We are pleased to announce that on Tuesday, September 13, the negotiating committees for the Ridgewood Board of Education and the Ridgewood Education Association (REA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for a three-year contract for the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018.
This MOA lists the new contract terms, which will be made public once the contract is ratified by the teachers and voted on by the Board at a regular public meeting. The contract becomes effective once the Board approves it.
During this prolonged negotiation, many community members, parents, and students shared their ideas and perspectives with us. While opinions varied, the overriding messages were consistent. Our community cares deeply about the quality of our schools. The educational programs and extracurricular activities offered to our students are highly valued as are our teachers, and the contract should be fair and balanced.
As we complete the tasks needed to finalize the contract, we ask for your continued patience and understanding. The good news is that the disruption caused by the unsettled contract is behind us and we can once again focus our attention on what unites us as a community, the education of our children and our excellent schools.
Ridgewood Board of Education
Sheila Brogan, President
Vince Loncto, Vice President
Christina Krauss
Jim Morgan
Jennie Smith Wilson
Does the modern rejection of classical languages contribute to falling proficiency?
In 2015, less than 40% of American 4th and 8th-graders achieved proficiency in reading. Public schools have been trying to boost these numbers for years, but have had little success.
But news out of Australia may offer a new way to boost not only America’s reading proficiency, but math and science proficiency, as well. How? They’re teaching students some Latin and Greek.
Ridgewood NJ, All Ridgewood High School parents and guardians are invited to a CASTING CALL to register to participate in the JAMBOREE 2017-WORLD TOUR! Performances are February 8,9,10 &11, 2017 and Rehearsals begin January 2nd!!
For 71 years, Jamboree has presented an original musical revue, raising funds for need- based college scholarships for graduating RHS seniors. More than $1.4 million has been raised in the last 13 years alone and distributed to hundreds of worthy applicants.
CASTING CALL DATES AND TIMES (SELECT ONE)
MONDAY OCTOBER 17TH, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19TH, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 25th, 7 p.m.
In the Ridgewood High School Campus Center
Producers for this production are Linda Aktar, Gail McCarthy, and Vivienne & Mike Muldoon! They can be reached via email at [email protected].
Rosie Gunther McCooe will be returning as Director, with the incredible creative team of Maggie Devita-Set Construction/Crew, Bronwen Eastwood-Music Director, Steve Friedes- Band Director, Marjorie McConnell-Choreography, Wayne Angelbeck-Costumes and Stage Managers Sibylla Frank and Nick Lewis!
Help is always needed behind the scenes, and non-RHS parents are welcome to join the Stage Crew, or volunteer in many other ways!
The RHS Jamboree Scholarship Committee is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Please note that ALL SENIORS, not just those with parents/guardians in the show or backstage, are encouraged to apply for the RHS JAMBOREE SCHOLARSHIP! Speak with your guidance counselor for more information.
Select one date in October and come down to RHS!
NO TALENT REQUIRED!
Become a part of this wonderful RIDGEWOOD TRADITION by joining our cast and crew
as we prepare for a non-stop global adventure! Jamboree 2017 – World Tour!
Ridgewood NJ, FAQ on Full-Day Kindergarten: Vote is November 8. The November 8 election ballot will include a question for residents about implementing full-day Kindergarten FDK) in Ridgewood. Public presentations will be held on FDK at 7 p.m.. at BFMS on Wednesday, October 5 and at GWMS on Thursday, October 27.
To learn more about full-day Kindergarten, please click here for a FAQ sheet, updated on August 23, 2016. Please click here to go to other Full-Day K documents that are located in the Full-day Kindergarten Exploratory Committee folder on the Curriculum web page.
The New Jersey Education Association’s (NJEA) PAC Operating Committee this past weekend voted in favor of beginning the process of screening 2017 candidates for governor and the legislature.
It’s probably safe to say that Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) doesn’t need to bother showing up for that process.
He’s identified in a leadership letter to NJEA members as the instigator of “betrayal,” for failing to secure a public payment pension question on the 2016 ballot, and then lashing out at the NJEA in a letter to law enforcement.
