who are teachers and administrators in other districts. I support education but not wasting taxpayers money and all the backroom deals. We don't need a PR firm, our own busing program etc. They can be outsourced for much less. The last two Super's left with a pocketful of our tax money. They insist Sico retired, they lied to us. He didn't even work a year, left with a huge amount of money. If he broke his contract then why the huge payout? He didn't retire he is working in another district. We are entitled to the truth. The new Super already brought in a friend from Paterson at a six figure salary. I know a person she has offered a job to in Wayne. Wayne is top heavy with six figure administrators and jobs are created for certain people. In these economic times everybody has to share the pain incl. BOE employee's. History proves that most of the BOE members are political wannabe's. Just look at the Mayor & Council. Almost all of them served on the BOE. When the budget was defeated last year they made cuts of less then 1%. Out of a 144 million dollar budget over 105 mill. is for salaries, pensions & health benefits, leaving about 39 mill. for everything else. Wayne lost 35 million in ratable income & the loss is growing. We need to stop the exodus of taxpayers & ratables. The solution is to be more buisness friendly & cut taxes. Taxes here are killing this town. Most will pay more then $127.00

For those citizens who were not given the opportunity to study United States History, following is the Preamble to the United States Constitution:
http://constitutionus.com/
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence, which the United States was founded upon:
http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation...

"...We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...

"... — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world..."

Audio/Visual:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnvZ93Zh6MA&feature=related

"We the People..."
Steppenwolf brings it home:"... America where are you now...don't you care about your sons and daughters..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk3sURDS4IA

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/when-governments-fear-people-there-libertyquotation

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When people fear the government, there is tyranny" Thomas Jefferson (in case you didn't know, was one of the Founding Fathers, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, etc. the 3rd President of the United States)

I see they have eliminated history,.geography, social studies in schools because.of the chicken littles who fight their opponents with allegations of bigotry. The only bigots are the uneducated and those.who refuse to be educated. We the people, by the people, of the people.

CL you and the other screen names (probably the same person) who are targeting myself, Al, pad and one or 2 others, it appears that you feel exposed or else you wouldn't be as accusatory, repeating things that we have already said to suit your purposes. You all have the same modus of operandi, just as you had prior to the November elections. Once again, go play with yourself as I am not part of your nonsense. We the people, by the people of the people.

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/when-governments-fear-people-there-libertyquotation

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When people fear the government, there is tyranny" Thomas Jefferson (in case you didn't know, was one of the Founding Fathers, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, etc. the 3rd President of the United States)

Bravo Chicken Little. Justice just randomly quotes the Founding Fathers and the constitution to pretend he has a point. Then he tells people to play with themselves as if that is appropriate. He also has theories that everyone is the same person or from the PR company or foreign or a Communist Socialist Dictator Anarchist from abroad trying to infiltrate Wayne. I am honestly starting to think he does not really believe what he spouts but he is actually a Troll (as in someone who trolls the internet to start a fight, not an actual troll). I don't fear the government. I fear a person that believes anyone who disagrees is out to get him.

http://www.monticello.org/site/jefferson/when-governments-fear-people-there-libertyquotation

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When people fear the government, there is tyranny" Thomas Jefferson (in case you didn't know, was one of the Founding Fathers, one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence, etc. the 3rd President of the United States)...

For those citizens who were not given the opportunity to study United States History, following is the Preamble to the United States Constitution:
http://constitutionus.com/
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America...

"We the People..."
Steppenwolf brings it home:"... America where are you now...don't you care about your sons and daughters..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sk3sURDS4IA

...

Audio/Visual:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnvZ93Zh6MA&feature=related
...

Dont worry Governor Chrispy and his free helicopter rides, vetoed Millionaire tax, coruption and trips to Isreal will fix all this.. Impeach this guy - what a big mouth joker he is.......

The BOE had no problem handing out 5-9% raises at Nellis Drive which is unheard of in these economic times. When a citizen brought this up at the meeting as usual the BOE remained silent. Why is it that when the public speaks during the public forum the BOE never replies to thier concerns. Just goes to show you that they aren't at all interested in the taxpayers concerns. Only that oof the WEA and those employed at Nellis Drive. The President has a direct family member working in the District, this alone is a conflict of interest. Even if he abstains from voting the others still vote and him not voting really doesn't change the outcome at all.

