Trenton NJ, The Murphy Administration today announced the first steps in transitioning away from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and toward a new generation of statewide testing by issuing a report, detailing proposals for draft regulations and other upcoming changes in the 2018-19 school year.
At a press conference in Atlantic City, Governor Murphy said he wants to take NJ out of PARCC student assessment testing.“PARCC’s high-stakes, high-stress system has been, I believe, a detriment to our students and our educators,” Murphy said.
Recommendations were collected by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) during a two-month, 21-county tour in which the Commissioner and staff traveled over 5,700 miles, held approximately 75 in-person sessions, three live webinars, and heard from more than 2,300 students, teachers, school administrators, education advocates and community leaders.
Speaker Coughlin lauded the move in a statement: “This is a step in the right direction. From the moment it was introduced, the PARCC was widely criticized by teachers, school administrators, parents and students for being overly confusing and taking up too much instructional time. We cannot evaluate student proficiency and base a student’s ability to graduate on a flawed system. Students should have to prove that they are ready for graduation, but not through an assessment as inadequate and problematic as the PARCC. I’m glad Gov. Murphy is reversing course on this, and clearing the way for a more effective and responsible approach to measuring student learning.”
“Because of a focused, concentrated effort to reach out to New Jersey residents and to give them a voice at the table, we are on a clear path away from PARCC,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “By making the transition in phases, we can ensure a smooth implementation in schools across the state and maintain compliance with current state and federal requirements.”
“A stronger, fairer New Jersey means one that prioritizes outreach and collaboration when making policy decisions,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “My staff and I went on a listening tour across the state to ensure that we understood the scope of interest, and we moved forward having considered the needs of students, educators, and broader community members in building the next generation assessment system by New Jersey, for New Jersey.”
The transition will be made in multiple phases. The first phase began with stakeholder outreach and culminates with the report and proposed short-term changes. The report provides an overview of the feedback received from interested stakeholders and the process used to achieve it.
The proposed changes for State Board review include:
Streamlining graduation requirements by reducing the number of required tests in high school from six to two.
Ensuring that educators and parents receive test data in a timely manner.
Providing flexibility for first-year English learners on the English language proficiency test.
Additional changes not requiring State Board approval include:
Reducing the length of testing for all grades by approximately 25 percent.
Reducing the weight of the assessment on teacher evaluations.
More details regarding the changes can be found in the report and draft regulations.
Beginning this summer and occurring over the course of the 2018-19 school year, the NJDOE will be launching the second phase of assessment outreach in New Jersey, focusing on the more complicated questions and issues with implementation that we encountered during the listening tour. More information about Phase 2 will be made available over the next few months.
Ridgewood NJ, Monday, July 30, 2018, at 4:00 PM, is the deadline to file a nominating petition at the:
Bergen County Clerk’s Office
One Bergen County Plaza, Room 130
Hackensack, NJ
for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s November election. Candidates must obtain at least 10 signatures on a petition to be nominated, one of which maybe the candidate. New Jersey School Boards Association has created a Candidate Kit with additional information and instructions for those interested in running for open seats.
For Bergen County specific questions, please visit the Bergen County Clerk website for nominating petitions or Bergen County Election Board website.
Ridgewood schools currently have a $110,000,000 budget that makes up over 60% of property taxes .
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Board of Education has many “Board Committees” , here is a list of committees and committee responsibilities .
Communications Committee
Discusses district communications policy and practice, including the district website, eNews, Newsline, staff communications, etc.
Members: Christina Krauss, Jennie Smith Wilson
Curriculum Committee
Acts as a forum to review current instructional materials and future options for updating those materials at all levels. Textbooks and other materials are discussed and examined for course relevance and appropriateness before being presented to the Board for approval.
Members: Sheila Brogan, Vince Loncto
Facilities Committee and Joint Review Committee
The Facilities Committee discusses issues relating to district buildings and fields, including capital projects, maintenance and repairs and construction. The Joint Review Committee reviews custodial and maintenance services in each of the district’s schools on a monthly basis. Goals and action plans for the custodial and maintenance services are established quarterly.
Members: Sheila Brogan, Christina Krauss
Finance Committee
Discusses issues relating to the funding of the district. Responsible for the initial presentation of the budget and continual monthly review of budget transfers for the current fiscal year.
