Category: Village of Ridgewood

Online educator adds two Newark charters to portfolio

I want to thank the Village for electing me to a one year term on theBoard of Education

I want to thank the Village for electing me to a one year term on the Boardof Education. I look forward to working with the other members in meeting the challenges that our schools face in an ever-changing educational landscape. Iunderstand that you elected me to serve as your voice at the BOE table to askthe kind of questions that you would ask had you been participating in ourdiscussions. The Board oversees spending 2/3rds of our property taxes and mustcontinually earn your support.


I appreciate that BOE members represent everyone in the Village and mustlisten to all points of view. I will make it a priority to reach out to thosegroups that supported Bob Hutton in this election. In the future, I will alwayswelcome your thoughts, concerns, suggestions and criticisms of Board matters.


I also want to thank Bob for his nine years of service as a Board member. Weoften forget that this is an unpaid volunteer office that requires many hoursof work.


Thank you again for your trust.


I especially want to thank The Ridgewood Blog for its support of mycandidacy and continued policy of publishing all points of view around theVillage. Freedom of expression is important to our democracy and outlets suchas The Blog are critical in a market like Ridgewoodthat is a mere subset of the larger NY/Bergen media landscape. I wish that thefolks that participate in The Blog were willing to do so with their names attached,but understand their reasons for not always doing so. Keep the discussions going!


Jim Morgan

>Jim Morgan sets the record straight

SUNSHINE IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY
by Jim Morgan

I have just reviewed the mass mailing that various sports groups made regarding Tuesday’s School Election. This unfortunate piece, especially as regards me, is a combination of falsehoods and misrepresentations. None of the signers had the courtesy to contact me or check their facts
before using their children’s team email lists to spread their inaccuracies.

To set the record straight:

I have never engaged in “harassing, bulling or antagonizing” behavior with the BOE or staff. What I have done is persistently point out their questionable management judgments and sought to have the BOE members do the job we elected them to do as our representatives.

I have never threatened to sue the Village or BOE. What I did do was point out questionable BOE’s procedures that could potentially lead to a lawsuit.

I have never “courted” the teachers. What I have done is urge the BOE to get on with the contract negotiations to reach a settlement ending the unhealthy classroom condition of having teachers working without a contract.

I have never sought to “compromise the BOE’s position in the negotiations.” What I have recommended is that the final agreement must recognize the needs of the taxpayers the Board represents.

When it was pointed out to me that a REF by-law prevents a serving Trustee from running for the BOE, I promptly resigned.

My campaign has focused on the need for every resident of the Village to have a strong voice representing them on the Board of Education. We need a BOE member that will not accept that a 2% annual property tax increase is acceptable without exploring how we can more efficiently use the $90 million annual school budget. My opponent automatically accepts that taxes must go up by the state ceiling. We need a BOE member that will place curriculum needs over hardware needs when planning our school technology budgets. My opponent has allowed the school technology planning to become stale. We need a BOE member that will seek out public participation in Board decisions and not hide in secret committee meetings closed to the public. My opponent prefers the shadows and closing the public out of the BOE’s deliberations. We need a BOE member that will push to resolve the teachers’ contract mess in a way that recognizes the Village’s economic conditions before students begin to suffer.

My opponent prefers to draw out negotiations for no discernable benefit to the taxpayers. There are important issues at stake in this election that will impact our children’s futures and  the values of our homes for years to come. If you really feel that BOE’s lack of transparency and initiative in demanding cost effective answers to our schools’ needs is acceptable to you, by all means vote for my opponent. I believe that BOE’s decisions are too critical to leave to an individual that does not approach every decision with an open, inquiring mind and understands that he is your representative. If you want a strong voice that represents your interests as a parent and taxpayer, please vote for me in the election for the one year BOE term.Finally, I want to comment on the gratuitous way these authors went out of their way to attack

Gina Damasco. This was just plain mean. I met Gina during the campaign and quickly learned that she is a well informed individual that has a genuine desire to be of service to her community.

Since she is an experienced education attorney, she decided that our BOE could benefit from her background and willingness to serve. She had not participated in a previous campaign in Ridgewood and was unaware of all the electioneering that a Village election requires. The letter writers never asked her why she did not participate in the early campaign. So they chose to  pick on mechanics rather than substance. This group should be ashamed of themselves for their arrogant comments. Attitudes like theirs are a major reason why many well qualified Village citizens are unwilling to run for office and be the subject of such ill-informed trash.

