Category: Ridgewood Schools

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Charter school tracker: Which N.J. schools are closing, expanding

School Choice by ArtChick

file photo by ArtChick

By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 06, 2017 at 11:40 AM

TRENTON — The Christie administration last week announced its decisions on more than two dozen applications to expand, renew or open new charter schools.

While four schools were ordered to close at the end of this school year, the state approved more than 6,000 new charter school seats through the expansion of existing schools, a significant increase in school choice.

The state Department of Education also gave 21 schools a five-year renewal of their charter. Here’s the rundown of the decisions:

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/charter_school_tracker_which_schools_are_closing_e.html

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Village Council honors members of Ridgewood High School’s Cross Country Team

Village Council, honored members , Ridgewood High School's Cross Country Team

photo courtesy of Boyd Loving

March 9,2017

by Boyd Loving

Ridgewood NJ, During the Ridgewood Village Council Public Meeting held on Wednesday, 03/08, Village Council members honored members of Ridgewood High School’s Cross Country Team, who were recently crowned as the “2016 Boys Cross Country North 1, Group 4 State Sectional Champions.”

 

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Ridgewood Board Of Education Special Public Meeting 2017-2018 Budget Discussion

rodney backtoschool theridgewoodblog.net

BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING EXPORT EVENT
Date and Time
March 9 2017 4:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Location Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood

2017-2018 BUDGET DISCUSSION

You can find the agenda here

2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.

Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:

Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).

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Reader says Ridgewood School Budget Math Doesn’t Add Up

Ridgewood EA teachers protest

James, something doesn’t make sense here: When the Ridgewood teacher contract was approved last October, it put the district $2.5 million over the 2% property tax cap during the life of the three-year contract for teacher salaries alone which grow over 2.7% in year two and three of the contract and over 2.13% for the life of the contract. At the time Sheila Brogan explained that the amount was still above the 2% cap, necessitating certain cuts to be made to programs and personnel to make the district cap compliant and that the challenge of funding the contract “will require budgetary reductions next year that will result in changes to staffing and programming.” So what happened? This budget is a $4 million YoY INCREASE in spending. How is that a sign that the BOE has worked closely with Superintendent Fishbein to identify reductions that will have the least impact on the instructional programs and extra-curricular offerings? Looks like this budget adds to the budget above and beyond the $2.5 million three year excess just for teacher salaries under the new contract, how does this make any sense? Let’s hope this budget is voted down. It’s all about teacher salaries, not about our kids.

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N.J. just made it easier to become a certain type of teacher

fast times at ridgemont high pic

By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on March 07, 2017 at 8:45 AM, updated March 07, 2017 at 11:42 AM

TRENTON — Facing a shortage of bilingual teachers in its public schools, New Jersey has made it easier to become one.

The state Board of Education this month approved what education officials called a “slight relaxation” to the score teachers need on the written proficiency test for bilingual teachers, a move officials expect will boost the number of bilingual educators by 10 to 15 percent.

The change applies only to prospective teachers for students learning English as their second language. It does not affect foreign language teachers for native English speakers.

Despite the lower qualifications, the state isn’t expecting any decline in the quality of its bilingual teachers, said Mark Biedron, president of the Board of Education.

“I am confident that teachers coming through the program will be highly proficient,” Biedron said.

 

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/nj_lowers_teacher_qualification_score.html#incart_2box_nj-homepage-featured

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Ridgewood School Budget Tops $105 Million

Ridgewood Teachers

2017-2018 PROPOSED PRELIMINARY BUDGET Dr. Fishbein i.

Resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools It is recommended that the Board approve the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:

Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $ 100,503,229 $ 91,519,173 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,378,767 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,683,597 $ 3,265,784 Total Budget $ 105,565,593 $ 94,784,957 The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district. There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).

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What will Trump’s push for ‘school choice’ mean for N.J. students?

School Choice by ArtChick

file photo by ArtChick

Updated March 06, 2017
Posted March 06, 2017

By Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Calling education the “civil rights issue of our time,” President Donald Trump used his address before Congress last week to highlight one of his top issues – school choice.

Echoing a campaign promise, Trump vowed to push for students in poor school districts to be able to use public funds to attend a charter, private or religious school.

“I am calling upon members of both parties to pass an education bill that funds school choice for disadvantaged youth, including millions of African-American and Latino children,” Trump said. “These families should be free to choose the public, private, charter, magnet, religious or home school that is right for them.”

Trump did not say what form his school choice program would take. But he did give a few hints of what a federal push for school choice might look like in New Jersey and around the country.

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/03/what_does_trumps_push_for_school_choice_mean_for_n.html#incart_river_index

 

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Ridgewood Board of Education Meeting Tonight at 7:30pm

BOE_theridgewoodblog

March 6 2017 7:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Location Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ
DescriptionThe public is invited to attend the meeting, or watch it live on Fios channel 33, Optimum channel 77, or on the “Link in Live” tab of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

BOE agenda here

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Annual Ridgewood Teacher Recognition Awards

Tradition_of_excellence_theridgewoodblog
Nominations for Annual Teacher Recognition Awards
Teacher and Education Services Professional Recognition
March 6,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Teacher Recognition Committee is accepting nominations for the 2016-2017 school year. Please click here for more information and nomination forms.  Completed nominations can be mailed to Human Resources at the Education Center or emailed to [email protected].
The nominations deadline is Wednesday, March 15.
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Ridgewood Schools Update for Full-day Kindergarten

Kindergarten

“Kindergarten is the place for young children to learn. It must be ready for them so that their learning is unhampered and they can try out new skills without fear of mistakes. Kindergarten is a time of growth, experimentation, and a budding understanding of the world and their place in it.” New Jersey Department of Education

Full-day Kindergarten update from the Ridgewood BOE 2.27.17 meeting

March 5,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Elementary school principals are getting ready for full-day Kindergarten this fall. The goal is to expand the day so that the children can have better time to apply what they are learning rather add more to the curriculum. There will be continuing professional development on May 12 for all teachers, including the newly hired, and six teachers will go to the Paramus Parkway School to observe the program there. Furnishings and libraries are also being carefully researched. Click here for the presentation.