Do you have proof of this?

I was told and I assume it is true that the Ass't BA received a 5k bonus last year as well as a 5k increase. I was also told that Juanita Petty, the BOE BA makes 165K/yr and works from home 1 day a week. At this point, this is just hearsay. The first point could probably be OPRA'D. I'm not quite sure how you're going to confirm the second point because there is no transparency in the BOE, and everything is held very close and secretive. I'm not sure you'd get a straight answer. If these allegations are true, there better be a very good reason for the Ass't BA'S bonus and extremely generous pay raise.

Pavlak who is President of the school board, his wife is employed in the District. She is either a teacher, teacher's aid or something. Badiner works for Bergen County Special Ed services where we send a fair amount of our special needs students. . If Pavlak recuses himself from voting, it may not be a conflict of interest. Badiner on the other hand, just by his prescence on the BOE and the fact we send students to Bergen County Special Ed Services, I find that somewhat conflictive whether he votes or not!

Please clarify the title of BA. Isn't the Ass't BA and BOE BA a duplicate of positions? What are the qualifications of these people that would cause them to make such obscene salaries on the backs of hard-working taxpayers, some of whom cannot afford to carry their own health insurance; but yet are mandated to carry the health insurance of people making OBSCENE salaries on top of OBSCENE benefits? Talk about the Redistribution of Wealth??? This is not good.

Experience
Salary
Job
Classes
Taught
Map
Details PASSAIC WAYNE TOWNSHIP DISTRICT OFFICE PAVLAK BARBARA E Masters
7
$62,180 School Social Worker

7 years experience making 62,180......
Al, do you know anyone in the insurance business making that much after just 7 years of experience?
Working 180 days a year?

NJ Public School Teachers

Name PAVLAK, BARBARA E Status full-time Degree Masters
County PASSAIC District WAYNE TOWNSHIP School DISTRICT OFFICE
School address DISTRICT OFFICE, Wayne 07470-3562 Map
Experience
District 7 years Experience
New Jersey 7 years Experience
Total 7 years
SALARY $62,180 Employment 10 Months Job Code 3117
Job 1 School Social Worker FTE F Job 2
Job 3 Job 4 Nat'l Bd.
Certified? N
Certificate Standard Grade Level Elementary Highly Qualified? Doesn't need to be highly qualified
Classes Taught 0 Teaching Route Traditional Route
New Search

Justice...Juanita Petty is the Business Administrator for the BOE. Apparently, due to the size of the District, our BOE Trustees feel there is a need for an Assistant Business administrator. I would venture to guess that between the two of them their aggregate salaries amount to about 300k/yr. This does not include the cost of benefits.

The above is public information on the following website, the information of which may lag behind:
http://www.app.com/section/DATA/DataUniverse

The following is another website which is also public information.
Unfortunately, for the decent public employees, their information is available since it is the taxpayers that are paying their salaries and benefits:
http://www.nj.com/news/bythenumbers/

Bingo...Al...you win..$160,000 plus benefits...not bad....meanwhile, people's homes are being foreclosed on....SHAME, SHAME, SHAME
NJ Public School Teachers

Name PETTY, JUANITA Status full-time Degree Masters
County PASSAIC District WAYNE TOWNSHIP School DISTRICT OFFICE
School address DISTRICT OFFICE, Wayne 07470-3562 Map
Experience
District 0 years Experience
New Jersey 20 years Experience
Total 20 years
SALARY $160,000 Employment 12 Months Job Code 0112
Job 1 School Business Administrator FTE F Job 2
Job 3 Job 4 Nat'l Bd.
Certified? N
Certificate Standard Grade Level Middle/Secondary Highly Qualified? Doesn't need to be highly qualified
Classes Taught 0 Teaching Route Traditional Route
New Search

Assistant School Business Administrator:
PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE

NJ Public School Teachers

Details
County
District
School
Last
Rest
Degree
Years
Experience
Salary
Job
Classes
Taught
Map
Details PASSAIC WAYNE TOWNSHIP DISTRICT OFFICE SCHOENING NICOLE Bachelors
18
$98,000 Assistant School Business Admin
0
Map

