REPORT: Colorado school gunman ‘very opinionated Socialist’…
December 14, 2013 10:38PM
A TEENAGER who may have had a grudge against a teacher opened fire with a shotgun at a Colorado high school, wounding two students before killing himself.
Quick-thinking students alerted the targeted teacher, who quickly left the building.
The scene unfolded on the eve of the Newtown massacre anniversary, a sombre reminder of the ever-present potential for violence in American schools.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson identified the shooter on Friday night as 18-year-old Karl Halverson Pierson.
The shooter entered Arapahoe High School armed with a shotgun and looking for a teacher he identified by name, Sheriff Robinson said.
“(The teacher) knew he was the target and he left that school in an effort to try to encourage the shooter to also leave the school,” the sheriff said. “That was a very wise tactical decision.”
Reader says Once the Village downtown is destroyed, there will be no turning back and the rest of the Village will follow
We seriously need to stop this train wreck from happening. Once the Village downtown is destroyed, there will be no turning back and the rest of the Village will follow. To protect our homes, our schools and the Village way of life for future generations and people, we need to speak up now.
The approaching holiday season provides the perfect opportunity to pull your elected representatives aside whenever and wherever you see them, and politely but earnestly let them know these projects can’t go through. The current zoning allows plenty of room to build new units for empty nesters and new comers alike (too much room probably.) Lets enforce the zoning as currently written.
Why is Brancheau going down this path? Why is the planning board going down this path? We don’t need these hearings. We need to put a stop to them now and just say “no” — we like the Village just the way it is, thanks. Go build in Wychoff or another Town.
Make that your holiday message to the Village council.
It’s designed to be an impressive show of force: Thousands of unionized teachers plan to rally Monday in cities from New York to San Francisco to “reclaim the promise of public education.”
Behind the scenes, however, teachers unions are facing tumultuous times. Long among the wealthiest and most powerful interest groups in American politics, the unions are grappling with financial, legal and public-relations challenges as they fight to retain their clout and build alliances with a public increasingly skeptical of big labor.
“I do think it’s a moment of truth,” said Lance Alldrin, a veteran high-school teacher in Corning, Calif., who has split from his longtime union after serving for a decade as the local president.
The National Education Association has lost 230,000 members, or 7 percent, since 2009, and it’s projecting another decline this year, which will likely drop it below 3 million members. Among the culprits: teacher layoffs, the rise of non-unionized charter schools and new laws in states such as Wisconsin and Michigan freeing teachers to opt out of the union. (Simon/Politico)
Teacher ratings can strain New Jersey school districts
Saturday November 30, 2013, 11:46 PM
BY LESLIE BRODY
STAFF WRITER
The Record
New Jersey’s law requiring districts to start new teacher evaluations this year has become a bonanza for the firms that are helping schools comply.
Many districts have spent tens of thousands of dollars on new online tools for collecting data on teachers’ goals and techniques in the classroom, and training staff members how to use them. Many superintendents are grumbling that on top of the enormous investment of time required to conduct more frequent and in-depth evaluations, these bills are an unfair financial burden imposed by the state.
Ridgewood, for example, has spent $40,000 for a new data system and extensive training on how to use it. Fair Lawn has spent $33,000 so far. And Glen Rock and Hawthorne have paid $25,000.
A good read, and important information for Ridgewood residents to familiarize themselves with if our school district is to avoid remaining mired in the political and cultural trap that is the Common Core State Standards Initiative…
November 25, 2013 The Progressive Myth of Creativity
By Bruce Deitrick Price
Creativity has been a big theme in progressive education for more than 75 years: We are constantly lectured (see https://www.americanthinker.com/2012/06/progressive_educations_war_on_knowledge.html) that kids need music, art, theater, etc. This theme is now metastasizing into an oppressive dogma. But, why?
Ken Robinson, the guru of creativity, is famous for saying “We are educating people out of their creative capacities.” (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY) The premise seems to be: if kids do arty things, they will end up being artists. Empirically untrue. Conversely, Robinson says that if children do something rigorous and academic, they will be prevented from being creative. Dangerously untrue.
