Ridgewood Schools - Page 203 of 222

Posted on December 2, 2015December 1, 2015 by James — 5 Comments

Why College Isn’t Worth It, No Matter How Rich or Poor You Are

ByJohn Sandman

A highlight of the Great Recession was the flight of the unemployed to the far-flung precincts of higher ed. Many of those people left school for the job market in recent years, but higher ed experts viewed this as an opportunity for lower income groups to become better acclimated to the idea of going to college.

Foundations bank-rolled this effort, including new organizations like Complete College America, while money was poured into college prep programs. Between the 2008-09 academic years, government grant aid increased by about 40%, from $82 billion to $123 billion in 2013-14.

But a contrarian trend has emerged, one that higher ed honchos find troubling. According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of students from low-income families enrolling in higher education immediately after graduating from high school has dropped by over 10% since 2008, from 56% of graduates then to 46% today. As a result, the percentage of low-income students attending college today is only about 3% higher than it was two decades ago.

https://www.thestreet.com/story/13382172/1/why-college-isn-t-worth-it-no-matter-how-rich-or-poor-you-are.html

Posted on November 28, 2015November 27, 2015 by James — 10 Comments

Ridgewood Teachers should be thankful

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Teachers should be ‘thankful’

To the Editor:

As a 33-year resident of Ridgewood, I am perplexed by the dissent of the Ridgewood teachers and their union about their current contract. The teachers are unhappy about paying for the increase in their healthcare costs. Everyone today is paying for their healthcare increases: medical personnel, retirees, and pharmaceutical company employees. The reason healthcare costs are continually rising (and will be in the future) are: Obamacare for the masses, an aging baby boomer population now requiring geriatric, cardiac, cancer, psychiatric, specialty care and designer drugs to help everyone live a longer life. Did the New Jersey Education Association think its Democratic-endorsed, union wishes for a national healthcare program would be absorbed by the public when in fact other municipalities in New Jersey and other states have opposed the taxpayer absorbing this substantial cost? Who did they think would pay for this? Ridgewood taxpayers should not be penalized for their selfish/unrealistic union demands.

New Jersey teacher’s pay ranks second highest in the nation. Teachers in Ridgewood earn a six-figure salary within five years. In addition, master’s degrees, additional credits, tutoring, tutoring for SAT’s allows them to earn additional/substantial monetary compensation. Their annual increases are more generous than some state employees. There shouldn’t be a financial problem for any teacher to absorb the costs as they are earning a 1 percent upper compensation in the United States in education. There are places that are more expensive to live in than Ridgewood. In the past, certain teachers who were unhappy with contract negotiations refused to give recommendations to the seniors for college.

The teachers have job security (unlike the corporate sector), do not face age discrimination, receive 80 percent of their salary in a pension as well as a taxpayer-payer paid two-day vacation in November for a teacher convention. I say “vacation” because I have never met anyone who goes to Atlantic City for the convention but goes to a destination such as Florida.

Unfortunately their healthcare provider, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, of the New Jersey Education Association is the most expensive. As a matter of fact, some teacher’s spouses working in corporate America have dropped their corporate health plan (Cigna, Aetna, etc.) coverage because the state employee plan is more lucrative. The taxpayers of NJ are paying for the healthcare benefits of these teacher’s families.

In summary: I think the teachers of Ridgewood and New Jersey should be most “thankful” for the generosity of the Ridgewood taxpayer this Thanksgiving Season and not “thankless.” I sincerely hope the arbitration board will take a firm stand on their role in representing the Ridgewood residents.

Janis Belcher

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-teachers-should-be-thankful-1.1463539

Posted on November 28, 2015November 27, 2015 by James — 4 Comments

Ridgewood school board discusses contracts, full-day kindergarten

NOVEMBER 27, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The conversations circulating around the ongoing teachers’ union contract negotiations and a potential switch to full-day kindergarten continued at last week’s Board of Education meeting.

While trustees did not take action on either subject, they will resume the discussions in future meetings.

Contract negotiations

The meeting once again featured commentary from the Ridgewood Education Association (REA), asking for a settlement of its contract with the Board of Education (BOE). This time, only REA President Michael Yannone spoke, referencing recent spending by the board and asking why there was money for this, but no money for better contracts.