Members: Vince Loncto, Jim Morgan
Policy Committee
Reviews, revises, and drafts district policy. The committee brings recommendations to add or change policies to the full Board for discussion and adoption. Board policy requires that new or revised policies have two readings before adoption.
Members: Jim Morgan, Jennie Smith Wilson
Federated Home and School Association *
Provides information about the Board and district to, and collects feedback from, the Home and School Associations’ presidents at their monthly meeting. To learn more about Federated HSA click here.
Liaison: Christina Krauss, Vince Loncto
Fields Committee
The Joint Village/Board Fields Committee manages the upkeep and scheduling of athletic field throughout the Village.
Member: Vince Loncto
Parks and Recreation
Comprised of select village employees and citizen volunteers appointed by the Village Council to address the recreational and open space needs and activities of the community, balancing recreational interests with environmental and financial issues.
Members: Jim Morgan
REAC – Ridgewood Environmental Advisory Committee
Assists the Village of Ridgewood with respect to environmental concerns by formulating, adopting, and implementing practices and policies which protect the environment, respect the ecosystem, promote sustainability, reduce climate change and support earth-friendly cost reductions within the municipality and the community at large.
Member: Jennie Smith Wilson
Safety
Member: Sheila Brogan
Ridgewood Education Foundation
The mission of the REF is to enhance the quality of education in the Ridgewood Public Schools. Since 1989 it has awarded more than $400,000 in grants for special projects created by forward-thinking teachers, parents, students and alumni(ae). The Board representative offers the perspective of the BOE by providing information, asking questions, and participating in discussions that assist in the final decisions about how to distribute funds raised. Click here for more information about the Ridgewood Education Foundation.
Representative: Jim Morgan
Ridgewood Academy for Health Professions (RAHP)
The Academy is a partnership between RHS, Valley Hospital and Bergen Community College.
Member: Sheila Brogan
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey School Boards Association NOVEMBER ELECTIONS: IMPORTANT DATES 2018 School Board Candidacy & Election Dates
DATE – ACTION
May 16
Term begins for newly appointed board members in Type I districts (those with appointed boards) other than cities of the first class (those with a population of more than 150,000). July 30 4 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions with the county clerk. Aug 13 Deadline for filing in Superior Court to Protect School Election Candidate’s Rights. Aug 3 Deadline for filing objections to Nomination Petitions for School Election Candidates with the county clerk. Sept 7 Last day for a candidate to withdraw from the election. A signed, written notice must be filed with the county clerk Aug 9 Deadline for Determination of Petition Challenge for School Election Candidates by the county clerk.
Aug 9
Last day to amend a defective petition. The candidate may amend the petition to remedy the defect at any time before the date, but generally may not add signatures. The candidate may add his or her own signature if necessary to provide verification of the signatures on the petition, but only if the petition already contains ten valid signatures.
Aug 13
Date for Drawing of Ballot Position for School Election Candidates by the County Clerk.
Nov 6
Annual School Election NOTE: Board members must undergo criminal history record checks through the New Jersey Department of Education within 30 days of election or appointment.
Jan 1-7
Newly elected board members are sworn in at annual board organizational meetings
Feb 1-7
Last day to file Personal-Relative and Financial Disclosure forms with the Executive County Superintendent and Board Secretary. For newly elected or newly appointed school board members, the deadline is 30 days after taking office
“What are the best ways to communicate with the Board of Education?” For district parents, these further instructions also apply:
1. The best way to communicate with the Board of Education is to butt out and leave everything up to us, your betters.
2. If you must communicate with us, say something nice or don’t say anything at all.
3. Get over yourself. We don’t care how well-educated you are.
4. You scared off notorious constructivist education theory gurus (junkies, really) Martin Brooks and Jacqueline Grennon Brooks when we had almost succeed in handing the district over to them, lock, stock and barrel. We will never forgive you.
Ridgewood NJ, since this came up in the last Village council election we thought we would embark on an local civics lesson . Contrary to the misinformation campaign ,the Ridgewood Village Council does not control nor is responsible for school budgets, policy or funding of Ridgewood public schools . It has no say and former Mayor Knudsen had nothing to do with the lack of voter participation in school board elections.
The Ridgewood school budget is in the area of $110,000,000 and yes that is huge . That budget accounts for over 60% of the Village’s property taxes .
