East Orange Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving is confident that the quality of education will not be affected by the recent layoffs of 70 teachers and staffers due to a major budget shortfall.

In an exclusive interview with News 12 New Jersey's Tony Caputo, Irving addressed concerns from parents about the impact of the layoffs on their children's education.

"I'm confident that what we put in place has not disrupted the day-to-day operation of classrooms," Irving said.

East Orange parents demand transparency as massive school layoffs loom

The superintendent explained that the layoffs were a necessary step to balance the district's budget, which had a nearly $8 million gap.

Irving acknowledged that some teachers are upset about losing colleagues, but he hopes to finalize a new contract with the teachers’ union soon.

The superintendent believes that the difficult decision will ultimately benefit the district and the community in the long run.