Sussex Tech proposes cutting three programs in budget. What's next after critics fire back

SPARTA — This wasn't quite Hollywood. No aging actor returned to give an emotional speech to save the job of their high school drama coach.

Yet Thursday night's meeting of the Sussex County Technical School board was nonetheless full of drama over the fate of the school's theater arts, architecture and graphic design programs. All three are on the chopping block as the school seeks to cut $800,000 from a $15 million budget.

More than 100 speakers turned the meeting into a seven-hour marathon and railed against what they saw as the board's lack of faith with its own students. At one point, at one critic's urging, the crowd silently turned its back on the seven-member panel to show its disdain.

The board ultimately did not vote on the proposed budget and will instead await feedback from the Sussex County commissioners. Commissioners Earl Schick and Jack DeGroot were in the audience Thursday night, and the commissioners plan to discuss the controversy at their next meeting on Wednesday.

How Sussex Tech cuts would affect students, staff

The crowd included graduates of Sussex County Technical High School who protested that cutting the three career-track "shops" would hurt students seeking to get a start in life. Those already enrolled in graphic arts, theater or architecture may have to shift to other academic tracks midway through high school or return to their local districts.

"Shop," as in the slogan "Save Our Shops" that graced the green T-shirts worn by many in the crowd, is shorthand for one of the 19 four-year academic programs, most often technical in nature, taught at the school located along Route 94.

In addition to the three "shops" on the block, the cuts involve more than a half-dozen staff positions. Per contracts, those ensuing layoffs will settle out by way of seniority and teacher classification.

Late into the public comment period, at the urging of one speaker, the scores in the crowd stood as one. Instead of yelling their anger out a window, like the protagonist in the 1976 classic "Network," they silently turned their backs, as one, on the seven board members sitting on the stage.

What's next in budget debate

The meeting was held in the school's auditorium, the largest in the county. But the only voices to came forth from the stage came well after 11 p.m. − the meeting began at 4 p.m. − when board members motioned to approve agenda items. No budget was among the items that were approved en masse.

Schick was the last speaker who stepped to the microphone. The commissioners appoint the Tech school board members. They have limited oversight of the budget, but are scheduled to further discuss the matter at next Wednesday's meeting at 6 p.m. in the County Office Building on 1 Spring St. in Sparta.

While not a formal charter school, Sussex Tech's popularity is such that there is often a waiting list and competition for slots in not only the usual shop trades, such as welding, auto repair and carpentry, but in more specialized programs such as architecture, theater arts, law enforcement and photography/videography.

This year, there were a total of 19 specialized fields of study available. Final interviews and the selection process for new admissions for the 2024-25 school year were completed last week. The student population at "Tech" is about 670 in grades 9-12.

A common theme among the speakers was that cutting the three programs amounted to cutting off the future of the students involved. As an example, one man said that within a couple of miles of the high school, three graphic design businesses were looking for employees.

The theater arts program is an opening to more than 40 career fields, another noted, citing the long list of jobs credited at the end of a movie.

Sparta Township Mayor Neill Clark said he is working on bringing a motion picture to film in and around town, taking advantage of the school's strong performing arts base. One of his selling points is the strong theater arts program, he said.

Many complained that the school's budget issues and the proposed cuts were revealed abruptly. "Only one week," exclaimed one man of the warning the community received. "We were all blindsided without hearing what your plans are for our children's future."

"We were duped," shouted another.

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This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex Technical School budget cuts blasted at marathon meeting