Ridgewood NJ, The Social Place is an extracurricular club for children who have social challenges
due to high functioning autism, Asperger ‘s Syndrome or other conditions. Parents, volunteer educators and volunteer mentors from RHS administer, plan and run the activities of the club. Monthly activities provide opportunities for children to practice social skills in a fun environment, participating in typical type outings. In addition, monthly “Meetups” at GWMS will offer a chance to socialize with a pizza party and prepare for the upcoming outing. Please contact Elizabeth Rottinger at [email protected] with any questions.
Click here for details, a schedule and the participation form.
Ridgewood NJ ,One hundred thirty six students at Ridgewood High School have been named AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college level Advanced Placement Examinations.
The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on the students’ performance on AP exams. At RHS:
Six students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average grade of 4.0 or higher on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
Twenty-nine students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
Fifty-one students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with grades of 3 or higher.
About 18 percent of the more than 1.9 million high school students worldwide who took AP Examinations in May 2016 performed at a sufficiently high level to merit such recognition.
Twenty-one award recipients are juniors. These students have at least one more year in which to do college-level work, and possibly earn another Advanced Placement Award.
Ridgewood NJ, The Board of Education and the REA negotiating teams signed a Memorandum of Agreement at 12:15 AM on September 13, 2016 concluding negotiations on a 3-year contract for the period July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2018. Terms of the agreement will be released after the REA members have ratified the contract.
Ridgewood NJ, Ever since Nintendo made the Pokemon Go video-game app available, young people have been exploring their communities with their eyes firmly fixed on their smartphones rather than on the wonders of the world.
If endless hours spent capturing imaginary creatures seems like an electronic addiction, it very well may be, but that’s nothing new. Many children have been plugged into electronic devices for a long time now, rarely looking up as they help virtual animals save the day, keep race cars on track and watch endless loops of videos on YouTube.
And that can be a concern, says Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D., a therapist and author of “7 Strategies for Raising Calm, Inspired & Successful Children” (www.askdrelaine.com).
“They are so attached to technology at such an early age and it’s changing their brain circuitry,” Schneider says. “They begin to lose the back and forth communication with their parents, and/or siblings, and the whole notion of empathy. For really young children, these devices have become the babysitter. I fully understand that parents need a break (as do grandparents), but there have to be limits.”
Schneider has tips for parents who worry about how they can control their child’s electronic pastime.
• Set rules. Limit the amount of time your child can spend on an electronic device and be consistent in enforcing those rules. This way your child knows that when you say he or she only has two minutes left, then there really is only two minutes left, not three or four hours. • Use a timer. A timer does not “lie” and can take the blame away from you when you’re limiting your child’s time on the device. Use the timer that measures down the time your child is spending on the tablet, smartphone, and/or technological game, so that your child knows the end for using that device is approaching, and it won’t be a surprise when time is up. You can even have your child select a tone on the smartphone that he or she likes. • Be ready with another activity. Plan an alternative way of engaging your child so when the device is turned off, some other interest can be provided and take his or her mind off the electronic device. “Describe what you’re going to do so the child’s interest is piqued into doing something else that he or she enjoys,” Schneider says. • Use these tips in your home at first. As with everything, at first there’s a learning curve, so there may be tantrums, tears, melt downs and even depression. That’s why Schneider recommends following these tips at home first. “I wouldn’t think of trying this out in public right away since I don’t think you want to endure the wrath or glances of diners or shoppers as they hear your child scream,” Schneider says. In time, though, the child will know what is expected, she says, and will be able to disconnect from a smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device without major meltdowns.
“In the long run, you’re doing a service for your child by limiting the amount of time spent on an electronic device,” Schneider says. “I can remember hearing my own mother’s words, ‘I’m doing this for your own good!’ And that’s really true.”
About Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D.
