JULY 1, 2015 Â Â LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015, 9:24 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Tensions were high last Monday night as a large crowd of parents gathered at the Board of Education meeting to voice their displeasure about various issues. The assembly was so large that additional chairs had to be laid out for the capacity crowd.
Parents packed last week’s Ridgewood Board of Education meeting to voice their displeasure over the increasing class sizes at some village elementary schools.
Many parents attended the meeting to protest increasing class sizes in some Ridgewood elementary schools.
Sheila Brogan, BOE president, issued a preemptive statement at the beginning of the meeting, saying, “I did want you to know that we have been listening. It has not been falling on deaf ears that people are concerned about the sizes of some of the classes in some of our elementary schools.”
This did little to mollify the crowd, however, as many went to the podium to express their displeasure and disappointment with the board’s handling of the issue.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/parents-question-increase-in-class-sizes-1.1366351
Wait – in all this a Willard parent talked about property values dropping if his elementary school kid gets “bussed” to another Ridgewood school? He is afraid of school integration? I am sorry but I know that some people with big heads don’t know enough to stay away from the mike. People like that should home school so that their children don’t have to mix with undesirables. Is there any air where he put his head?
Anyway, what is the plan? What are the enrollment projections? Large class sizes affect all of us (Not just Willard). I am planning to sell and have plenty of room for a large family. Walk to schools!
Let’s build more apartments in town.
Larger class sizes at the same time that some parents are asking for full day kindergarten.
I would prefer to use the scarce resources for more teachers and smaller class sizes. The kindergarteners will be ok, the effects of larger classes on older students will be significant.
Another worthless statement from the BOE president. I thought she was done making them after she embarrassed the BOE at the Valley Planning Board meeting. Apparently not. I guess nobody wants her job. For those who move to Ridgewood for the schools, that’s unfortunate.
There are already 22 per class in k at some schools.
This is not just Willard although they complained the loudest. Sections have been cut in other schools (Ridge for one) and ridge, Hawes and Willard (that I know of) will have classes of 24 students. Within the guidelines of NJ but hardly desirable.
Where the hell were these people when the planning board voted to bring a couple hundred more families into town?
12:58 PM – You hit the nail on the head.
And the incentive is still to sell your house when the kids are gone because the taxes are too high. We are victims of our own lack of planning.
An apartment is the least expensive way to get your kids i to Ridgewood schools.
As these new residents keep whining, it gives the long time homeowners and empty nesters an early warning sing to bail out Asap. And as you know the families purchasing these homes will add to the student population……and your taxes will just go higher
“Tradition” of excellence….