Category: Village of Ridgewood

Ridgewood Public Schools

UNOFFICIAL ELECTION RESULTS
The unofficial election results are as follows:

               Yes            No
Budget    1,206         988

Michele Lenhard:     1,383
James Morgan:        1,302

Common Core Educational Standards
April 15th 2013

You’ll recall the ruckus raised recently on this site and throughout the village when the Ridgewood district first resisted, then disingenuously revised the district’s math offerings, improving some circumstances at the elementary level but leaving the middle schools in particular in a world of hurt.

Well the time may have come to begin pinging on the Ridgewood district once again.  As many people are aware, there is a nationalization effort well underway that will deprive not only local school districts, but this time also state educational leaders of the ability to maintain true stadards to provide students the opportunity to master critical academic subjects before they leave the fold to attend college.  Will the Ridgewood district fall prey once again to faddish change for change’s sake?

The following web-page has interesting information about Common Core, as well as links to further information.

Does anyone else hear the faint creak of the rusty hinges of the proverbial cheap camera as it commences folding once again?  There is no acacemic standard so poor that it can’t be weakened still further by advantageously-positioned and ideologically-motivated individuals such as our illustrious Assistant Superintendent in charge of Curriculum, Ms. Botsford.

https://twitchy.com/2013/04/14/exxon-commoncore/?utm_source=autotweet&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=twitter

Readers says , note to the BOE. The endless increases there need to stop

Look at their presentation under “initiatives” – they want to add even more courses – none are core requirements, and most of which are honors courses. How much does each one cost? How many kids will each one benefit and by how much?

Instead of telling you, they offer an apples to oranges comparison showing average school taxes have increased 5%/yr over a long period. But fear not– average home values have increased 8% over the same period, they say.

Oh joy. How do you monetize that? No one issues you an “appreciation certificate” you can take to the tax collector as partial payment of your now even larger bill.
And even if you could refinance every year at super low rates, there’s a cost to that, which of course their presentation fails to show.

They also don’t show the substantial cost we as taxpayers pay for BOE debt service.

Sure I’m for good schools, and I went to the schools here myself, K-12, when most classes had 30 (to one teacher) and many had more. Funny thing though… the schools were rated higher than they are now– despite a lot more kids in the system.
RHS when I went there was a 3 year school — yet had over 300 more kids attending than it does today— as a 4 year school.

Some of the way-too-many extras need to go and save the cost. I have relatives who for 2 generations have taught at an exclusive private prep school in New England, rated near the top nationally. Yet they offer LESS “extra” courses than our taxpayer funded schools do…. and those who want ‘em have to pay extra for ‘em, too. Gosh, what a concept.

Also note that the Council received “word” from 2 BOE members (it was said in last meeting) that BOE has zero interest in having any kind of Financial Oversight group studying them. Gee… wonder why? Same type of thing they did to sandbag Morgan’s initiative of “hey, can’t we start with zero?”

They put it off and then at last minute came up with draconian cuts that nearly no one would want. He questioned it, they pretty much rebuked him and said “no, that’s that”. Amazing. In a budget that huge, there have got to be others…. like the stuff in their own presentation trying to justify the latest increase.

Voting NO on the school budget and hope others will do that too.

Share With 911 is accessible from anything that connects to the Internet, like this SmartBoard

Local Company Share With 911 takes on School Safety
April 11,2013

Share With 911 creates private and secure Emergency Communication Networks (ECN) for your school, campus or building, linking the people who need help directly with those who respond to provide it.

“We turn your computer, mobile phone or tablet into a emergency communication device that enables you to share and receive critical, emergency information with your co-workers and First Responders, in real-time.” – Erik Endress, CEO

We enable 911, Police and Building Administrators/Managers to broadcast real-time alerts, such as the need to lockdown or evacuate, to your employees, directly to their mobile device. When they receive an alert, your employees respond by sharing their actual location, their status, headcount and a message about what they see or the help they need.

Now, First Responders can see what is happening while responding to and once on the scene of the emergency. This information is prioritized for them in real-time, showing them where they need to go first, to mitigate a threat such as an active shooter or where to find trapped and injured persons.

Incident Commanders, First Responders and Building Managers can use our system to communicate directly with your employees keeping them informed and directing them to take specific actions by transmitting incident updates right from their own mobile device.