Rearranging knowledge in new ways is arguably the very essence of creativity. (see https://anniemurphypaul.com/2012/11/the-false-dichotomy-between-facts-and-creativity/) It follows that the systematic acquisition of knowledge is one of the best things you can do if you want to be creative. (see https://www.supermemo.com/articles/20rules.htm)
Furthermore, there are habits of mind or consciousness that can be developed only through practice and discipline. It’s always been understood that students learn by mastering basic skills and then by completing more and more difficult projects, not empty make-believe projects, but real projects such as speaking French, understanding American History, or figuring out how computers work.
Professor Robert Weisberg wrote a book called “Creativity, Genius and other Myths” where he stated: “There is evidence that deep immersion is required in a discipline before you produce anything of great novelty….There is this concept that genius has leaps of insight way beyond everybody else. If you look at the background of these people, there is much more of a progression. They don’t make leaps — they build in small pieces.” In short, Weisberg says that drills do not stifle creativity. They engender it. (see https://www.improve-education.org/id39.html)
It’s fascinating to observe how many famous writers started off as doctors and lawyers. What could be less creative than a premed and medical curriculum? What could be more stifling than studying to be a lawyer?
John Grisham, Erle Stanley Gardner, Scott Turow, Wallace Stevens, Henry Fielding, Louis Auchincloss, David Baldacci worked as lawyers. There is nobody more creative than Wallace Stevens.
Zane Grey, Anton Chekhov, Robert Ripley, Michael Creighton, Somerset Maugham, Arthur Conan Doyle, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Robin Cook, and William Carlos Williams were doctors.
Question for education professors: Anthony Trollope was a postal inspector. He wrote three hours each morning before going off to work. He published 47 novels. How would you propose to make Trollope more creative?
Let’s stipulate that creativity is a good thing and should be encouraged. So are sports a good thing; but nobody proposes that we transform schools into gymnasiums. The problem is Ken Robinson’s overstatement “Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” The next sound you hear will be children struggling to read, and traditional textbooks being tossed in the trash.
The pattern for the last century is that our Education Establishment is always looking for ways to justify dismissal of the traditional curriculum. One day they’ll assert straight out that academics are a waste of time. The next day they’ll argue slyly that we need to devote more time to nonacademic goals, such as creativity, critical thinking, or dressing for success.
The key to understanding all this confusion is to note that “progressive” educators are socialist educators. They want children to end up more or less equal (a result which they call social justice). So they pretend to care about creativity. But what they really care about is making sure that little time is left for children to learn who George Washington was.
Ken Robinson made a famous speech about creativity several years ago. (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U) He railed against the so-called “factory method of education.” One video has been viewed 11 million times. There are only 3 million teachers in the US. Apparently, our Education Establishment loves the message in this speech and forces it on everyone. “Factory method” is code for children going to class on time, sitting at desks, and memorizing stuff. “Factory method” is what most education has been for thousands of years, long before there was a factory. Such schools are orderly and designed to achieve educational progress. That seems to be what progressive educators can’t stand.
Robin Eubanks, an attorney who wrote the new book “Credentialed to Destroy: How and Why Education Became a Weapon,” sees the road to serfdom everywhere in our educational system. In a recent blog she wrote: “Only an electronic color billboard in Times Square could be more explicit. It is indeed slam dunk time in our effort to show that the education reforms known as Common Core or 21st Century Skills or social and emotional learning are actually a means of gaining much broader transformations.”
That would be the same “fundamental transformation” that Barack Obama bragged of achieving. That would be the drive to impose socialism on this country.
Does that strike you as something new? It’s not. John Dewey launched this offensive a century ago. (see https://www.americanthinker.com/2012/10/john_dewey_is_a_fraud.html) Our Education Establishment is defined by this offensive. A word to the wise: whatever these people recommend is probably designed to do the exact opposite of what they claim. More creativity? No, you’ll just be an ignorant serf.
Robin Eubanks wants a different future: “Unfettered by government seeking to restrict what any American can know or do, we can prosper again.”