>Just in case you didn’t get the memo: Mass email pushes Bob Hutton and Vince Loncto

Ridgewood School Election Facts – Don’t be fooled by “spin”

I am forwarding an email signed by several Ridgewood residents urging us to vote YES for the school budget in the election on APRIL 17th, and to support Bob Hutton and Vince Loncto.  I agree that it will be best for our schools and our children if Bob and Vince continue to serve us on the Board of Education, and I support passing the 2012-13 budget.

Please read below and feel free to forward to your friends and neighbors.

(If you’ve already received this, I apologize for the duplication…and if you don’t agree with the information, feel free to delete.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Begin forwarded message:

Dear Ridgewood residents:

Ridgewood’s school election on April 17 is crucial: it will have a deep and lasting effect on our schools and our children’s education. We are urging all residents to vote for Bob Hutton and Vince Loncto for the Board of Education, and vote “Yes” on the school budget.  Here are the facts:

* Bob Hutton – 9 years experience & commitment to successful contract
Lead negotiator in BOE’s contract with teachers’ union. Bob is holding the line to achieve a contract we can afford. A change in leadership will weaken the Board’s position.
As member of Board Finance Committee, Bob has helped the District withstand repeated and devastating budget cuts in state aid, while maintaining educational programs & keeping special ed students in-district (saving money).
Instrumental in establishing the nationally-recognized Ridgewood Academy of Health Professionals (RAHP) program.
Bob is running for the one-year BOE seat for one specific reason: to fulfill his obligation to taxpayers by negotiating the teachers’ contract, which makes up 55% of the district’s budget.

* Vince Loncto – financial oversight & increased transparency
Since his appointment last year, Vince has shown he can ask tough questions on behalf of the community.
His efforts have already resulted in more transparency and public discussion of budget.
He is committed to improving the district’s approach to technology and digital learning as well as testing and assessments.
Vince is working for improved communications & community relations, responding to community concerns and keeping taxes flat next year.
Career experience: Chief Financial Officer at CBS, Simon & Schuster, the Walt Disney Company and McGraw-Hill.

 Jim Morgan – would be a negative force on the BOE
Jim has a long, public history of harassing, bullying and antagonizing BOE members and District staff. Not interested in collaboration.
Conflict of interest: He has publicly stated (Village Council minutes 10/27/10) that RHS field improvements and increased use of the fields by children have reduced his property’s value and that he will seek legal action against the BOE and Village. This conflict of interest would affect his objectivity as a BOE member.
Jim appears to be courting the endorsement of teachers, setting up another potential conflict that could jeopardize current and future negotiations and relationship with the BOE.
Has publicly demanded a rush to settle the teachers’ contract, which would compromise the BOE’s position.
Past president of the Ridgewood Education Foundation, whose endowment reportedly decreased under his leadership.
Violated REF by-laws, Article III, Section 3(d), which state that no REF trustee may be a candidate for public office.
Jim is running for the one-year BOE term for political and personal reasons, not seeking genuine improvement or “change.”

Gina Damasco – no real interest?
Refused to answer questions from the Ridgewood News on her platform or positions.
Declined to attend several HSA meetings to which she was invited to meet residents and share her vision for our schools.
 Little or no past involvement in local Ridgewood community organizations or schools (except as a former student).
At the League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night on 3/29, Gina’s platform focused on her desire to apply her legal background to the BOE. The Board already has legal counsel.

* YES ON BUDGET — Tax increase held to 2%
Per-pupil cost well below state average.
Number of administrators-per-student far below both state average and average for similar districts.
Budget has no cuts to educational offerings or staff.
Maintains class sizes.
Small budget increase driven by contractual health care costs rising 20%.

Please forward this email ASAP to your Ridgewood address book. And remind your friends and neighbors to VOTE on Tuesday April 17.

Signed,

Brian Abdoo
Joseph Carey
John Donovan
Jennifer & Stephen Errico
Joel & Beth Holmes
Joe Hurley
George & Liz Kloak
Lee Miller
Loren & Paul Mularz
Ed Seavers
David & Tina Telesco