Please read Dr. Irving's latest update to the EOSD community regarding the district's financial landscape, our core priorities, and the road ahead.
October 30, 2026
Dear East Orange School Community,
As we navigate the current school year and look ahead to planning our budget for the upcoming 2027–2028 academic year, I want to share a transparent update on our district's financial landscape, our core priorities, and the road ahead.
Like many school districts across the region, we are navigating significant fiscal headwinds this year. Our single largest challenge continues to be the steep rise in healthcare and benefit costs, which has exerted unexpected pressure on our current operating budget. Managing these non-negotiable cost increases requires us to be highly deliberate with every dollar we allocate.
Despite these current pressures, our top priority remains supporting the people who make our schools thrive every day. We are actively entering labor negotiations with our teachers and our principal and administrator unions. Our goal in these discussions is clear: we want to reach fair, competitive, and long-term contract agreements—ideally securing a five-year deal—that provide stability, predictability, and deserving compensation for our educator and administrative leadership teams over the long haul.
Achieving this balance between fiscal responsibility and investing in our personnel requires hard choices and shared effort across every department. I want to express my deepest gratitude to our administrative team, staff, and school leadership for your cooperation and care as we make necessary budgetary adjustments to keep our district on solid footing.
Leadership begins with accountability. Recognizing the overall fiscal challenges our district is managing, I have informed the Board that I will not be taking the salary increase outlined in my new contract that begins in November. While this is a small step in the broader scope of our total budget, it reflects my firm commitment that every dollar must be directed where it matters most: supporting our classrooms, our students, and the educators who serve them.
January is right around the corner and we will formally begin our active budget planning process for the 2027–2028 school year. I look forward to working closely with our leadership team and Board to build a plan that preserves high-quality instruction while maintaining fiscal stability.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and our district's long-term strength.
Sincerely,
Dr. Christopher Irving, Superintendent of Schools