Share With 911 was designed with high occupancy locations in mind. Places like schools, college campuses, shopping centers, hospitals, high-rise office and residential buildings or any place where you have a large number of people, in the same location, involved in the same emergency, are the places where our system can make a big difference.

Share With 911 is Powered By OnScene Technologies, Inc. a Ramsey, New Jersey company that applies technology-based solutions to location-based problems.

The web-based platform connects people inside of an emergency with 911, Law Enforcement and First Responders via private, secure Emergency Communication Networks (ECN) that are accessible from any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection.

The idea for Share With 911 came from our CEO, Erik Endress, himself a volunteer First Responder for more than 25 years, who was frustrated by the communication disconnect that existed during these incidents.

Share With 911 was designed with high occupancy locations in mind. Places like schools, college campuses, shopping centers, hospitals, high-rise office and residential buildings or any place where you have a large number of people, in the same location, involved in the same emergency, are the places where our system can make a big difference.

You can contact OnScene Technologies right now at (201) 785-7902 or by emailing erik [at} onscenetechnologies.com

State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf

State officials release comparative ‘performance reports’ for every NJ public school
Wednesday April 10, 2013, 3:50 PM
BY  LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

State officials released new “performance reports” on every New Jersey public school today, saying the new categories for student growth, absenteeism, success in advanced courses and other measures will give parents more information than the report cards of the past.

State Education Commissioner Chris Cerf has made overhauling the reports a major project in his push to boost the number of students who finish high school ready for college and careers. Some superintendents, however, complained the new format contained too many errors and unfair comparisons among schools that were not truly “peers.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/State_officials_release_comparative_performance_reports_for_every_NJ_public_school.html

School districts to pay more for school construction projects
By Jarrett Renshaw/The Star-Ledger
updated April 08, 2013 at 8:46 PM

TRENTON — Hundreds of school districts will pay more in debt service on construction projects for the budget year beginning July 1, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff said today.

State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) said Gov. Chris Christie failed to mention the increased borrowing costs when he unveiled his $32.8 billion budget for fiscal 2014 in February and touted that state aid to school districts remained relatively flat.

“The headlines said schools are being held harmless, but that’s just misleading,” Sarlo told Eristoff at a Senate Budget Committee hearing.

Since 2011, the Economic Development Authority has charged school districts 15 percent of the borrowing costs for school construction projects, with the state picking up the remaining tab.

https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/04/less_state_aid_as_school_distr.html

Moxie Twins Salon
April 8 ,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Many readers had not heard of the Moxie Twins Salon until the recent “episode” durring the taping of the Real Housewives of New Jersey . While we are not a fan of the show the owners of Ridgewood’s Moxie Twins Salon  have voiced concern that their reputation may have taken a hit during the taping an altercation .

While many readers felt it was nothing more than a publicity stunt others have such low expectations for the  D list celebs in reality TV series they have long looked with disdain and worry Ridgewood is becoming a magnet for these types of shows.

What ever your feeling we though we would introduce the Moxie Twins Salon and let you make up your own mind.

You don’t know style until you’ve met the “Moxie Twins”. Say hello to Jamie and Jenn, identical twin hairstylists who truly know how to get glam.

As teens, they simultaneously attended high school and trained using Paul Mitchell’s curriculum at the Parisian Beauty Academy, a Paul Mitchell partner school, in Hackensack, NJ. After graduation, while most others were just starting their hairstyling educations, Jenn and Jamie were already taking the country by storm. True “bicoastal stylists,” they beautified women (and men!) on both sides of the country, in both LA and NY. They took additional enrichment classes in New York City and trained with Guiseppe Franco, one of the TOP THREE HAIRDRESSERS IN THE WORLD. Throughout their careers, the girls have contributed to many charitable causes. They have appeared at several battered women’s shelters in New Jersey and offered haircuts free of charge, a glam pick-me-up for those who need it most. Additionally, they have assisted at St. Jude’s cut-a-thons, which raise money for childhood cancer research, and donated to the Joan’s Joy Foundation. They can often be found helping causes fundraise and donating services to auctions to help local schools and community centers.

Currently, the twins’ salon is located in Ridgewood, NJ. They offer professional haircuts, styling, and coloring, hair and eyelash extensions, and Motives make-up and custom blend foundation consultations. Both are La Bella hair and eyelash extension certified and Brazilian keratin treatment certified. In addition, Jenn is a Wella trained and certified colorist. Jamie is a Motives make-up custom blend foundation specialist.

