Ridgewood Schools - Page 216 of 222

Posted on March 14, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — 1 Comment

Preliminary Ridgewood school budget would increase taxes by $195

Preliminary Ridgewood school budget would increase taxes by $195

March 13, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:44 AM
By Darius Amos
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

The Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) has approved a preliminary $101 million budget covering the 2015-16 school year, which, if adopted as is next month, would essentially boost the average property tax bill by approximately $195.

A resolution unanimously passed by school board trustees on Wednesday will send the spending plan to the county superintendent for review.

The preliminary budget, as proposed this week, will put taxpayers on the hook for an $87.9 million general fund levy, which represents a flat 2 percent increase over last year’s tax levy.

Tax amounts are based on an average assessed home value of $690,662.

“It is painful to a lot of citizens to have a tax increase every year,” said BOE member Vince Loncto, noting that roughly 75 percent of Ridgewood households do not have children in the school system. “For those people, it’s important to understand that everyone moves to Ridgewood for the schools. That’s what drives the property values. Even if kids are beyond school age, you benefit from [the school system].

“It’s important to maintain the level of the schools,” he added. “You can see that the money is being well spent and is for the benefit of the people with kids in the school system and also those without.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-school-district-presents-101m-budget-1.1288613

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

State Board of Education president speaks to Ridgewood parents, teachers

Mark-Biedron-Co-Founder-of-The-Willow-School

State Board of Education president speaks to Ridgewood parents, teachers

March 13, 2015 Last updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:58 AM
By Mark Krulish
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News
New Jersey State Board of Education President Mark Biedron appeared at the Ridgewood home of Marlene Burton to engage a group of concerned parents, some of whom are also teachers, in a dialogue about changes made on the educational landscape in recent years.

Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, Biedron and a group of approximately 30 people explored topics ranging from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests, Common Core standards, teacher evaluations, Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the narrowing of the curriculum.

Reminding those in attendance that his opinions were his own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Education, Biedron spoke candidly about what he believes will help children be successful.

Many decades ago, content was king, Biedron said, as information was much more difficult to find. With all of the information the world has to offer available at the push of the button, he said schools can now additionally focus on other skills and habits that he believes many want their children to have.

“Content alone will not make our children successful,” Biedron said. “What will? Critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, collaboration skills and communication skills. Are these skills being taught by Common Core and PARCC? That’s a big question. Education is organic, it’s constantly changing.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/state-boe-president-visits-ridgewood-1.1288623

Posted on March 13, 2015March 29, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

NJEA experiences an honest moment, admits not giving a damn about school quality

NJEA experiences an honest moment, admits not giving a damn about school quality
March 13, 2015
By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

You and I know that the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) cares about two things, Save Jerseyans: preservation of their power, wielded through the accrual of money and politics.

Kids, parents and yes, teachers, be damned. But they don’t always come right out and say it.

Sometimes they do. Who can forget how back in 2012 then-NJEA Executive Director Vincent Giordano went on TV and told New Jersey’s poor families stuck in crappy public school districts sorry, “life’s not always fair.”

Next up: at the 2015 NJSCERA Conference on Virtual & Blended Learning held on Wednesday, the NJEA’s Marguerite Schroder (note: their website says she’s a “student organizer” but, no offense, she looks a little long-in-the-tooth to be a student so I’m not exactly sure what her duties include… maybe it’s like community organizing?) admitted to Bob Bowdon of the pro-school organization Choice Media that NO, her organization wouldn’t support a non-unionized school even if it was high quality:

https://savejersey.com/2015/03/njea-union-school-new-jersey/

Posted on March 13, 2015March 13, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’

TRENTON — Leaders of New Jersey’s largest teachers union weren’t convinced by Department of Education Commissioner David Hespe’s testimony on PARCC exams in front of the Senate Education Committee this morning.

In fact, they’ve still got “real concerns” about the test’s roll out. (Brush/PolitickerNJ)

NJEA rep slams Hespe testimony on PARCC exams, calls it ‘frustrating’ | New Jersey News, Politics, Opinion, and Analysis

Posted on March 13, 2015April 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Commissioner Hespe Talks PARCC Testing to Senate Education Committee

Commissioner Hespe Talks PARCC Testing to Senate Education Committee

Given the debate swirling around the new PARCC assessments — not to mention the muted roar over the testing itself — state Education Commissioner David Hespe should have plenty to say when he goes before the State Senate education committee this morning to answer questions from legislators.

The discussion is sure to get another jolt from the two pending bills that could significantly affect the testing going forward: one to put a moratorium on using the new tests for evaluating students, teachers, and schools and another setting a statewide policy for families who want their kids to sit out the tests. (Mooney/NJSpotlight)

https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/03/11/commissioner-hespe-talks-parcc-testing-to-senate-education-panel/

Posted on March 12, 2015March 12, 2015 by James — 10 Comments

WOW : Ridgewood BOE gives preliminary OK to $101M budget

MARCH 11, 2015, 6:47 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015, 6:48 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The Board of Education has preliminarily approved a $101 million budget for next school year that would raise taxes for the average village homeowner by nearly $200.

