Ramsey Board of Education suspends auto tech program, will 'assess the future viability'

Marsha A. Stoltz, NorthJersey.com
·3 min read
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RAMSEY — The Board of Education's $77.3 million budget hearing Tuesday will not include a line item for its long-celebrated Auto Technology program, one of the last offered by a public school in Bergen County.

A petition by residents on change.org has 855 signatures seeking to have the program retained. However, Schools Superintendent Andrew Matteo characterized the move as more of a suspension than a permanent ban.

"Requests for automotive courses have dropped 74% in the past decade, from 121 students in 2013 to 31 students this year," Matteo said in an email statement. "These numbers no longer justify four teachers in the Tech Ed department. We decided to pause the Automotive Technology program for 2023-2024 to assess the future viability of the program and explore alternatives in the automotive sector."

Matteo emphasized that he and the school board "recognize the opportunities in the trades and continue to support and encourage students who are not on the college-prep track."

Ramsey residents have organized a petition on change.org calling on the Board of Education to retain the area's only remaining high school auto repair program.
Ramsey residents have organized a petition on change.org calling on the Board of Education to retain the area's only remaining high school auto repair program.

"For a small public high school, we offer a wide range of courses in these areas," Matteo said. The list includes woodworking, engineering, robotics, technical and architectural drawing, photography, video production and culinary arts.

Ramsey’s 2,600 students are educated in two K-3 primary schools, one grade 4-5 upper elementary school, a middle school for grades 6-8, and its high school, with an enrollment of 782 students, down from 964 in 2012-2013.

The district's budget is up $1.58 million, or 2.09%. On the average home, valued at $522,942, the school portion of municipal taxes would increase by $238 a year. Primary increases come from health care costs, up 16%, and bus route contracts, up 50%.

Among the proposed additions in the budget are world language teachers at Tisdale and Hubbard elementary schools, two teachers in gifted education, so each K-5 school has its own teacher, and full-time security officers in each building.

More: New Jersey needs 23,800 auto mechanics to be trained in the next seven years

If Ramsey's is suspended, the only automobile courses in the county would be offered by Bergen County Technical High School in Paramus.

New Jersey voters approved the $500 million Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act in 2018, allocating $350 million of that for vocational programs and security. But increased concern about student safety has many schools diverting their finances to upgrade access points and hire security personnel.

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The petition cites a projected need for 24,000 new auto technicians across the U.S. by 2025 and the importance of addressing the education needs of students not headed to four-year colleges.

"College education is not for everyone, and it is crucial to provide students with alternative options to explore," said resident Tyler Hornidge. "Ramsey High School is depriving students of the chance to gain valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in a growing and exciting field, as well as the opportunity to explore alternative career paths."

The budget hearing Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. will be held at Ramsey High School, 256 E. Main St. For more information, visit the district's website, ramsey.k12.nj.us.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramsey Board of Education to suspend auto technology program