BY MAYA ZISLIN
SPECIAL TO PASCACK PRESS
MONTVALE, N.J.—As costs continue to rise at school districts across New Jersey, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District is weighing whether outsourcing custodial services could help balance its budget while preserving vital educational programs and other staffing.
District officials have identified custodial services as one area under consideration as they confront increasing health insurance, salary and operating costs. The proposal has prompted concern among custodians, teachers, students and union representatives, who say the district’s custodial staff play an important role in both school operations and the broader community.
For years, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District _ serving families from Hillsdale, Montvale, River Vale, and Woodcliff Lake — has emphasized creating a safe and productive learning environment for students. Custodians are responsible for preparing classrooms, maintaining buildings, preventing accidents and keeping both Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley high schools ready for students each day.
Their responsibilities extend well beyond the regular school day. The buildings host elementary and middle school recreation programs, varsity athletics, extracurricular activities, graduations, Board of Education meetings, SAT and ACT testing, blood drives and, at Pascack Valley High School, voting. Custodians often begin work as early as 4 or 5 a.m. to prepare the buildings for students and community events.
The concern surfaces as the district navigates budget pressures tied largely to rising health care costs. As reported by Pascack Press, the board approved a $72.8 million preliminary budget for 2026–27 that would raise taxes by about 5.11% across its four sending towns. [“Custodial staffing concerns spur calls for turnout at April 13 regional BOE meeting” at thepressgroup.net.]
One district custodian, who preferred not to be named citing the sensitive nature of the situation, described the role this way:
“We are your ‘parents’ of the building. We make sure the facility is safe, both inside and outside. We are responsible for keeping the building maintained so that we prevent sickness and injury while you are all in school. We are your electricians, plumbers and carpenters, movers, and the eyes and ears of the building.”
The district’s budget challenges have intensified over the past year. According to interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips, health insurance costs increased by approximately 30%, while the district remains subject to New Jersey’s 2% annual property tax levy cap. Energy costs and negotiated salary increases have also outpaced that cap, placing additional pressure on the budget.
“This is a dollars-and-cents situation,” Phillips said. “We have already asked our principals to be more stringent on building budgets. We will be in a very similar situation next year. […] We are looking at more significant budget cuts.”
Phillips said the district hopes outsourcing custodial services, if ultimately pursued, could help preserve classroom staffing as well as programs such as clubs, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, and special education initiatives.
At the same time, many employees and community members have spoken publicly in support of retaining the district’s custodial staff.
Following the district’s required 90-day notice informing employees that outsourcing was under consideration, faculty members wore stickers supporting custodians, and teachers and students participated in designated “wear blue” days.
“Losing them will be losing a part of our family and community,” said one teacher, who requested anonymity. “Everyone knows who they are, and it feels like home.”
The custodian we spoke with added, “I bring my work ethic and my expertise to work every day. It’s my social connection, not just a job. I love to see the students and faculty.”
Paul Hildon, president of the Pascack Valley Regional Support Staff Association, said the issue extends beyond finances.
“The question is about what kind of community we want to have,” Hildon said. “Do we want a community of outsiders who may or may not have our best interest at hand? Or do we want to preserve our extended regional family?”
History teacher Debera Horn, who has taught at Pascack Hills for 26 years, expressed similar concerns during a Board of Education meeting.
“What I’ve learned are the values of our school district,” Horn said. “We value educational excellence, but we also value community and loyalty. Our custodians are part of that.”
She said she believes privatization would challenge those values.
Students have also followed the discussion.
“I don’t know the custodians personally, but it’s very clear they are doing a great job at keeping our school running,” said Pascack Hills sophomore Lina Park. “I don’t understand why we would do this to them after all they’ve done for us.”
No final decision has been made. District officials have emphasized that outsourcing remains one option under consideration as they continue evaluating ways to address long-term budget pressures.
Under New Jersey law, the district first issued a required 90-day notice to affected employees. Once that period concludes, private companies may submit proposals during a subsequent 20-day window. The Board of Education would then determine whether outsourcing custodial services is in the district’s best interest.
Editor’s note: Contributor Maya Zislin is managing editor of the Trailblazer, serving the Pascack Hills High School community. Pascack Press is proud to make room for the work of student journalists and for voices too often absent from the public record—voices that deepen our understanding of the communities we serve. For more information, write to John Snyder at editor@thepressgroup.net.