Security is going to cost money and will need to be built into the cost of running the schools. I agree with you that it’s money well spent. There is no source for that money that is not us. The state uses our money to run the state. If the state pays for something, then we’ve paid for that thing. The feds do the same. If they have money it’s come from us (or they printed it, which means, ironically, that the kids are paying for their own protection). If they get money through corporate taxes, we have paid the money to corporations in the price of what we buy from them. Are you suggesting that people in Camden or in Nebraska should pay to protect Ridgewood’s schools? Who then pays to protect theirs? Sadly the way our elected officials treat the residents of Ridgewood the way it will really work is that Ridgewood taxpayers will pay to protect schools in Camden and Nebraska in addition to our own…
Ridgewood NJ, here is a white paper prepared by the NJ School Security Task Force.
On December 14, 2012, a gunman blasted through a glass entryway at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and within minutes murdered 20 children and six adults. Since the day of the tragedy, local boards of education throughout our nation have faced the question: What else must be done to ensure the safety and security of schoolchildren?
The New Jersey School Boards Association’s Safe and Secure Schools Project was an immediate response to that question and involved a major statewide forum on school security at The College of New Jersey in January 2013. As a continuation of that effort, NJSBA President John Bulina appointed a School Security Task Force in March 2013 to provide the Association’s membership with additional guidance and direction on school safety issues.
What Makes Schools Safe?, the final report of the NJSBA School Security Task Force, is the culmination of a year’s work to inform the discussion of school safety and security. The report and its 45 recommendations should be viewed as a resource to help determine further federal, state and local action to ensure the physical and emotional well-being of our students.
Trenton NJ, The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is currently reporting widespread influenza (flu) activity in all regions of the state. The flu can cause mild to severe illness. Young children, older people and people with certain health conditions are among the people who are at high risk of serious flu complications. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalizations or sometimes death. NJDOH has been receiving numerous outbreak reports which have generated questions from school and local health departments on reporting requirements. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we are receiving as well as links to valuable resources schools can use. What should schools expect to see during widespread flu activity? With widespread influenza activity, schools should expect to experience increased absenteeism among students and staff with respiratory symptoms. NJDOH recommends that schools continue to monitor students and staff for sudden fever and respiratory illness symptoms. What should school do about increased absenteeism for influenza like illness (ILI)? NJDOH recommends that schools and childcare settings monitor attendees for sudden fever and respiratory illness symptoms. School or childcare attendees and staff with sudden fever and respiratory illness symptoms should be sent home with instructions to stay at home until fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. Instructions should be given to seek medical care with worsening of symptoms.
How does a school know if a respiratory outbreak is occurring? Often in the school setting, it is difficult to determine if an outbreak exists. An outbreak may be occurring if you are experiencing clusters of ill students and/or staff that are in the same classroom, same grade or wing of the facility or have attended a common event. If you think an outbreak may be occurring, contact your local health department for guidance. During flu season we would expect a school to experience cases of flu or ILI. Unless you are experiencing clusters as described above and in the NJDOH General Guidelines for the Control of Outbreaks in School and Child Care Settings, it is not necessary to contact public health. What should a school do if they are experiencing an outbreak of ILI? If you suspect an outbreak is occurring, the school should report the outbreak to the local health department to ensure that public health recommendations are implemented. Some control measures that a school will be asked to implement include: Isolating ill students/staff from well students/staff until they can be sent home.
Increasing frequency of cleaning of common areas and frequently touched surfaces. Encouraging frequent hand hygiene. Reinforcing respiratory etiquette to students and staff.
What preventative measures should a school take? NJDOH recommends that schools and childcare setting increase education on respiratory hygiene. Staff and children (as developmentally appropriate) should all be taught and asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of infections such as influenza: Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into your sleeve, not your hands. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing. Stay home if you’re sick, especially with a fever.
Additional preventative measures include: Routine cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu. Have an adequate supply of tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs and disposable wipes. Adhere to exclusion recommendations from public health. For ILI; fever free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. Doctors notes for return do not supersede public health recommendation.
When should a school close for outbreaks?
Although school dismissal and closure are not recommended for the control of seasonal flu, schools should work with state and local health officials to determine if and when you should dismiss students based on the severity of disease in your school community. Some schools may decide to close based on local considerations, such as high student and staff absenteeism. If this is the case, schools should consult public health and school district medical personnel before closing. Schools should update emergency plans, so they are in place before an outbreak occurs.
The New Jersey Department of Health asks that everyone take steps to prevent the flu: Get a flu shot – it’s not too late to be protected! Wash hands often. Cover coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or a tissue. Avoid sick people. Stay home if sick. Keep students home if they are sick too.