From the Ridgewood School website :
About the Board
About the Board/Frequently Asked Questions
What is the role of the Board of Education?
The Board of Education does not “run” the Ridgewood Public Schools. That’s the job of the Superintendent. Rather, the BOE’s job is to ensure that the schools are well run. The Board does this by
1) Setting district policies and goals
2) Communicating policies and goals to the superintendent
3) Overseeing the budget
4) Hiring and evaluating the superintendent
5) Serving as the communications link between the community and the school district.
What is the role of the superintendent?
The Superintendent’s responsibilities fall into three areas:
1) Primary advisor to the Board of Education
The superintendent briefs the board on district issues and provides updates on district operations as well as background information, alternatives, suggestions, and recommendations before Board decisions are made. The superintendent may ask other district staff to attend board meetings to give reports on particular items.
2) Chief Executive Officer of the school district
Responsible for administering the policies adopted by the school board and for running the school system on a daily basis. The superintendent is accountable to the board regarding how well the district is run.
3) Educational leader of the community
It’s the superintendent’s job to evaluate and assess how district policies are being implemented at all levels. The superintendent ensures that all issues on an agenda for board action are accompanied by his/her recommendation, including staff input and study when necessary. The superintendent also acts as the liaison to the Board for all district employees.
What happens at Board of Education meetings?
At public meetings, the Board of Education takes official action on school business, discusses policy and confirms personnel appointments recommended by the superintendent. Board members have the opportunity to discuss items prior to voting on official agenda items. At every public meeting of the Board, there are two opportunities for the public to address the Board.
Where and when can I get minutes from a previous Board of Education meeting?
Minutes of public Board of Education meetings are available on the district website (click here), at the Ed Center at 49 Cottage Place. Board minutes are presented for approval at subsequent Board meetings, in order to be voted into the public record.
Where can I get a copy of an upcoming Board of Education meeting agenda?
Board of Ed agendas are available on the District website (click here) on Friday afternoon prior to the meeting. The agenda is also posted at the Ed Center at 49 Cottage Place by Monday afternoon prior to the meeting.
How and when may I address the Board during a Board of Education meeting?
The Board seeks public comment twice during each regular public meeting. The first opportunity for comment is at approximately 7:30 p.m. under the agenda item “IV. Comments from the Public.” The presiding officer (usually the Board president) may limit public comments to conclude at 8:00 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. Later in the meeting, at approximately 9:00 p.m., there is a second opportunity for public comment under the agenda item “IX. Comments from the Public.” The time may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer, taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.
Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, approach the podium, state their name and address and also write their name and address on the sheet at the podium. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds.
The public is invited to address the Board on any topic regarding the school district, both subjects on the agenda or general topics. Comments should be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.
Why does the Board go into closed Executive Session?
The Ridgewood Board of Education may meet in closed Executive Session prior to, or at the end of, a regular public meeting. In accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (aka the “Sunshine Law”), closed Executive Sessions are not open to the public. Although debate may be private, any action taken must be in public session. The Board will indicate that “action may be taken” when they return to public session and before the meeting is adjourned.
Only items that fall under the following topics may be discussed during closed Executive Session:
Collective bargaining agreements/proposals or other contracts
Personnel issues
Matters confidential by law
Items protected by attorney-client privilege
Matters of individual privacy
Specific pending or anticipated litigation
Purchase or lease of real estate
Protecting public safety
How is the Board of Education selected?
Members are elected to three-year terms by the local voters. School board elections are in November. Board members elected in November will be sworn in and take their seats at the Reorganization meeting in January.
If a vacancy occurs between elections, the current Board will appoint a new board member to serve until the next election. Appointed members will be sworn in and take their seats at the next regular public meeting of the Board.
What are the legal requirements to become a Board member?
To become a member of a local Board of Education in New Jersey, you must:
Be able to read and write
Hold U.S. citizenship and one year’s residency in the school district
Have no interest in any contract with, or claim against the Board
Not hold office as mayor or member of the municipal government body, or in the case of county school districts, the county governing body
Be registered to vote in the district
What is the Board member’s Code of Ethics?