“Last week, the board issued a press release, stating that while they respect the teaching staff and the work they do … they cannot address the concerns staff members have repeatedly stated at this microphone,” he said. “What I interpret the board as saying in that release is that in their budget of $101 million, they cannot find new money to settle this contract because there simply is no money.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/union-questions-district-spending-1.1463570

Posted on November 27, 2015November 27, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Discovery at Ridgewood middle school opens door to past

NOVEMBER 25, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2015, 9:17 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A recently unearthed time capsule has given its viewers a look back to the days of 1986.

The container was interred on the Benjamin Franklin Middle School grounds roughly 30 years ago and was aptly named “Halley’s capsule” by the former BF students, a tip of the cap to the comet that last appeared that year.

The time capsule was intended to be recovered upon the next appearance of Halley’s Comet, but was accidentally dug up this summer by an excavation crew working on the new driveway cut-out at BF.

Gregory Wu, BF assistant principal, said he hurried to the scene once he was informed of the crew’s find.

“Finding value in those types of things,” he said, “I rushed over to take a look.”

Upon arrival, Wu discovered that the capsule had not been well-preserved, and as a result, some of its items were damaged throughout the years.

“I was disappointed to see that its contents (mostly seventh-grade English essays) had been stored in a pretty flimsy plastic container that had failed to keep the water/elements out,” he said. “There was an audio cassette tape, a Betamax tape, various coins, a ‘Vogue’ magazine I believe, a class set of essays and a few other paper items that could not be read due to deterioration.”

Torrance Watson, a current physical education instructor at BF, was one of the students to bury the capsule. He also expressed disappointment at the condition of the container.

“It would have been nice for the capsule to be undamaged so that whoever unearthed it could read all of the entries,” Watson said.

However, the capsule, which was scheduled to be unearthed around 2061, according to Wu, did contain a few mostly intact items: a yearbook from the BF class of 1986 and some of the aforementioned essays.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/discovery-at-ben-franklin-middle-school-opens-door-to-past-1.1462202

Posted on November 24, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — 12 Comments

Ridgewood High School Ranked 28th best in the State

2016 Best Public High Schools Ranking

November 24,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Niche put out its 2016 Best Public High Schools ranking providing a comprehensive assessment of the overall experience of a public high school. This grade takes into account key factors such as the strength of academics, quality of teachers, school resources, the quality of student life, as well as student and parent reviews, in an attempt to measure the overall excellence of the school.

Factors considered were, Academics Grade, Health & Safety Grade, Parent/Student Surveys on Overall Experience , Student Culture & Diversity Grade, Teachers Grade, Resources & Facilities Grade , Extracurriculars & Activities Grade, Sports & Fitness Grade.

Ridgewood Placed 28th in the state of New Jersey and some of our neighbors ; Tenafly High School came in 33rd, Pascack Valley High School 36th, Cresskill High School 42nd,Glen Rock High School 43, Ramapo High School 54 and River Dell Regional High School 67th .

the List : https://k12.niche.com/rankings/public-high-schools/best-overall/s/new-jersey/

Posted on November 16, 2015January 21, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Advanced Placement courses surge, but so does debate about worth and stress

NOVEMBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY DEENA YELLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Advanced Placement courses are all the rage in New Jersey this school year, with many high schools having added more of the college-level courses to meet surging demand.

Students and advocates of the courses cite their value as college preparation, and parents hope to save on the cost of college credits earned for free in high school.

But critical observers also are pointing to the amplified stress that AP courses put on already high-achieving students with packed schedules.

The courses, which lend cachet to a student’s résumé, have long been a staple across the nation. But now, many North Jersey schools, including those in Northern Valley Regional High School District and in Lodi, Bergenfield, Tenafly, Wayne, Emerson and Glen Rock, have launched additional AP courses.

The most popular have traditionally been AP English Literature and AP U.S. History, said staff of the College Board, which administers the AP tests and trains teachers. But school administrators cite a dramatic increase in the number of AP STEM courses added over the past few years, including at Northern Valley High School, which has launched AP physics, science, and computer science; Emerson, which added AP Physics I and II; and Glen Rock, which is adding AP computer science.

