BOE president Sheila Brogan The BOE also believes that, despite 10 years of construction, the BF student’s experience won’t be diminished,”
Ridgewood NJ, Last night, the Ridgewood Board of Education — the elected leaders of our school system — weighed in on Valley Hospital’s plan to double in size right next to Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Their verdict: they are fine with a 94 foot tall, 1,000,000 square foot hospital standing 40 feet from the BF property line. That’s right: BOE president Sheila Brogan said it. When asked if the BOE was “ok” with a building that big being next to BF she answered, “yes.” The BOE also believes that, despite 10 years of construction, the BF student’s experience won’t be diminished, and will be equal to the GW student’s experience. Really?
The BOE members are the overseers of our children’s education, and the
stewards of the BF property. Despite the moral, legal, and fiduciary
responsibilities that come with those roles, they didn’t stand up and say
what is so plainly obvious — that the Valley amendment poses clear and
substantial risk, with zero benefit, to the school children of Ridgewood.
For those who missed the Planning Board meeting last night, the BOE, as they
did in 2009, “advised” the Planning Board by submitting a wish list of
“developer’s agreement” conditions. Those are terms that are effective once
the project is approved, and pertain only during the construction phase of
the project. But as the BOE members know full well, they have no power to
impose any of those conditions, which begs this fundamental question; what
protection did the BOE give our school children at last night’s meeting? The
answer is that the BOE put our children in greater danger. Once again their
“neutrality” will be viewed by this Planning Board as acquiescence, which
will make it easier for the Planning Board to approve this project.
Shamefully, our BOE not only failed to protect our children tonight, they
made matters worse.
If you care to express your frustration directly to the BOE members, please
contact them at the email addresses below:
sbrogan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
; viloncto@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
; ckrauss@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
; mlenhard@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
; jmorgan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
The BOE took the easy way out. This will be reflected in the next election, without a doubt.
Shame on the BOE!
brogan screwed up the curriculum so why would anyone be surprised that she’d sell BF down the river?
If this was the best the BOE could come up with, the community would have been better served by having a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader from BF voice their concerns. If she really believes her unscripted statements she should consider relinquishing her position.
$500,000 Buys a lot of support.
At what meeting will public comment begin?
We can show up to the next Board of Ed. meeting on November 4th.
They didn’t say, #5, but they did say that the next Valley-related PB meeting will be two days before Thanksgiving and one day before Chanukah. Nice making sure nobody comes!
Any resident who does not show up without a really good reason is a fool. No brainier if you have kids.
Thank God the representatives from the CRR, as well as the residents who had questions for Ms. Brogan, were right on with their statements and questions. Much thanks to all.
Thanks for the board’s email addresses. I just wrote to them and stated:
Shame on you. How can you take the position that a 10 year construction project right next door to B.F. will not have any negative impact on children attending B.F.? You all have sold out our children and we won’t forget it. You have shown us all what matters to you and it certainly is not our kids’ health or education. What a pathetic, spinless board we have. No need to reply to this email, you already gave me and my family the finger last night.
I especially liked the question by a resident about the landscaping of the school property and the fact that all of that is done during non school hours and therefore how can you say that 10 years of everyday construction would have no impact on the students! Yeah right!!
As a special education teacher I’m here to tell you it will have a significant impact on the children.
I don’t have any children in this school system anymore but I have to say Ms. Brogan’s statement regarding the above was one of the more bizarre. And I thought the Valley “experts” were done. Silly me !
Ridgewood is for sale to the highest bidder. Valley Hospital or the Chamber of Commerce gang of 5 with their developers and our Carpetbagger Mayor and Big Al the Developers friend in their back pocket
If the BOE said anything negative, they wouldn’t have a let to stand on when the requests for BF students to attend GW come in. This is just a strategic move by the BOE to build a foundation for denying transfer requests from BF.
Nice going BOE!
PS – the RAHP program sucks; we are getting nothing of value from Valley Hospitals “contribution ” (aka bribe).
Show your concern by showing up at the next BOE meeting on Monday, November 4th.
I agree with #s 1 and 2. Brogan has screwed up enough things, so why should we be surprised. She and the BOE put out this Bullshit “we request” memo after taking a half a $million from Valley. And she wants us to think that she’s objective. Let’s vote Brogan and the others out at the next election.
Outside of an ego trip, why is she still there ?
I believe its because she gets the votes
I hate the undercurrent of class warfare—-we on the East side, and our children, are treated like we’re expendable. It’s only the GW kids who really matter, right?
No kidding, but why is she running ? Has nothing better to do,on an ego trip,etc. For the 25 yrs. plus that I have been here I certainly have seen my fair share of those.