All school board members in New Jersey are required to abide by the following Code of Ethics for School Board Members:
a. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures.
b. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.
c. I will confine my board action to policy making, planning, and appraisal, and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them.
d. I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.
e. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board.
f. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.
g. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.
h. I will vote to appoint the best-qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.
i. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.
j. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.
L18A:12-24.1
If I have a question or concern about something in the district, whom should I contact?
If you have a concern, we encourage you to talk first with the teacher or principal, next the department supervisor, then the assistant superintendent, and finally the superintendent. Should the superintendent be unable to resolve a problem, and it involves district policy, school board meetings and agenda items, the budget or requests for specific courses or programs, the Board of Education is the final step in the process. Please remember that all personnel items should be referred directly to the administration.
What are the best ways to communicate with the Board of Education?
To communicate with the Board as a whole, we invite members of the public to attend a regular public meeting and share your ideas and thoughts during the public comments period. You may also write a letter to the Board President, care of the Ed Center, which will be shared with other Board members. Individual Board members can be reached via email
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education will host its regular public meeting at 5pm on Monday the 25th of June at the Education Center.
At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations and approximately 6:00 p.m. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer to conclude at about 5:30 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at about 6:00 p.m. at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.
At every opportunity for public comment, citizens are invited to comment on subjects on the agenda or general topics.
At the discretion of the presiding officer, public comments may be permitted at other times. Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, rise, sign in, and state their names and addresses. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds.
Comments shall be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.
Chatham NJ, If it were not for these two moms, Nancy Gayer and Libby Hilsenrath, the Islamic propaganda videos would still be rolling inside the Chatham Middle School.
A federal judge has refused to toss out a lawsuit brought by a parent against the Chatham, New Jersey, school district, which showed seventh-graders a pro-Muslim video that included an invitation to convert to the “true faith.”
In denying the school district’s motion to dismiss the case, U.S. District Court Judge Kevin McNulty said the motion was worth only “minimal discussion.”
Kate Oliveri, an attorney with Thomas More Law Center, is representing Libby Hilsenrath, whose 12-year-old son attends Chatham Middle School. Oliveri said the decision to let the lawsuit proceed came as no surprise.
“The motion to dismiss was a further attempt by the school district to bully and silence Mrs. Hilsenrath,” she said. “The school district ignored the legal standard and ignored the facts, attempting instead to fool the judge with a poor attempt at sophistry.”
The lawsuit claims that seventh-grade students at the Chatham Middle School were forced to watch a set of videos in their World Cultures and Geography class that sought to convert them to Islam. Here is a sampling of what the students learned by watching just one of the 5-minute videos:
God gave Muhammed the noble Quran
The Quran is a Perfect guide for Humanity
The Quran is divine revelation
Islam is a shining beacon against the darkness of repression, segregation, intolerance and racism
The Beautiful Quran is Guidance for the wise & sensible.
Then came the topper. The video ends with this: “May God help us all to find the true faith, Islam.”
A musical version of an Arabic poem plays in the background throughout the video. The lyrics describe Christians and Jews as infidels and praises Muhammed for slaughtering them: . . . “their white shining swords red with the blood of infidels
. . . until they looked like meat on the butcher’s block.”
When Libby Hilsenrath first brought her concerns to the school board’s attention, on Feb. 6, 2017, they were dismissed out of hand.
And, when she and fellow parent Nancy Gayer appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Show a week later to express her concerns to the nation, she was roundly condemned by the school community. [See interview with Tucker Carlson below]
Because of Hilsenrath’s attempts to persuade school officials to remove the videos and stop the Islamic indoctrination of her son and the other seventh-grade students, she has been subjected to a barrage of vicious personal attacks on social media and in public venues across her community.
Oliveri said the Chatham Board of Education and certain school-district teachers are “waging a war” against the religious protections afforded by the First Amendment.
“They attack religious liberty by enticing young school children with a direct call to convert to Islam and providing a step-by-step guide on how to effect that conversion,” Oliveri said. And then when two parents complained, the school district embarked on a concerted effort to smear their character.
TMLC attorney Kate Oliveri
If anything remotely this aggressively Christian were presented to public-school children in any corner of the United States, the ACLU would be ready to pounce with a lawsuit. But the ACLU is curiously silent in the New Jersey case.
Thank God for the Thomas More Law Center, said James Komaniecki, president of RestoreAmericanLiberty.com.
