>RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS ARE OPEN TODAY, THURSDAY, SEPT. 20, 2007
After hearing late yesterday afternoon that the Emerson mayor had received a bomb threat letter, I immediately contacted the Ridgewood police. After several conversations we concluded that there was no specific threat to the Ridgewood schools. Nevertheless, additional security measures were initiated at all buildings overnight. We continue to feel that it is safe for students to come to our schools today. Therefore, Ridgewood public schools are open today for a full session. Dr. Timothy Brennan, Interim Superintendent
>It’s a tough judgment call, for sure.
Paramus and Ridgewood are open.
Closed are:
Emerson: 4 schools – 3 public, 1 catholic
Oradell: 5 schools – 1 grammar, 2 catholic, 2 high schools (shares middle school and high school with River Edge)
River Edge: 4 schools – 2 grammar schools, 1 catholic, 1 middle school
Closter: 8 schools
Demarest: 6 schools
Haworth, Harrington Park, Northvale, Norwood: 7 schools
Old Tappan: 3 schools – 2 grammar schools, 1 high school
River Vale: 3 schools – 2 grammar, 1 middle school
Westwood: 7 schools
Washington Township: 90-minute delay
>I praise Brennan for keeping the schools open. Of course, we should be cautious, but a threat to 2 schools should not equal a wholesale holiday for far flung students and workers. That’s an over reaction and leaders have to be mindful of that, too.
>Communication could have been better on this. My kid was sent away from the high school for his Kaplan class and I expected one of those automated calls, but there was nothing.
Of course the kids then circlated misinformation like crazy.
>I think the communication was fine. It seems crazy to expect a phone call to tell you that school is NOT closed. Do yoou need that call every day? The news last night listed the schools that were closed, on the 5:00 news, 6:00 news, 11:00 news, etc etc. Ridgewood was never on the list. Therefore, school was not closed. Easy as pie.
>2:36pm
2:36pm
Schools in surrounding areas which were not closed where enforcing “closed campuses” and “no visitor” polices. That might have been communicated if RW was doing that.
But as my son pointed out, there is no way to “close” the RW high campus. He said all the kids went outside at 11:00am out of superstition.
>This is a silly discussion. Brennan made the best judgment he could, the information was available, and life goes on.
Seems to me we should be grateful for having good leadership. Is it a perfect process? No.
>Gosh 2:21 I guess you really told me! I meant it would have been nice to get a phone call that the incident happened. They have the automated system why not use it? It’s about transparency. I never said communication was lacking, I just questioned why not use the automated system to communicate the REAL story. HS kids were all over this thing last night with so much misinformation. With the internet and text messaging kids have instant access to information. Sometimes the info is correct and sometimes it’s just a rumor. It just would have been nice to calm my freshman’s fears with something concrete instead of “I’m sure we’ll find out what happened soon.” It actually didn’t even occur to me last night, as I was watching the news to give to my kid, that school would be closed. So when I got the email early this am describing the incident I was surprised it was even under consideration.
>Good call, Dr. Brennan.
>Kudos to Dr. Brennan.
>I may not always agree with Dr. Brennan, but it’s a big relief to have wise, approachable, intelligent leadership in place.