New Jersey students have done particularly well on the AP exams, with more than 72.8 percent scoring a 3 or higher — out of 5 — on AP exams in 2015, compared with the average of 60.5 percent internationally.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/students-load-up-on-tougher-courses-1.1456207

Posted on November 16, 2015November 16, 2015 by James — 14 Comments

State Appointed Fact finder will join Ridgewood teacher talks

NOVEMBER 16, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015, 1:20 AM
BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — A state-appointed fact finder in February will try to settle a 10-month contract dispute between the Board of Education and the Ridgewood Education Association, even as the two sides try to hammer out an agreement on their own.

Although there are several points of contention — including possible salary increases — the fight over how much REA members must contribute to their health insurance premiums has taken center stage since negotiations began last February.

The fact finder has scheduled an informal hearing on Feb. 3, when each side will present what it considers pertinent information, officials said. Two-and-a-half months later, the fact finder will issue a non-binding recommendation on how to settle the dispute.

In Ridgewood, union members pay an average of 26 percent of the cost of their health insurance premiums, a district spokeswoman said Thursday. This, many members say, is simply too much

“I know I have to pay something, but this an unreasonable burden on my family,” Mariann Gelenius said at the Nov. 2 board meeting. Gelenius, a Child Study Team member at Benjamin Franklin Middle School, said she’s paying about 35 percent of the premium cost, and that’s meant less take-home pay — even after previous salary increases.

REA President Michael Yannone, a 19-year veteran of Ridgewood High School, said Friday that the REA would keep meeting with the board’s negotiating team, but an agreement would depend on the board’s willingness to lower insurance contributions.

“That’s the stumbling block,” Yannone said. “We’re willing to negotiate that — we know that’s going to cost us something, and so we’re willing to pay to get that … but right now the board is holding the line on that issue.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/fact-finder-will-join-teacher-talks-1.1456157

Posted on November 14, 2015November 14, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Super Science Saturday Receives Prestigious Award

Photo: (L) MichaelAaron Flicker and former RPS science teacher Jim Wallace accepted the award on behalf of the SSS Executive Committee

Super Science Saturday Receives Prestigious Award
November 13,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Super Science Saturday, founded by former RPS science teacher Jim Wallace in 1988 and continued by RHS 2001 graduate MichaelAaron Flicker, received the New Jersey Inventors Hall of Fame Advancement of Invention & Process Award at a banquet held in Hoboken in October. The award was presented to Jim and Michael Aaron for creating and sustaining the “Super Science Saturday” extravaganza that exposes children to the marvels of science. The two honorees received the honor on behalf of the Super Science Saturday all-volunteer Executive Committee.

Posted on November 13, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 3 Comments

REA members did not listen to BOE

BOE Meets on November 16 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, November 16, 2015, at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the November 2, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the October 19, 2015 Regular Public Meeting.

11.03.15: Board of Education Issues Statement on Contract Negotiations
Click here to read a November 2, 2015 statement by the Ridgewood Board of Education, “Negotiations Status Report.”

REA members did not listen to BOE

NOVEMBER 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015, 12:31 AM
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Print

REA members did not listen to BOE

To the Editor:

As a regular attendee of the Board of Education meetings of late, I would like to express one fact that was missing from last week’s article that appeared on your front page (“Fact-finder returns in February,” Nov. 6, page A-1).

Your staff writer accurately reported the following: “… opening remarks were made; a couple of presentations took place; and then public comments opened up, with various members of the REA coming to the microphone to have their say.”

He then continued with, “After the public comments, Sheila Brogan, president of the board, read from a prepared statement, explaining that the talks between the REA and BOE had slowed once again…”

What your reporter failed to include in his article is that immediately after the REA chief negotiator made her comments at the microphone, all the REA members present exited the building. Ms. Brogan’s reading of the prepared statement was made to an intimate group of us after the throng of REA members left. The REA members did not even grant to a volunteer elected official, to whom they are asking a lot, the courtesy of listening to her. The board listened to them, but I can only guess that the REA felt not compelled to show the decency of listening in return.

Pick your statement: “Actions speak louder than words” or “Adults are to be role models for the younger people.”

Bob Hutton

Ridgewood

https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/ridgewood-news-letter-rea-members-did-not-listen-to-boe-1.1454653

Posted on November 11, 2015November 11, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

11TH Annual Ridgewood High School Alumni ART SHOW!