“Thank Almighty God that TMLC is taking these people to the mat on this,” said Komaniecki. “If we don’t stand up to radical Islam in our own nation, we will be undermined from within until nothing remains of our own culture and Christian faith.”
The federal lawsuit was filed Jan. 23 in the New Jersey District Court against several officials and teachers of the Chatham Middle School and the school district.
Richard Thompson, president of TMLC, said the absurdities introduced to students at Chatham Middle School are the same ones being introduced to students at schools across the U.S.
“Witless school officials have converted classrooms across America into Islamic indoctrination centers,” he said. “These schools do not educate, they propagandize. Under the guise of teaching social studies courses, teachers promote the religion of Islam in ways that would never be legally allowable for Christianity or any other religion.
“Because the explicitly stated goal of Muslim leaders and organizations is to dominate America by a ‘civilization jihad,’ these schools collude with them to jeopardize our national security.”
The Thomas More Law Center is a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“To protect our children and our nation from the insidious Islamic propagandizing going on in our public schools, courageous parents like Libby Hilsenrath must take the time to know exactly what their children are being taught,” Thompson said. “And if it’s Islamic propaganda, take action to stop it.
Ridgewood NJ, Since 1947, Jamboree has presented an original musical revue to raise need-based scholarship funds for college bound Ridgewood High School seniors.
Over 125 RHS parents and guardians contribute each year by performing on stage, designing costumes, building sets, and working back-stage.
The entire production and all Jamboree fund-raising efforts are 100 percent voluntary. All Fund revenues are raised through program advertising, ticket sales and corporate and individual sponsorships.
This year, the Jamboree Scholarship Fund awarded 36 need-based scholarships to RHS seniors. This would not have been possible without all the hard work of RHS Jamboree volunteers. These scholarships can make a real difference to the recipients – so your contributions do have an impact on Ridgewood’s students!
Please consider donating to the Jamboree Scholarship fund and please support our local businesses that support Jamboree and our incredibly talented students at https://rhsjamboree.org/wp/donate-now
Jamboree Scholarship Fund, Inc, is a 501(c )(3) charitable organization.
photo courtesy of Ridgewood High School Marching Band
June 21,2018
Ridgewood High School Marching Band
Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations to the RHS Class of 2018. Best wishes to the 32 graduating seniors who have made music and memories as members of the band; You will be missed. As always, it was such a special ceremony with musical accompaniment by the band.
Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff,
It has been an exciting academic school year and I would like to wish all of you a safe and happy summer.
Over the summer, we will be sending out important notifications regarding the new school year. Since Skyward Family Access is our district’s primary mode of communication, we ask that you please take the time now to login to Skyward Family Access and ensure that we have your most recent address, phone and email information. If you need assistance with Skyward, please email [email protected].
Thank you all, and we look forward to seeing you again in the fall.
Congratulations to our Graduating Seniors!
Sincerely,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
There are people in high places of government, of wealth, of influence – that all want to see their power at least maintained and, if possible, increased. A corollary of their goal is to reduce/remove the power of the individual citizen as much as possible. Since the power of the individual cannot be reduced to zero while the 2nd Amendment of our Constitution is in effect, they seek to diminish the effect of that Amendment by any means possible.
Every THINKING person knows that gun laws only penalize law-abiding citizens; criminals do not, by definition, obey laws – they are CRIMINALS. But the passage of more strict gun laws in NJ is not without some intended effects:
1-it further chips away at the 2nd Amendment
2-it makes Murphy look like he’s “taking action” against “gun crime”.
3-it makes older law-abiding gun owners more apt to move out of NJ – which would be wonderful for the Left.
NB – for a high-level view of where the USA is as a country today, look up “The Tytler Cycle of Democracy”.
REMEMBER: it’s not the wand, it’s the magician…
Ridgewood High School Principal Calls “Student Led Walkout ” a “powderkeg”
Christian Barranco, of Pompton Lakes, is a union electrician and the Labor Liaison to the New Jersey Organization for Economic Growth, a Wayne-based political action group supporting economic growth.
Trenton NJ, Democrats in the New Jersey Legislature recently introduced and moved through committee a bill to end the abusive practice that allows public-sector workers to bank unused sick days. The bill is bitterly opposed by public-sector unions. But we think the fight is worth it. If legislators show an uncommon amount of courage, New Jersey taxpayers can rid themselves of this absurd fiscal burden and bring public-sector workers in line with everyday working people.