Elaine Fogel Schneider, author of the Amazon bestseller “7 Strategies for Raising Calm, Inspired & Successful Children” (www.askdrelaine.com), is one of the country’s leading authorities on touch therapy, and founder of Baby Steps, preparing young children for educational readiness and providing parent coaching. As a sought-after speaker and trainer, she offers interactive presentations and workshops for educators, parents and healthcare professionals.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, September 12, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.The meeting will be held in the Board Room at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place. The public is invited to attend the meeting or view it live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website, or on Fios tv channel 33 or Optimum 77.
Click here to read a letter from the Board of Education to the Ridgewood community on BOE – REA contract negotiations, issued on September 7, 2016.
Click here to view the agenda and addendum for the August 29, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the minutes of the July 18, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the 2016-2017 Budget presented at the May 2, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.
Ridgewood NJ, This article has been making the rounds on social media lately . It has been put out by supporters of the teachers union or REA . The article is titled, “The teacher pay gap is wider than ever: Teachers’ pay continues to fall further behind pay of comparable workers”.
Besides the fact that the Economic Policy Institute is a Pro Union Think Tank , just look on the EPI board of directors, you find past and present board members who are heads or former heads of national unions, including Richard Trumka (AFL-CIO), Randi Weingarten (American Federation of Teachers), Andy Stern and Anna Burger (SEIU), Ron Gettelfinger (United Auto Workers), and Leo Gerard (United Steelworkers of America).
“Here is documentation that puts the teacher position in perspective based on accurate, unbiased data:” we are told ???
“The following is a report published by the Economic Policy Institute. EPI is an independent, nonprofit think tank that researches the impact of economic trends and policies on working people in the United States. EPI’s research helps policymakers, opinion leaders, advocates, journalists, and the public understand the bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Americans.
The teacher pay gap is wider than ever: Teachers’ pay continues to fall further behind pay of comparable workers
Report • By Sylvia Allegretto and Lawrence Mishel • August 9, 2016
What this report finds: The teacher pay penalty is bigger than ever. In 2015, public school teachers’ weekly wages were 17.0 percent lower than those of comparable workers—compared with just 1.8 percent lower in 1994. This erosion of relative teacher wages has fallen more heavily on experienced teachers than on entry-level teachers. Importantly, collective bargaining can help to abate this teacher wage penalty. Some of the increase in the teacher wage penalty may be attributed to a trade-off between wages and benefits. Even so, teachers’ compensation (wages plus benefits) was 11.1 percent lower than that of comparable workers in 2015.
Why this matters: An effective teacher is the most important school-based determinant of education outcomes. It is therefore crucial that school districts recruit and retain high-quality teachers. This is particularly difficult at a time when the supply of teachers is constrained by high turnover rates, annual retirements of longtime teachers, and a decline in students opting for a teaching career—and when demand for teachers is rising due to rigorous national student performance standards and many locales’ mandates to shrink class sizes. In light of these challenges, providing adequate wages and benefits is a crucial tool for attracting and keeping the teachers America’s children need.
Our analysis examines the relative wages of teachers but also examines how differences in benefits affect total compensation. We utilize the Employer Costs for Employee Compensation (ECEC) survey from the BLS to analyze the benefits of teachers compared with the benefits received by other professionals. This allows us to compare relative teacher benefits. Our estimates of relative teacher wages and benefits give us a measure of relative total compensation of teachers as compared with other professionals.
There are several major flaws with using this study , first and foremost is that the income data used in the study is far lower that of the same income data for Ridgewood Schools.
“Average weekly wages (inflation adjusted) of public-sector teachersdecreased $30 per week from 1996 to 2015, from $1,122 to $1,092 (in 2015 dollars). In contrast, weekly wages of all college graduates rose from $1,292 to $1,416 over this period.”
Now take a look at Ridgewood Schools ,notice all the 6 figure salaries and the lowest salaries are about the average of the EPI study. https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/923620/File/05-06-13.pdf
The other major problem we have is this “In contrast, weekly wages of all college graduates rose from $1,292 to $1,416 over this period.” All college grads, Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers , Accountants, and these people are work compatible schedules of 10 months of work equals full time and full time benefits as well as tenure?