Finally, can creativity even be taught? John Saxon who created Saxon Math and other highly successful curricula, famously said that creativity cannot be taught. All you can do is create a context where creativity can express itself. (see https://www.rightsidenews.com/2012062223739/life-and-science/health-and-education/the-legend-of-john-saxon-math-warrior.html)
But I’ve often wondered, if creativity could be taught, how do you do it? Speaking as a writer and painter, I don’t think you teach ordinary students to be creative by having them do so-called creative things. What then? What would fit in with elementary school subjects and work for everyone? I start thinking about mazes and optical illusions, puzzles and riddles. I start thinking about checkers, bingo, Chinese checkers, and card games such as as Go Fish and War. And let’s not forget simple machines, models, electric circuits, and tools. Especially let’s not forget Aesop’s fables and maxims of all kinds. (Why is it true that a stitch in time saves nine??) Kids do most of these things for fun. They stimulate the mind to be more flexible and opportunistic. You see problems, you try to solve them. So it would be easy to build an enjoyable “creativity curriculum” from toys and games, a curriculum that would encourage creativity and logic, and as well arithmetic and reading.
Bruce Deitrick Price explains education theories and methods on his site Improve-Education.org
Page Printed from: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2013/11/the_progressive_myth_of_creativity.html at November 25, 2013 – 10:41:04 AM CST
Today’s kids less fit than parents were, study finds
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Last updated: Tuesday November 19, 2013, 11:00 PM
BY MARILYNN MARCHIONE
Associated Press
Today’s kids can’t keep up with their parents. An analysis of studies on millions of children around the world finds they don’t run as fast or as far as their parents did when they were young.
On average, it takes children 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their counterparts did 30 years ago. Heart-related fitness has declined 5 percent per decade since 1975 for children ages 9 to 17.
The American Heart Association, whose conference in Dallas featured the research on Tuesday, says it’s the first to show that children’s fitness has declined worldwide over the last three decades.
“It makes sense. We have kids that are less active than before,” said Dr. Stephen Daniels, a University of Colorado pediatrician and spokesman for the heart association.
Health experts recommend that children 6 and older get 60 minutes of moderately vigorous activity accumulated over a day. Only one-third of American kids do now.
“Kids aren’t getting enough opportunities to build up that activity over the course of the day,” Daniels said. “Many schools, for economic reasons, don’t have any physical education at all. Some rely on recess” to provide exercise.
Sam Kass, a White House chef and head of first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move program, stressed the role of schools in a speech to the conference on Monday.
“We are currently facing the most sedentary generation of children in our history,” Kass said.
I have three town issues currently on my mind that I believe reflect the opinions of many other town residents. I will try to be brief.
1. The Valley Hospital proposed expansion plan is just too big for the location. That is the bottom line.
As village residents, we are all restricted in what we can build and/or renovate on our own private property. No matter how valuable we view the hospital, it is located in the center of a residential neighborhood that contains two schools.
The Master Plan was developed for a reason. To disregard it, even for a hospital, is doing a disservice to the residents of the village both present and in the future.
2. The Schedler property now owned by the village located between Route 17 and West Saddle River Road is being considered for development. It hosts a house built in the early 1800s, a park-like acreage that includes four acres of trees and is seen as an asset to the neighbors as well as to the village.
A proposed 90-foot baseball diamond threatens the integrity of this valuable open space. Proactive groups have offered many options that include a similar development that has proven so successful at the Habernickel Family Park and hope they will be heard by the council members.
3. Lastly, the Village Council is in the process of establishing a much-needed shade tree commission. My one concern is that one of the proposed policies to be enacted will be a ban on any new tree plantings in the right of way. This will have a disastrous effect on the look of our community as well as all the environmental advantages that trees bring.
TYLER CLEMENTI FOUNDATION TO HOST THE 2013 UPSTANDER LEGACY CELEBRATION
November 12, 2013
Tyler Clementi Foundation will proudly honor Bruce Cohen,Dr. Paul Boskind, and Prudential Financial on November 18th
Ridgewood, N.J. –Co-Chairs Alan Cumming and David Mixner along with the Clementi Family will host the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s first annual Upstander Legacy Celebration on Monday, November 18th, 2013.