As a union member, I can say with authority that no worker in the private-sector trades in New Jersey gets to bank unused sick days and vacation days and walk away at retirement with a five- or six-figure lottery check. Most private-sector trade unionists don’t even get sick days or vacation days at all. In our professions, if you don’t go to work you don’t get paid, period. And most private sector workers must either use their sick days and vacation days or they lose them; they’re not a supplement retirement fund and should never have been allowed to be used as one by the public sector. But decades of limp leadership in Trenton from both Democrats and Republicans allowed the practice to get to absurd heights — or from the taxpayer’s standpoint — ridiculous lows, forcing some towns to even borrow money to pay off retiring employee: ABSURD!
According to one report in NJ Spotlight, Jersey City public workers had amassed $116 million in banked days last year — and when the former police chief retired, he was due $512,000 in unused day. Newark owes its public workers $52.5 million. The County of Passaic, according to one filing, owes approximately $76 million in unused sick and vacation days to its employees.
Think of the things that could be done with that money, starting with property tax relief. Roads and bridges could be rebuilt, or parks upgraded for all of us to enjoy if we had a conscientious and responsible government.
Teacher union leaders are aghast
The teachers union leaders — who mistakenly believe that they are part of the larger labor movement — are aghast that the Democrats would betray them and take away their cherished perk. It is arrogance that makes them feel that way. It’s long past time when the system was corrected to protect private-sector workers who pay the indefensible perks granted to public-sector employees.
The teachers complain that the perks are necessary to make up for a lack of raises. Nonsense. If public employees in general think they are so underpaid that they need to game the system to get compensated for unused sick and vacation days, they can always jump to the private sector and see how the rest of us live.
Under the proposed legislation, every public employee would be able to keep whatever amounts they have earned up to the effective date of the law. Those who had already saved at least $7,500 would earn no more. Those who have not, and new hires, would be able to bank up to $7,500 in sick time, but most would not be paid for it. Instead, individuals could use the value of their accumulated sick time to pay for either health insurance premiums or co-pays over the first five years after retirement. Only veterans could receive a cash payment for future unused days.
The legislation is not ideal, but it is far better than anything Republicans have come up with and far more courageous than Democrats ever dared to be — until now.
We know the proposal is in part a retaliation against the notorious NJEA teachers union for funding a campaign against Sen. Steve Sweeney last fall. Regardless of the motivation, the objective is a worthy one. If the NJEA is going to be corrected for its abuses of influence, and it helps the average taxpayer, that’s great news. Motivations for the legislation are not the issue, the results are. If homeowners and small business owners are no longer forced to fund expensive going-away presents for retiring public employees, that’s a good thing.
It will be interesting to see which lawmakers cave in to the NJEA pressure. Look for the weak-willed lawmakers who are in office only to keep collecting a paycheck to either appease the public-sector union bosses or sneak into a corner and hide. Those that do, should be held accountable next year when the state Assembly members will face re-election. Let’s keep an eye on who votes for the taxpayers and who caves into the abusive deals with the NJEA.
Ridgewood NJ, Eshaan Saxena, a seventh-grader at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, will represent New Jersey at the Chemical Educational Foundation’s 2018 National You Be the Chemist Challenge.
Saxena is one of 42 students in grades 5 to 8 nationwide who will be participating in the challenge, a competition that focus on chemistry and STEM topics.
Saxena competed with 46,000 middle school students finalists nationwide who participated in local and state competitions to qualify for the national challenge.
Saxena was the winner of the New Jersey state challenge, held in April at the BASF Corp. head quarters in Florham Park. He will travel to Washington, D.C., to compete June 18 in the National You Be the Chemist Challenge.
The CEF is a nonprofit organization that encourages students to pursue chemistry and STEM-related learning.
Ridgewood NJ, on June 7 , acting Bergen County Prosecutor Calo joined the Ridgewood High School Gay-Straight Alliance and Principal Dr. Thomas Gordon at their second annual pride flag raising. The event kicked off LGBT Pride Month and was part of a national campaign to raise awareness about the effects of anti-LGBT bias, bullying, and harassment.