Really , sorry the teachers have a good deal some would say a great deal .
Ridgewood NJ, From piggy banks to that first savings account, many children are taught the value of saving from an early age.
But as they grow to adolescence, following parental advice sometimes gives way to peer or media influences, and those once-thrifty children are now teenagers in a consumer-driven world where spending, not saving, is king.
“Nearly everyone falls into two categories: spenders and savers,” says John Cortines, co-author with Gregory Baumer of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School (www.godandmoney.net). “Spending is easy, so it’s up to parents to start conversations with their teens on the importance of saving and, just as importantly, giving.”
Cortines and Baumer suggest three ways parents can help teens establish good financial habits before they reach adulthood, and pave the way for those teens to become generous people as well as good savers:
• Help them begin saving for retirement now. Teens who land a part-time job often want to save money to buy a car or they simply want to enjoy a little financial freedom with weekend shopping sprees. Unless they’re careful, that money burning a proverbial hole in their pocket is spent before the next payday. Parents can help them think beyond today by suggesting they invest a portion of that income in a Roth IRA. Mom and Dad can even consider matching their teen dollar-for-dollar on their savings. “Explain the wonder of compounding investment returns – how the money they invest as a teen could be worth 10 to 20 times as much when they retire,” Cortines says. • Family philanthropy. Even if the gifts are modest, Cortines and Baumer advocate involving teens in the family giving plan. Encourage them to research charities and apply for “grants” from the family’s budget for giving. “The experience of learning about nonprofits will be invaluable,” Baumer says. This is also where another portion of the teen’s earnings from a part-time job could be placed. • Let them into your journey. Parents should model what they want their teens to emulate. Cortines said this begins with “letting them see your character as reflected in financial decisions.” That doesn’t mean letting teens know their parents’ net worth or the details of their income. Baumer and Cortines suggest explaining to teens how living modestly has short- and long-term benefits, whether it has allowed an early payoff of a mortgage, or demonstrates that frugal purchasing decisions leave money available for charitable giving.
“If you frame the conversation well,” Baumer says, “teens will benefit from seeing your character on display as you navigate your finances.”
Once saving and giving goals are fulfilled, teens can then begin to focus on spending.
“But unless spending is kept under control,” Cortines says, “saving and giving simply aren’t possible at any meaningful level.”
About John Cortines and Greg Baumer
John Cortines and Greg Baumer are co-authors of God and Money: How We Discovered True Riches at Harvard Business School (www.godandmoney.net). Baumer is VP of Business Development for naviHealth, a Nashville-based healthcare technology firm. Cortines is Executive VP of Emerging Leaders for Generous Giving, an organization that exists to share the biblical message of generosity.
Ridgewood NJ, its bears repeating school is open so drive carefully !
Governor Christie: This is always an interesting time of year. Everyone’s got to get readjusted. And in our house this morning, one of our children went back to school, the other didn’t. Which lead to enormous teasing last night, of Bridget to Patrick, because she was going to be able to sleep in for one last morning and Patrick was getting up to head to school for the first time this year. Let’s all of us be attentive to particularly the public safety issues that surround the beginning of the school year. Let us all put our cell phones down when we are in the car. That should be a rule of thumb no matter what. Law enforcement will enforce that, specifically, but especially for parents and I saw this this morning, which is why it’s on my mind, parents driving into a school lot while they’re texting. It’s unthinkable to me that with children walking around on a school campus setting, and parents driving in with their own children in the car that they would engage in distracted driving, which I think is the term of art we use now, distracted driving. It’s texting while driving, and it just shouldn’t be done. So I want everybody to pay attention, especially the public safety issues that come up when you have lots of young people who no matter how many times we tell them to look both ways before they cross or move into a street don’t always remember. We’re the responsible adults, we got to make sure we’re keeping an eye on those things. So we got to get out of summer mode, get into fall mode unfortunately, and one of those things I think is keeping our eye on what we’re doing and making sure that we’re talking to our children about the things they need to do. Not only to do well in school but to be safe in school. And we can set a good example by doing some of things that are within our control as well. So Mary Pat and I will try to make sure we do that, and we hope that all of you here and all of those listening will do that as well.