Ongoing registration for fall entrance to Kindergarten and First Grade continues at the Ridgewood Public Schools. Early registration helps ensure that principals and staff have quality time for planning for September.

To schedule an appointment to register, or for more information, parents and guardians should contact their designated district elementary school. More registration information and printable forms may be found under the Parents tab of the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. Click hereto go directly to that page.

Children who will be five years of age on or before October 1 are eligible to enter Kindergarten in September.

 

 

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Ridgewood’s 73rd Year Dads Night

BF_middle-school_theridgewoodblog

Fri, March 10, 2017 – Sat, March 11, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Location: Benjamin Franklin Middle School, E Glen Ave N. Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450

Ridgewood NJ, Entering our 73rd year, Dads’ Night puts on an annual fundraising show for the Ridgewood Somerville/
Hawes Elementary Schools and general public. Our show is the result of a massive effort from over 280 dads
who donate their time and “talents”.

Our dads are responsible for all aspects of the production of the show, from script writing and making costumes to playing all the parts, providing all the music and of course the hilarious acting! Obviously, it has had some success because it’s been here for 73 years. But the show is just the beginning, Dads’ Night is a year-round organization that is very involved with our community from coat, turkey and blood drives to parent educational speakers and outreach programs just to mention a few.
The funds we raise are divided out between the two elementary schools funding various projects that the schools’ budget may not accommodate. We have recently installed chrome books in classrooms, outdoor community classrooms, eco-friendly water fountains and eco-center. Additionally, monies from the funds raised allow us to help support local and national charitable efforts too.
Our purpose is to give back something a little extra to our children’s learning and educational experiences by following our slogan “Family. Friends. Community.” Our children are our future and ultimately our legacy.

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Reader says Ridgewood taxpayers got screwed when they defeated the $84.9 million school budget

Ridgewood Teachers

“Unfortunately in a Democracy, some suffer because of the decisions of the majority.” Not always true, in 2010 many of my neighbors and the majority voted No, and Ridgewood taxpayers got screwed when they defeated the $84.9 million school budget.
Votes: 2,639 NO,,, 2,537 Yes…It was rejected by the voters, but the council ONLY CUT a measly $100,000 from the $84.9 Million budget. You wonder why bother to vote on BOE budgets when your vote don’t count anyway. ?

See attached link,
https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/28/nyregion/28schools.html
Oh, let’s build a massive parking garage, build 4 or 5 oversized apartment buildings in town, build a water park for Graydon, build a performing arts theater, renovate the library, did I miss anything else?

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Ridgewood Crew is having their annual row-a-thon in Van Neste Square from 10am -3pm

ridgewood _crew_rowathon_theridgewoodblog

March 4,2017

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, It is literally freezing outside today and Ridgewood Crew is having their annual row-a-thon in Van Neste Square from 10-3. Brrrrr….If you happen to be in town, please stop by to give these kids a boost and maybe buy a few things from the bake sale. This will keep their spirits up and it will help them raise desperately needed cash for their team.
Thanks SO much and spread the word

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The 20 N.J. school districts most dependent on state funding

money-down-the-toilet-zaw2

By Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on February 28, 2017 at 7:15 AM, updated February 28, 2017 at 7:53 AM

TRENTON — When Gov. Chris Christie delivers his 2018 budget address on Tuesday, New Jersey school officials will be listening especially closely.

How Christie will address education funding is the biggest question about his final budget, leaving administrators bracing for the possibility of funding cuts.

There’s some concern Christie could follow through with the “Fairness Formula,” a plan he unveiled last summer to give every district $6,599 per student regardless of income or other needs. Though many education groups are convinced Christie won’t do that, they still don’t have high hopes for increases in school funding.

“I’m not expecting any good news in the budget,” said Richard Bozza, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators.

https://www.nj.com/education/2017/02/the_20_nj_school_districts_most_reliant_on_state_f.html#incart_river_home_pop

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NJ STUDENTS DINE ON CRICKETS, LEARN ABOUT BIODIVERSITY

CRICKETS

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 05:51PM
EWING, N.J. (WPVI) —
A New Jersey college gave students a new way to learn about the world around them, but it was not for those with a weak appetite.

Aleena Andrews was among hundreds of students and staff at the College of New Jersey who tasted crickets for the first time Tuesday.

“Kind of crunchy and I think that one was sour cream flavored, so, yeah, like potato chips,” Andrews said.

Students’ opinions were mixed.

“You could like feel the legs and the head as you crunch it so it wasn’t very pleasant for me,” student Eric Beyer said.

“The flavor is not off-putting, I must admit. It’s actually pretty good. It’s like eating popcorn,” student Claudio Bizaro said.

The crickets were part of the college’s “Tasting the Tree of Life” event, a fun and filling way to understand biodiversity and how it relates to food.

“We eat everything from animals to plants to fungi,” Plant Evolutionary Biologist Wendy Clement said.

And each of the 149 different items on the menu reflected that.

https://6abc.com/food/nj-students-dine-on-crickets-learn-about-biodiversity-/1777875/

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