Taking place in the New York Times building’s Conference Center, overlooking Tyler’s home state of New Jersey, the event will honor Bruce Cohen, Oscar-winning producer of American Beauty, Milk, Silver Linings Playback and Big Fish on Broadway, Dr. Paul Boskind, renowned psychologist, activist, and Tony-winning producer of The Normal Heart, and financial services leader Prudential Financial for its continued support of the LGBT community in and out of the workplace.
“Over the past year we have made epic strides to connect the issues that impacted Tyler with relevant partnerships and programs, allowing us to continue a conversation
amongst families, educators, legislators and faith leaders for the benefit of all youth”
said Executive Director Steven Guy. “We are thrilled to take a moment to celebrate how far we have come, and to honor the leaders and partners who join the Foundation in its dedication to creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBT youth, vulnerable youth and their allies.”
Joining co-chairs Alan Cumming and David Mixner, film and Broadway star Zachary Quinto and Broadway’s Tony-nominated Bobby Steggert of Ragtime and Big Fish fame will present the Upstander Legacy Award to Bruce Cohen. The evening will also feature a performance by the all-male string quartet Well-Strung. Proceeds from the
event will allow the Tyler Clementi Foundation to continue their vital work changing
hearts and minds at all levels of society., 2013
About the Tyler Clementi Foundation: The Tyler Clementi Foundation (TCF)is a registered 501(c)3 founded in 2011. The foundation promotes safe, inclusive
and respectful social environments in homes, schools, campuses, churches and the
digital world for vulnerable youth, LGBT youth and their allies. Through educational
partnerships, research, public dialogue and awareness programs, TCF fosters empathetic,constructive discussions of respect and dignity for youth and families at all levels of society. To learn more about the Foundation’s work, please visit www.tylerclementi.org.
About Prudential: Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader,
has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s
diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional
customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services,
including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and
investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood
for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more
information, please visit https://www.news.prudential.com/.
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.
Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first “Veterans Day Proclamation” which stated: “In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”
President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts
On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In 1958, the White House advised VA’s General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee’s chairman.
The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Daryn Iwicki State Director, Americans For Prosperity will Speak at the Larkin House in Whyckoff , 7 pm, Tuesday, November 12
“Moving Forward”
Join us 7 pm, Tuesday, November 12 At the Larkin House , 380 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff
(1/4 mile North of Stop & Shop on the right) , More Information: 201 891-5918
conservative_caucus@verizon.net ,https://www.westbergenteaparty.com/
Daryn Iwicki
After some time away from Americans for Prosperity, Daryn has returned to the organization to serve as the Deputy State Director of Americans for Prosperity Foundation New Jersey.
Daryn was most recently in the great state of Florida where he served in Governor Scott’s Administration and was the North Florida Regional Field Director for the Republican Party of Florida. He was responsible for organizing a comprehensive voter outreach and turnout operation for Governor Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.
Daryn previously served as the Director of Education and Training and the National Manager for State Programs at Americans for Prosperity from 2010-12. Prior to joining AFP, Daryn worked at the Leadership Institute as Youth Leadership Coordinator. He was responsible for recruiting and running the Youth Leadership Schools across the nation.
Daryn is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. NC is where he cut his political teeth working on countless campaigns while in school and then after graduation.
Daryn has years of being a political activist. Daryn’s political activity has been featured on: FOX, ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX NEWS and CBS along with countless other media outlets.
– See more at: https://www.lead-inst.org/Training/Bio.cfm?SchoolID=15821&FacultyID=116417#sthash.jYPIisvm.dpuf
Christie vs Buono Election Pits School Choice against the NJEA
November 4, 2013
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, One issue playing an very significant role just blow the surface to this gubernatorial election between Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic candidate rival for governor Barbara Buono is education reform .
So far the only people that seem keenly aware of this is the NJEA with its over the top support for Democratic candidate Barbara Buono . While the press has simply ignored the issue Bruono and the teachers union have campaigned vigoriously .