Ridgewood NJ, first day of school for students was marked by teacher contract protests . The Ridgewood Education Association held a rally at 4:00pm at the Ed Center. The REA was hopping to garner more support from parents and students and pressure the BOE to settle. The union has implied the possibility of a strike .
That evening a negotiation session was held the Board of Education members and the REA negotiating team met with the state-appointed super conciliator for ten hours. According to the BOE progress was made, but a settlement was not reached.
The BOE in a letter to parents also went to great lengths to assure parents that in New Jersey it is illegal for public employees to strike. A 1967 NJ Supreme Court decision, In Re Block, confirmed this. Since then, teachers in districts such as Manville and Middletown have tried to strike and have had the county courts grant injunctions stopping them. Some teachers were arrested for civil contempt in violating the court injunctions. The NJ Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) has also re-affirmed that strikes are illegal and are not a protected union activity.
Now that your children have started the new school year, we wanted to provide you with information about the status of the contract negotiations with the Ridgewood Education Association (REA).
Last night, September 6, the Board of Education members and the REA negotiating team met with the state-appointed super conciliator for ten hours. Although progress was made, settlement was not reached.
While we strive to settle the contract, our teachers and support staff continue to be paid under the terms and conditions of the expired contract. Teachers and support staff will receive their full salaries and benefits without any interruption or reduction. Stipends paid to staff members hired as advisors to our clubs, sports and performing arts extra-curricular programs will also continue to be fully funded in accordance with the expired contract.
However, please understand that at this time, teachers may refuse to take on club advisory responsibilities. They also may refuse to volunteer in some activities that fall outside the contract. For example, they may refuse to chaperone overnight/after-school field trips. If such actions occur, your child’s principal or other administrator will communicate this information directly to you.
In conversations with parents, some have offered to volunteer and take over club and field trip responsibilities. Some activities can be sponsored or supervised by parents, while other can’t for various insurance and personal liability reasons. Your child’s principal is the best source of guidance on this topic.
Teachers and support staff may also choose to strictly adhere to their contractual 7.5-hour work day, as listed below in parentheses. To minimize any disruptions to our children or our programs, and to keep our school buildings running smoothly during this time, we are asking you to follow the designated drop-off and pick-up times:
• Elementary schools (8 a.m.-3:35 p.m.) o Drop-off time: not before 8:35 a.m. o Pick-up time: 3 p.m.
• Middle schools (7:45 a.m.-3:20 p.m.) o Drop-off time: not before 7:45 a.m. o Pick-up time: 2:55 p.m.
• High School (7:40 a.m.-3:15 p.m.) o Drop-off time: 7:40 a.m. o Pick-up time: 3:15 p.m.
Lastly, it is important to clear up any misconception that our teachers and secretaries can go on strike. In New Jersey it is illegal for public employees to strike. A 1967 NJ Supreme Court decision, In Re Block, confirmed this. Since then, teachers in districts such as Manville and Middletown have tried to strike and have had the county courts grant injunctions stopping them. Some teachers were arrested for civil contempt in violating the court injunctions.
The NJ Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) has also re-affirmed that strikes are illegal and are not a protected union activity. The courts and PERC have consistently upheld the withholding of pay/benefits on days when teachers refuse to work.
While changes to activities may be an unfortunate reality during this period, it is important to stress that the Board of Education is committed to finalizing a contract that fairly compensates our teachers without jeopardizing the financial integrity of the district.
We are scheduled to meet again with the super conciliator on September 12 at 6:30 PM. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as the Board works through this process to finalize a labor contract.
Ridgewood Board of Education Sheila Brogan, President Vince Loncto, Vice President Christina Krauss Jim Morgan Jennie Smith Wilson