Call for Entries: 11TH ANNUAL RHS ALUMNI ART SHOW

The RHS Department of Fine & Applied Arts will host the eleventh annual Alumni Art Show, of work created after graduating from RHS.

Entries are due in the RHS Arts office by Wednesday, December 9.

Questions may be directed to the Department of Fine & Applied Arts at 201-670-2800, ext. 20542, or by email to Arts Supervisor Chris McCullough ([email protected]).

The show will be mounted in the Carroll Art Gallery, Room 137. An artists’ reception will be held on Thursday, January 7 at 7 p.m.

All students, alumni, friends, family and staff are invited to the reception as well as to view the exhibition during school hours.

Event information and other news is continually updated on the Arts at Ridgewood Public Schools Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TheArtsatRPS

Posted on November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 by James — 6 Comments

Duct tape: Fundraiser at Ridgewood middle school a sticky situation

NOVEMBER 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2015, 11:27 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

A breast cancer awareness fundraiser that took place at Benjamin Franklin Middle School (BF) on Oct. 30 showed that, should enough duct tape be applied, a person can indeed be held by tape in midair for a good cause.

The scene was a strange one, with permanent substitute Daniel Cermack, a staff member with whom many of the students are close, hanging suspended from a pillar in the BF cafeteria for 90 minutes by pieces of pink duct tape. The strands, which were purchased by the students, were the school’s means of raising money for breast cancer research, which it has done for many years. All of the money raised was donated to the Avon Foundation for Breast Cancer Research.

“For the past 10 years, we have sold pink ribbons, pink Livestrong bracelets, etc., to raise money for breast cancer awareness,” said Dave Tashian, a guidance counselor and student council advisor at BF. “The kids were looking for something new. A student saw this idea of duct taping people to the wall, and we came up with an idea of how to make money off of it.”

Each length of tape cost $1, though for $2, the middle-schoolers were given the opportunity to snap a selfie with Cermack as he hung from the pillar like an insect in a cocoon.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/school-fundraiser-a-sticky-situation-1.1451780

Posted on November 10, 2015November 10, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Gov. Chris Christie on Monday signed legislation that bans the state from implementing financial sanctions against schools for low PARCC test participation rates

Christie won’t withhold funding over PARCC opt-outs

A new state law prohibits New Jersey from punishing schools financially for having a high percentage of students refuse to take state exams. Adam Clark, NJ.comRead more

Posted on November 6, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood Community Outreach Series Focuses on Well-being: Next is Leadership Talk on November 10

BF middle school theridgewoodblog.net 11

Community Outreach Series Focuses on Well-being: Next is Leadership Talk on November 10

November 6,2015

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Next up is “Raising Responsible Leaders” by author John Jay Bonstingl. This program will take place on Tuesday, November 10 from 7-9 p.m. in the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium.

The 2015-2016 parent/peers series consists of eight engaging presentations throughout the school year. Co-sponsored by The Valley Hospital, with support from The Foundation, adults are invited to attend these programs on creating balance in children’s lives.

Click here for the November 10 program flyer.
Click here for details on the series.
Click here for the series flyer.

Posted on November 6, 2015November 6, 2015 by James — 4 Comments

Fact-finder for Ridgewood teacher contract talks to return in February

NOVEMBER 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Despite recent optimism that contract discussions between the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) and Ridgewood Education Association (REA) could conclude in the near future, the process seems to have ground to a halt once again.

This past week’s BOE meeting featured a series of events that have become standard: opening remarks were made; a couple of presentations took place; and then public comments opened up, with various members of the REA coming to the microphone to have their say. While not all of the comments were related to the negotiations, the majority were.

After the public comments, Sheila Brogan, president of the board, read from a prepared statement, explaining that the talks between the REA and BOE had slowed once again, and that even with the state-appointed mediator, no agreement could be hammered out.

“As has been the case since the parties’ first meeting back in February 2015, when the association declared an impasse, the main issues have been negotiating the levels of employee share of health care premiums, the cost of premium and type of plan and fair salary increases while staying within what the board feels the taxpayers can support,” Brogan said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/fact-finder-returns-in-february-1.1449843

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)