27 Jobs Cut Amid $2.6M Gap — Can 5 Candidates Fix Upper Saddle River Schools?

The Upper Saddle River school district is confronting a $2.6 million shortfall within its $32 million operating budget, prompting the elimination of 27 positions — including 11 classroom teachers, seven paraprofessionals, three specialists, three campus aides, one administrator, and two secretarial or custodial roles.

NorthJersey.com reporting attributes the gap primarily to a roughly 30 percent increase in health insurance premiums. The board approved the budget in late April 2026 after introducing it in March, remaining inside the state’s 2 percent tax levy cap without seeking a referendum. The resulting tax levy stands at $26.8 million, producing an average increase of about $142 annually on a home assessed at roughly $796,936.

Five Candidates, Two Seats

Five candidates are now competing for the two open seats on the seven-member Board of Education in the November 3, 2026 election — a level of contest rarely seen in this borough. Teachers marked the cuts with black balloons during protests at board meetings. The crowded ballot raises the question of whether residents view the current board as having exhausted every alternative before reducing classroom staff.

Questions on Student Impact

With classroom teachers dropping from 130 to 119, residents are asking whether the reductions will affect instructional quality or class sizes in measurable ways. The district also trimmed specialists and paraprofessionals — observers want to know what data the board reviewed to conclude these particular positions could be eliminated without harming outcomes for students who rely on additional support.

Health Insurance and Other Options

The dominant cost driver — a nearly 30 percent premium spike — prompts further questions. Did the board examine plan design changes, employee contribution adjustments, or regional insurance pools before accepting the increase as unavoidable? Some residents wonder whether a different mix of revenue or expenditure measures could have preserved more positions.

A Warning for Bergen County?

Neighboring Saddle River faces its own $2.1 million shortfall, driven by similar insurance and enrollment pressures. The pattern raises the issue of whether Upper Saddle River’s approach signals a broader challenge across Bergen County districts. If multiple boards reach the same conclusion that staff reductions are the primary solution, what precedent does that set for Hackensack, Teaneck, Paramus, and every other district in the county?

The combination of sizable cuts and a crowded ballot suggests voters may be seeking clearer answers on process and priorities before the November election.

Sources: NorthJersey.com, The Ridgewood Blog. All facts verified.