School outbreak guidance and exclusion information can be found at https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/outbreaks.shtml#2. For information about flu, go to the New Jersey Department of Health flu website at https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/flu.shtml.
Paramus NJ, Paramus Police remind all to please be mindful of school busses loading and unloading children. We have been receiving numerous complaints of improper passing at school bus stops. Distracted driving plays a major part in motor vehicle crashes. Please help us keep our community safe.
FBI Statement on the Shooting in Parkland, Florida
February 16,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Washington DC, On January 5, 2018, a person close to Nikolas Cruz contacted the FBI’s Public Access Line (PAL) tipline to report concerns about him. The caller provided information about Cruz’s gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behavior, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting.
Under established protocols, the information provided by the caller should have been assessed as a potential threat to life. The information then should have been forwarded to the FBI Miami Field Office, where appropriate investigative steps would have been taken.
We have determined that these protocols were not followed for the information received by the PAL on January 5. The information was not provided to the Miami Field Office, and no further investigation was conducted at that time.
FBI Director Christopher Wray said:
“We are still investigating the facts. I am committed to getting to the bottom of what happened in this particular matter, as well as reviewing our processes for responding to information that we receive from the public. It’s up to all Americans to be vigilant, and when members of the public contact us with concerns, we must act properly and quickly.
“We have spoken with victims and families, and deeply regret the additional pain this causes all those affected by this horrific tragedy. All of the men and women of the FBI are dedicated to keeping the American people safe, and are relentlessly committed to improving all that we do and how we do it.”
Dear Parents/Guardians, On February 28th, Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman will be presenting “Developing Grit, Self-Control, and a Positive Mindset: The Keys to Success.” This program will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the George Washington Middle School auditorium. Dr. Baruch-Feldman is the author of The Grit Guide for Teens: A Workbook to Help You Build Perseverance, Self-Control, and a Growth Mindset. She is a clinical and school psychologist who believes in inspiring a growth mindset. Dr. Baruch-Feldman uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help children and adults with depression, anxiety, stress, ADHD, and weight loss. She is an expert in coducting psycho-educational evaluations for children experiencing school-related difficulties and has trained hundreds of teachers, parents, children and health care professionals by giving workshops and lectures through the country.
February 15, 2018 Dear Nutley Parents, Staff and Community, Tonight, the district administration became aware of a security threat. The police are actively investigating. As it gets later in the evening, we have decided to err on the side of safety and close schools tomorrow, February 16, 2018. We will use one of our two remaining emergency days and close the Nutley Public School district, for all students, staff and personnel. All evening events at our schools for Friday, February 16 will be canceled, as well. Schools will reopen, after winter break, on Monday, February 26 for students and teachers and the district offices will reopen on Tuesday, February 20. As both the Superintendent of the Nutley Public Schools and as a parent, and because of the nature of the world in which we live, there was no other decision to be made. Please rest assured that the safety and security of all our students and staff in the Nutley Public Schools remains our first priority. Sincerely, Dr. Julie Glazer
Sadly, once again I must write to address another tragic school shooting, this time in Parkland, FL. Although far from Ridgewood, this senseless act hits close to home because it has taken the lives of innocent children and adults and torn the very fiber of a vibrant community.
While every event of this nature is unique and we always hope that it would never happen in our Village, we are realistic in our approach to safety in the Ridgewood Public Schools. Our top priority is to assure the safety of our students and staff. For this reason, we have security protocols in place at each of our buildings that are regularly reviewed for their effectiveness, including locked entries, ID swipe cards and the recent hire of a school safety officer. Our safety plan also includes a strong partnership with the Ridgewood Police Department and other first responders up to the county level and beyond. The importance of these relationships cannot be overemphasized, nor the value of the safety drills that we regularly practice with our students and staff; as seen in the Parkland shooting, these drills are a critical component to maintaining calm order and minimizing harm.
Events like yesterday’s shooting are frightening for everyone, most especially for children. Please do not shy away from discussing this incident with your children while reassuring them that they are safe. Professionals advise the following:
• Don’t project your fears onto your children. • Limit access to the repetitious news cycle. • Be honest. I know that you join me in thoughts and prayers for the Parkland community. I do believe that at this difficult time the victims, their families, the first responders and the entire school district of students and staff would very much appreciate our sincere condolences as they try to cope with this tragedy and find a way to move forward. Sincerely, Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools
Ridgewood NJ, The annual NJ School Performance Reports are out. Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education releases school performance reports on every public school in New Jersey. The Ridgewood district’s 2016-17 performance reports can now be found on the individual school web pages. Please contact your school with any questions. Click here to access the links to the Ridgewood Public Schools’ individual school reports : https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/cms/one.aspx?portalid=207600&pageid=4184469
Ridgewood NJ, The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, February 5, 2018 at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be aired live on television, FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77, and streamed via the “Link in Live” tab on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. Meeting webcasts are generally posted to the district website within 48 hours.
