Cost-Cutting or Corner-Cutting? Hardyston's Budget Proposals Under Scrutiny
As the Hardyston Board of Education dives into budget season, some proposals on the table are raising serious eyebrows - and even bigger questions.
From busing changes to schedule shifts to budgeting without real numbers, there’s a lot that parents and taxpayers need to keep an eye on.
Here’s the breakdown.
🚌 Pre-K to 8th Graders on the Same Bus?
One of the more alarming ideas? Consolidating bus routes by putting pre-K students on the same buses as middle schoolers.
- No data presented. No studies shared.
- Parent concerns about exposing 4-year-olds to middle school behavior? Brushed off.
- Adding bus monitors or retired police officers was floated-but no cost estimate was provided.
- And get this: They didn’t even plan to survey parents first.
This isn’t just a “cost-saving idea.” It’s a student safety and supervision nightmare waiting to happen.
🕑 Adjusting School Start Times to Force Bus Consolidation
To make the bus plan work, board members also floated changing school start times.
- Major schedule shifts for families-barely discussed.
- How would it affect working parents, childcare, or kids’ academic routines? No answers.
Pushing huge logistical changes with this little planning?
Not exactly inspiring confidence.
💳 Budgeting Without Real Cost-Saving Analysis
It gets worse.
While big cost-cutting ideas were being thrown around, actual numbers were scarce:
- No solid figures on healthcare costs (one of the biggest budget drivers).
- No financial breakdowns for bus consolidation savings.
- Staffing cuts discussed with zero clear dollar amounts attached.
How can you cut smart when you’re basically flying blind?
Spoiler: You can’t.
📊 Concerns About Academic Performance & Spending Priorities
Board discussions also circled back to a bigger, nagging question:
- Are students actually seeing better academic outcomes for all this spending?
Some board members pointed out:
- Math scores are sliding.
- Attendance is struggling.
Ideas like “set academic goals first, then set the budget” were brought up.
(You know, basic good governance.)
But not everyone seemed ready to connect dollars to actual student success.
💬 Community Engagement is Critical
Bottom line: these decisions aren’t minor.
- Busing.
- School schedules.
- Where tax dollars are spent-and whether students actually benefit.
If you’re a parent, taxpayer, or just someone who cares about where Hardyston is heading, now’s the time to start paying attention.
More budget workshops are scheduled. And the next one matters.
Because if these “cost-saving” plans move forward without real planning or real numbers-students and families will pay the price.