As school districts are cutting costs and shrinking budgets, one Jersey Shore community is outraged after officials voted to get rid of full time paraprofessionals and pre-school teaching assistants.
Parents and those being let go say this will greatly impact the children of Little Egg Harbor Township School District who are in most need of extra support in the classroom.
In March, 2026, school board members in Little Egg Harbor Township voted to eliminate the positions for the upcoming school year with a plan for part-time employees to fill the roles.
There are 81 paraprofessionals and pre-school teaching assistants impacted by this decision and they were told that if they want to stay on, they have to apply for the part-time positions.
“We were all very blindsided,” paraprofessional Denise DeVito said. “The children will be greatly affected by not having the consistency of us there.”
On Tuesday, the school board got an earful from outraged parents and district staffers at a budget meeting who say they believe special education students will be hurt the most.
Officials said that this decision was not an easy one.
They explained that it’s needed to help offset a nearly 33% spike in healthcare costs and that many other New Jersey school districts are facing similar financial pressures.
District leaders say that the level of services to students will continue under this new restructuring plan, but some are not convinced.
“You’re losing the extra care that they need,” parent Brittney Kalinowski said. “It’s absolutely insane for many reasons.”
A union representative told the school board that abolishing the full-time positions is illegal and vowed to challenge the decision.
The board president told NBC10 that they are open to negotiating with the union.