Records 1 to 1 of 1 New Search

So I looked up a few police officers I know - each earns what seems to be a top base salary of $119,633. This does not include overtime, which my understanding is how many police officers receive up to 50% of their total comp. For example, I was recently told that Fairfield cops receive 4 hours OT when they have to make a court appearance for a traffic ticket, regardless of length actually spent in court. My guess is a good deal of Wayne cops make well in excess of $100k, and the more senior ones with 10+ yrs. on the job make close to $200k. With a police force of 130 or so, that is a huge nut, not even including absurd pension and vacation benefits and short work weeks. Our BOE and over-administration in the schools is definitely a problem, but this unspoken line item in the budget is a real killer for Wayne taxes.

I believe that it is part of the NJ State Labor Law that require a minimum of 3 or 4 hours paid when called into a job; whether or not a person actually works that amount of hours. I also believe that the ruling does not apply to exempt/salaried workers or workers protected by a union (as is the case with our police officers). Maybe someone better versed in employment law can verify this?

The salaries of police have been immune to criticism, unlike our teachers. They impact us as dearly as anyone when it comes to taxpayers cost and ultimate pension costs. Possibly, because they are 12 month employees vs teachers being 10 month employees..I don't recall Governor Christie taking on the Police unions like he did the teachers. I'll say this.....a good teacher is as valuable to us as a good cop is. The teachers of today are teaching and molding our children who are our future. Correct me if I'm wrong.....can a policeman retire and collect his pension with 25 years service regardless of age? I think teachers have a formula which takes into consideration years of service and age.

Apparently, this site also does year to year comparisons...the figures apparently were for 2010.

NJ Public Employees, 2010

This list contains 437,000 teachers and local, county and state public employees enrolled in the state's various pension systems as of Dec. 31, 2010. Higher education professionals are enrolled in another plan, called the Alternate Benefit Program. The salaries reflected here are base salaries and do not include bonuses or overtime.
Note: These salaries are the best estimates provided by the reporting agencies to the state, but they may not reflect the actual salary paid in 2010. Some salaries could be highly inflated due to retroactive pay or other considerations. Compare to 2009 NJ Employees.

My understanding has always been that, regardless of age, a police officer can retire and collect their full pension after 20 or 25 years of service, dependent on the union contract. Many officers will then start their 2nd careers, usually in an investigative field or law. I know several attorneys who originally were police officers. It makes sense...they can attend law school while collecting their pension.

Justice....that figure for Juanita Petty.....was that for the 2010-2011 school year or the 2011-2012 school year. I ask the same question for the Ass't BA as I think she is making much more than 98K.

Let's see, who would be a better target for ridicule? Teachers, who are mostly of the female persuasion or police officers, who are mostly of the male persuasion? Neither should be targeted; but the whole system is in desperate need of a revision or the United States will soon become a Third World Country with two classes. "We the people, ......"

Al, it appears that the figures were for 2010, according to the site information:
"...NJ Public Employees, 2010

This list contains 437,000 teachers and local, county and state public employees enrolled in the state's various pension systems as of Dec. 31, 2010. Higher education professionals are enrolled in another plan, called the Alternate Benefit Program. The salaries reflected here are base salaries and do not include bonuses or overtime.
Note: These salaries are the best estimates provided by the reporting agencies to the state, but they may not reflect the actual salary paid in 2010. Some salaries could be highly inflated due to retroactive pay or other considerations. Compare to 2009 NJ Employees."

Al, it seems that the figures are calendar year as opposed to fiscal year. I am not certain but the educational (for lack of a better word, meaning administrators, teachers and support staff) contracts are on a fiscal year (July to June) as opposed to calendar year. Apparently, that would account for the discrepancies that you are picking up on. Additionally, the site also states that these are base salaries that do not include bonuses, overtime, etc. It seems that your numbers (as usual) are closer to the truth; but at least, we have a guide to evidence the differences between the administrators, social workers, school nurses and the actual teachers.....who are apparently and unfortunately at the bottom of the pecking order. It is unfortunate that people refer to everyone in the education hierarchy as "the teachers", since obviously, it is the administrators and support staff who are eating like royalty at the expense of the peasants.