Today, Jenn and Jamie are well-known throughout the tri-state area and beyond for their tremendous talent, vibrant energy, and unwavering zest for life. Their work speaks for itself. (https://www.moxietwins.com/about-us/ )

We are located at:

57 E. Ridgewood Ave, Ridgewood, NJ Tel: 201.652.1006

Readers Not Very Sympathetic to Ridge School Traffic Woes

Say wait till they build another 500 housing units in the middle of town

Solution= let the kids walk to school. Problem solved. When I grew up we walked to school. We did not need ‘helicopter parents’.

Have police start giving tickets to these parents and it will change.

I’ve got a great idea — lets build another 500 housing units in the middle of town so that we have more traffic past Ridge and all our schools every morning. Could someone suggest this please to the planning board and Village council. I bet no one has thought of that idea yet.

If they build new housing units, the taxpaying new residents will have just as much right to attend the school as your children. Chances are, since you have children in school you are also a new resident. So the last person to move here wants the door shut to others. So typical. Here’s a unique idea, let the kid WALK to school.

Same thing at the preschools, First Pres and the school in the church by stop and shop. The cars line up with no regard for the motorists who need to drive on the double yellow line to pass them.

It is the parents who create the safety problems. Their convenience is more important than the safety of the adults & children who travel these roads.

do you really expect a 4 year old to walk to preschool? Or for a parent to walk their kid there, 15 minutes each way, before getting on a train or driving to work? Cut them some slack for Christ’s sake. It’s common knowledge to avoid schools / bus routs certain times of the day. Take a different route! If you simply must go to S&S at that time of the day, go in the back way.

After 2nd grade, my kid’s walking. Maybe she’ll get a ride to a few blocks away as my wife heads out to work, but I can’t see getting dropped off at school…for the reason mentioned above.

Reader says : VOTE NO TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET

VOTE NO TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET. Ask your neighbors to do the same, ignoring the fact that the two people running for the school board are incumbents.

Then watch the council let the budget go through anyway, as happened last time it was voted down. There is little down side .Still a good thing to do. Schools have been bludgeoning parents and kids for years about this. They need to shut it down.

Any Ridgewood resident who is a registered voter may cast a ballot in the Annual School Election on April 16.

Any registered voter may cast a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots must be completed and returned to the County Clerk by the close of polls on Tuesday, April 16.

SPRING MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXER SCHEDULE

RIDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXERS

Sponsored by Ridgewood Recreation and the NJ Governor’s Council
on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Village teens have the opportunity to come together as both George Washington and Ben Franklin Middle Schools join to form a “mixer”. Each evening offers students a chance to get acquainted with future classmates while enjoying music and dancing with DJ Sound Illusion, refreshments, fun and games.

6th Grade – Friday, April 12th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm

7th/8th Grades – Friday, April 19th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm

(Ridgewood teens only)

The Anne Zusy Youth Center, 131 N. Maple Avenue

(NOTE: all parents must drop off and pick up youth in the rear lot

of Village Hall at the Community Center entrance.)

A donation of $8 will be requested at the door. All donations will benefit the Community Center.

Adult chaperones are always needed. Please contact the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 if you are able to volunteer.

Virtual learning means increased opportunity, advocates say

TRENTON – Proponents of virtual learning told the Joint Committee on Public Schools Tuesday that giving students the opportunity to receive their education online enables students who don’t find traditional schooling stimulating to learn at their own pace.

Minhaj Hassan – State Street Wire

https://www.politickernj.com/64092/virtual-learning-means-increased-opportunity-advocates-say

SPRING MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXER SCHEDULE

RIDGEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL MIXERS:

Sponsored by Ridgewood Recreation and the NJ Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse

Village teens have the opportunity to come together as both George Washington and Ben Franklin Middle Schools join to form a “mixer”. Each evening offers students a chance to get acquainted with future classmates while enjoying music and dancing with DJ Sound Illusion, refreshments, fun and games.

6th Grade – Friday, April 12th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm

7th/8th Grades – Friday, April 19th, 7:30 to 9:30 pm

(Ridgewood teens only)

The Anne Zusy Youth Center, 131 N. Maple Avenue

(NOTE: all parents must drop off and pick up youth in the rear lot

of Village Hall at the Community Center entrance.)

A donation of $8 will be requested at the door. All donations will benefit the Community Center.

Adult chaperones are always needed. Please contact the Recreation Office at 201-670-5560 if you are able to volunteer.