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View of window shades on Science Park High School, Norfolk Avenue, Newark. (Jerry McCrea/The Star Ledger)
NEWARK - Hundreds of city teachers who had been languishing without assignments have been placed back into classrooms as school officials continue to explore way to close a significant budget deficit.
During his first public appearance since being named superintendent of schools, Christopher Cerf said the pool of so-called "educators without placement" has shrunk from around 450 as of July 1 to approximately 179.
Thinning those ranks has helped the district trim a deficit that was estimated at around $40 million earlier this year, to between $15 and $20 million - about 2 percent of its nearly $1 billion budget, according to Cerf.
"If there is a vacancy in your title, you have found a place in the district," he said. "That has been good for teachers, it has been good for educators, and I also know that is has been fiscally essential."
The number of unassigned teachers has ballooned in recent years as charter schools proliferated in the city and district schools were either closed or reconfigured as part of the controversial "One Newark" plan. District spokeswoman Brittany Chord Parmley said that while they may have no permanent assignment, they are used as substitutes or given duties in the central office.
In addition to school closings and decreases in enrollment, many ended up there as a result of poor performance reviews, or because they refused to work the extra hours and duties required at schools placed in the district's "turnaround program." Approximately 100 of those who remain unassigned are the subject of an ongoing investigation or tenure charges by the district, officials said.
Reassigning them helps ease the financial burden on a perpetually cash-strapped district. A Wall Street Journal article published last month estimated the 450 unassigned teachers' combined annual salaries at the time at $35 million, citing data from Newark Teachers Union.
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However, Cerf noted Tuesday that many would be taking the spots of high-performing employees, who were nonetheless placed on the chopping block due to union seniority rules, often referred to as LIFO -- shorthand for "last in, first out."
"In some cases these are very respected, beloved employees," he said. "Someone in EWPS (educators without placement) had to fill those spots."
The reassignments have not been a cure-all for the district's budget woes.
Materials distributed at Tuesday School Advisory Board meeting indicated that 41 "instructional" employees have been terminated since June. All but 13 of those were without assignment, although other casualties included active teachers, social workers and guidance counselors.
Cerf said that officials worked hard to concentrate staff cuts in the central office, to best avoid affecting those who come into direct contact with students. He also cautioned, however, that some vacancies will remain unfilled and it remains unclear how the remaining gap will be closed.
"I do not want to kid you. The schools will feel this," he said.
Newark Teachers Union President John Abeigon characterized Cerf's presentation as misleading, and said "dozens" of aides and clerks faced layoffs while the higher-ranking employees many view as responsible for the deficit remain unscathed.
"The only people who it doesn't apply to is people who are guilty for the fiasco down there," he said. "The numbers make it sound as though its peachy keen. The boots on the ground say otherwise."
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified positions affected by layoffs.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.