An Essex County school district is facing pushback from students and educators after dozens of employees, including 22 teachers, learned they will be losing their jobs amid a decline in enrollment.
Students walked out of Montclair High School last week to protest staffing and program reductions, two days after the school board approved a $148 million spending plan for the 2023-24 school year. Student enrollment in the school district began a steep decline during the 2018-19 school year.
The job cuts include 65 positions, a district spokesperson said. In addition to the 22 teachers losing their jobs at the end of the current school year, nine vacant teaching positions will remain unfilled and 34 paraprofessionals — educators offering in-class support to teachers — also will be let go.