A comparison on educational positions between Republican Governor Christie and Democratic candidate for governor state Sen. Barbara Buono show a stark difference on educational policy.
According to the Bergen record Christie and Buono have nearly opposite views when it comes to education – especially on school funding, vouchers and preschool. Indeed, the governor has long sparred with the state’s largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, while Buono has been warmly supported by it.
Christie: The governor wants to give companies tax credits for helping low-income families pay for private tuitions. He argues children trapped in failing schools deserve better choices and competition will improve traditional district options.
He bolstered total state aid for education to a record $12.4 billion this year. But direct aid to districts, known as formula aid, is $7.85 billion – and some district leaders say they have barely climbed back to prerecession levels of state aid in the wake of cuts Christie imposed in 2010 during the fiscal crisis.
Christie increased funding for free preschool slots for poor urban children slightly this year but did not expand the program to more districts despite previous state plans to do so.
He championed a new law that made it harder for teachers to earn and keep tenure and required more rigorous teacher evaluations.
In higher education, Christie had opposed the so-called Dream Act, which would allow in-state tuition rates at public colleges for students who were brought here illegally as children. He recently said in a debate that he would revisit the issue.
Buono: The state senator is against vouchers (educational choice for the poor) , saying they drain precious resources from traditional public schools (failed Abbott schools) . She has endorsed having some quality charters as labs for innovation but says they have been overemphasized by Christie; she wants local voters to approve any new charters.
As an author of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (Abbott Schools) , Buono says she wants to fully fund the formula; the state has not allocated as much as the formula requires for aid to districts. She said accomplishing that goal would need to be phased in. Christie has tried to revise the formula to slightly trim extra aid for at-risk children.
Buono also wants to expand public preschool, full-day kindergarten and after-school enrichment programs.
Buono supports the Dream Act. She has also pledged to reform the system that makes higher-education funding subject to the vagaries of the state budgeting process.
By anyone’s standard out side public education the Abbott School districts has been a very expensive colossal failure , and a prime reason property taxes are out of control making it absolutely essential for those looking to enhance educational opportunities to the poor to defeat the NJEA and Barbra Buono .
Reader says BOE has betrayed BF and Travell students by refusing to acknowledge the obvious impact the Valley
I write this to express my disbelief and disappointment in your betrayal of Ridgewood’s BF and Travell students by refusing to acknowledge the obvious impact the Valley expansion will have on surrounding schools. Regardless of where anyone stands in support or objection to the Hospital, it is common sense that construction, noise, pollution and traffic will negatively affect the student experience at BF and Travell, and by refusing to stand up for your students, publicly acknowledge these concerns and demand that the concerns be addressed, you have violated our trust in your ability and willingness to carry on your responsibility to safeguard our children. As a board member, we expect you to look out for our children’s interests and the interests of the Ridgewood education system and its properties. As it stands now, Glen Avenue and the side streets such as Van Dien are a speedway for people racing in and out of Valley Hospital. Stand out there on any given day and you can see for yourselves. Expanding the hospital will only increase traffic flow and impact our safety, despite what Valley’s “experts” say. And yes, this is traffic related to Valley because these are cars coming in and out of its parking lots. In fact, I’ve been cut off more than once by people in medical uniforms making unsafe turns in their regular cars leaving the hospital at 515pm. Valley has consistently lied about its plans and their impact and you had an opportunity to speak up for our schools yet failed miserably. How could you fail to acknowledge the impact years of construction noise, traffic detours and environmental dust and debris will have on us and our children and demand that those concerns be addressed up front? We elected you to be our voice and yet you have NO concerns???
Reader says the Brogan has demonstrated willful blindness to the obvious issues related to such a construction project.
The issue does have something to do with education since it impacts the nearby schools and the safety and comfort of Ridgewood students. Yes, it’s ultimately up to the Village Council and Planning Board but the BOE had a chance to weigh in and Brogan has demonstrated willful blindness to the obvious issues related to such a construction project. This is highly suspicious given the huge conflicts of interests Valley’s sponsorships create.’ I didn’t write in hopes of replacing a board member’s job but I do expect they uphold their responsibility and duty to do what’s best in the interest of the schools and students. It would be interesting to see where the individual board members stand on some of these issues but that is conveniently being held from the voting public.