At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations and approximately 9:00 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 8:00 p.m. in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at about 9:00 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.
Ridgewood NJ, On Thursday, February 8, the Ridgewood High School Department of Fine and Applied Arts will present the third Maroon & White Music Recital and Art Exhibit for the 2017-18 school year. The third of five such events for this year, the concert will be held in the newly renovated RHS Learning Commons beginning at 3:45PM, followed immediately by a reception and gallery opening in the Carroll Art Gallery. Admission is free and open to the public.
Ridgewood NJ, With a large cast and crew of over 150 people, RHS Jamboree has plenty of hungry mouths to feed. Procuring and managing a delightful and varied array of generous food donations from both local restaurants and home cooks takes a lot of organizing, but thanks to Roni Farfalla and her all-star team of Ridgewood High School (RHS) students, no one goes hungry. Cast and crew pay for donated meals which, in turn, helps raise money for this years 72nd Jamboree scholarship fund which last gave 40 RHS graduates in scholarships funds to pursue higher education.
Born in Hoboken, Roni and her family moved to Ridgewood 25 years ago when her oldest was just 6 months. This is her fifth year chairing the Jamboree Hospitality Committee which takes on the responsibility of overseeing meal offerings over a six and a half week period including breakfast, lunch, and dinner for approximately 24 rehearsals plus 4 performances. But that doesn’t stop Roni and her husband Frank Farfalla from staring in this years show “Jamboree Night Live” were favorite characters from TV past and present perform a “live” in studio musical experience at Benjamin Franklin School, Wednesday February 7th though to Saturday February 10th.
For Tickets to see the show and more information go to rhsjamboree.org
Bottom row from left to right Bella Salerno, Jenna Farfalla, Brooke Ward, Grace Saltamacchia, Top row left to right Bridget Ward, Sophia Mchedlishvili, Katrina Abramenko , Roni Farfalla Photo credit Susan Knudsen
Not having to place the school budget before the voters seems to mean that they now think they can do anything they want as there is no way to vote the budget down. That was a sneaky way to get control when all the town wanted was to save some money and get more voters out by combining the school board with a general election
Regular Public Meeting February 5 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM Location Board Room, 3rd Floor, Education Center
Board Announcements
2018 Official Election Results
Candidates for Board – Three Year Term
Sheila Brogan: 2,766
Christina Krauss: 2,394
Personal Choice: 53
Total School Election Votes Cast: 7,175
2017-2018 School Calendar is Approved
Click here to open the 2017-2018 School Calendar, approved by the Ridgewood Board of Education on March 7, 2016.
Ridgewood NJ, NJ.com put together a list of the 50 New Jersey public high schools with the highest average SAT scores among their graduation seniors last school year, NJ.com said Statewide, the average SAT score for the Class of 2017 was a 551 in reading and writing and a 552 in math, a total of 1,103 out of 1,600, according to state data. And average scores among the state’s public high schools ranged from a low of 795 to a high of 1,502.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Stigma Free task force announces that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. More than 1 in 10 teens who have been on a date have also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year. Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is a national effort to raise awareness and protect teens from violence.
You can make a difference: Encourage schools, community-based organizations, parents, and teens to come together to prevent teen dating violence. It is vitally important that we specifically speak to and understand the statistics involved with abuse in young people’s relationships. These statistics help to outline just how widespread of an issue dating abuse really is in the lives of young people.
Being able to tell the difference between healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships can be more difficult than you would think. No two relationships are the same, so what’s unhealthy in one relationship may be abusive in another. Although there are many signs to pay attention to in a relationship, look for these common warning signs of dating abuse:
• Checking cell phones, emails or social networks without permission
• Extreme jealousy or insecurity
• Constant belittling or put-downs
• Explosive temper
• Isolation from family and friends
• Making false accusations
• Erratic mood swings
• Physically inflicting pain or hurt in any way
• Possessiveness
• Telling someone what to do
• Repeatedly pressuring someone to have sex
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The Ridgewood Stigma Free task force wants you to know that there’s a lot you can do as a parent to prevent teen dating violence and abuse. Remember that more than 1 in 10 teens who have been on a date have also been physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend in the last year. One of the most important things you can do is keep the lines of communication open with your kids.
Take steps to make a difference:
• Be a role model – treat your kids and others with respect.
• Start talking to your kids about healthy relationships early – before they start dating.
• Get involved with efforts to prevent dating violence at your teen’s school.
• If you are worried about your teen, call the National Dating Abuse Helpline at 1-866-331-9474 or text “loveis” to 22522.
You can help keep your loved ones safe and healthy.