Bob Pressner : Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable
Brogan’s performance on Tuesday night was sadly predictable. She took the vanilla position on the Valley expansion. I knew she would walk the tightrope of non committal; she can’t be counted to cross swords with the mighty Valley. From the start of her comments she spoke of school construction that has taken place while she’s been on the Board, the fix was clearly in. Sorry, what Valley has presented as their vision in no way resembles what our schools have accomplished in construction over the past 10 – 12 years. To compare students’ experiences during the school construction and Valley’s proposed renovations is a reach too far. What Valley proposes for their 15 acre parcel is ridiculous, and the impact will be dramatic.
The expectation of 10 years as the time frame for construction, is also short sided. The effects of this expansion, but more importantly the changing of the Master Plan will have far reaching effects on all of our children’s learning experiences. The area around Valley will be changed forever. In my opinion, not for the better. Changing the Master Plan will also allow for developers to challenge our future concerns regarding growth based on the precedent that will have been established. We are at a cross roads in the future of Ridgewood, and it is time for all of our fellow residents to step up, speak up, and be heard.
Reader says Sheila Brogan has been doing Valley’s bidding since 2002.
Ridgewood BOE and Valley Hospital, hand in hand, a long tainted history together.
(Some of this is a bit hazy so if anyone remembers the details fill in the blanks)
Over the years I have attended many planning board hearings for the Valley Hospital H-Zone. The many memorable meetings at BF and the infamous 2010 meeting at GWMS. I sat through and listened to Village council meetings at the RHS Campus Center. And here we are again at BF listening to more about this ridiculous expansion proposal. Hearing Sheila Brogan’s statement and reading this blog reminded me of the disgraceful and tainted BOE/Valley relationship. Of course, people need to be reminded Sheila Brogan has been a board member for far too long. For newer residents, or those who weren’t in the news loop so many years ago, this is a history lesson.
Many, many years ago, maybe around 2002, Sheila Brogan sat on the BOE along with Mark Bombace, Linda Gilman, Bob Hutton and Charles Reilly. At the time John Porter was superintendent. Valley Hospital had a proposal and was pushing hard to buy part of BF property using the field area for an underground parking lot and subsequently expanding the hospital buildings. If memory serves, the BOE would no longer own the property but the ground level open space could be used as a sports fields. The big offer was Valley would do much for the BF community and offer a state of the art facility IF they were able to purchase the BF property. The Board of Ed, along with John Porter, were positioned to complete the transaction when, unfortunately for them, the residents began to show up at BOE meetings. Over a few short weeks the standing room only crowd mobilized and stopped the infamous Valley/BF land grab.
Because the BOE was anxious to consummate the deal, and Valley was relying on the property for its expansion, it appears a new plan evolved. Within months of the Valley/BF land grab derailment the RHAP program was in the works. Ultimately rolled out in 2004, the program was put together as an effort to buy the BOE and Ridgewood Community. Other less prominent programs were funded by Valley as well. Those too are within our Village schools, internships, summer programs, follow a professional, scoreboard advertising, etc. Some of these programs may have ended or been replaced, however, coupled with the $500,000 the BOE accepted from Valley, it is clear the BOE and Valley are in bed together.
In 2011 Bob Hutton spoke, as a BOE member, in support of the Valley H-zone expansion. His comments were made at Village Council H-Zone hearings at RHS Campus Center. Soon thereafter Hutton was voted off the BOE. Good riddance to him.
Of the original BOE, that was ready to sell BF property to Valley, only Sheila Brogan remains. Don’t ever let Brogan try to convince you she stands for our students or that she opposes this expansion. Brogan fully supports Valley, their massive expansion, and was willing to sell out our kids years ago! As for Valley Hospital, the current H-Zone efforts are the same “idea” without the BF property. Valley’s animus towards Ridgewood and the BF community is palpable.
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