The proposed spending plan, which Ridgewood’s school board will submit to the county for review, includes a 2 percent local school tax levy increase.

Those who owned a home with the village’s average assessed value of $690,662 will pay $194.65 more in school taxes next year.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-school-board-gives-preliminary-ok-to-101m-budget-1.1286771

Posted on March 10, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 6 Comments

Readers say Tragic Window Jumper give cause for Concern ,but does over protection of kids do more harm than good ?

photo by Boyd Loving

Readers say Tragic Window Jumper give cause for Concern ,but does over protection of kids do more harm than good ?

Is added safety just a distraction from real threats to our childern?Here’s an idea. Let’s have all kids just stay at home in their protective cocoons. The Village will provide private tutors for all of them. That way, they are completely safe. No more snow days. No threat of abduction by pedophiles. Yes, let’s continue to bubble-wrap our kids. I didn’t make the “gender” comment, but I think the writer was of the opinion that it’s another example of the femininization of society, where women have this instinct to protect us.

…..An upstairs window that can easily be flung open is a hazard. Children do not understand all the risks, they see super heroes flying on TV, they are melodramatic. It is the job of adults to protect them in reasonable ways. Making windows difficult to open wide makes complete sense, and it should be done at the schools. This horrible tragedy could have been prevented. This poor child’s impulsive fatal act would never have happened. Let us learn from this . I can guarantee that if this had been a Ridgewood incident, windows would be secured immediately.

When we over-react to incidents we create unexpected harms and we create tax burdens. In fact, were it an event we should react to, it would likely not even be a news story. Suicide, obesity, drug addiction, car accidents. These events really kill kids. Falls from windows?–Not so much. Spend those precious resources where they do the most good, not where the latest news story points.

Posted on March 9, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 28 Comments

Are the 2nd floor windows in your child’s school safe?

Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving
Are the 2nd floor windows in your child’s school safe?
March 8,2015
Boyd A. Loving
6:04 PM

Ridgewood NJ, Are the second floor windows of your child’s school configured to prevent a child from either falling, jumping, or being pushed out?

If you don’t know for sure, please ask the principal/head school administrator to check.

The life you save could be your child’s

Posted on March 8, 2015March 8, 2015 by James — 2 Comments

RHS Boys Basketball: Freshman team a fine fit for longtime Ridgewood coach

RHS Boys Basketball: Freshman team a fine fit for longtime Ridgewood coach

MARCH 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD — The natural progression for many coaches at the high school level is to start out at the freshman or JV ranks before landing a job leading a varsity squad.

Ridgewood High School freshman boys basketball coach John Fiocchi climbed that ladder years ago, but the descent back down the rungs of the high school game has been just as a rewarding.

“This has been the most fun I’ve had: coaching the freshmen,” Fiocchi said last Friday, shortly after receiving an award from the Bergen County Coaches Association recognizing his role in staging the Bergen County Freshman Tournament the past 20 years.

For tournament director Joe DelBuono, the honor — presented to Fiocchi at halftime of the championship game at RHS — was long overdue.

“He’s dedicated himself to the tournament for over 20 years,” DelBuono said. “It’s about time that someone recognized that he does this, and it’s a good thing for the younger coaches to see too — that you dedicate yourself and you get some appreciation for it.”

Fiocchi has served on the tournament selection committee for more than 20 years and has been instrumental in coordinating the use of Ridgewood facilities every year for the tournament semifinals and finals, leading many to refer to the tournament as “The Road to Ridgewood,” according to DelBuono.

While the coach of more than 40 years is seemingly on top of everything when it comes to the freshman tournament, the recognition took him by surprise.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/boys-basketball/coaching-remains-fresh-for-maroon-hoops-mentor-1.1283601

Posted on March 8, 2015March 8, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

RHS Wrestling : Ridgewood 182-pounder has high hopes heading to states

RHS Wrestling : Ridgewood 182-pounder has high hopes heading to states

MARCH 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MATTHEW BIRCHENOUGH
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

There’s just one wrestler still standing for the Ridgewood High School team that defied expectations all season long.

Junior Kyle Inlander earned a third-place finish at last weekend’s Region 2 tournament to clinch a spot in this weekend’s state tournament, which starts later today at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.

“I’m really excited to compete on the big stage, and I’ve put everything I have into this moment,” Inlander, a 182-pounder, said by phone Wednesday night.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Kyle,” RHS head coach Torre Watson said in a phone interview Tuesday. “He’s focused on trying to do the best he could for this team and make it out for the tournament. Him being the one to represent our team is just a tremendous feat.”

Ten Ridgewood wrestlers competed in the region tournament held at Bergen Community College. The Maroons had 11 qualifiers — junior Julian Bangash had to drop out due to injury — after a dominant performance in the District 6 tournament held the previous weekend, in which nine RHS wrestlers reached individuals finals and four captured titles.

RHS didn’t repeat that level of success at regions, but for good reason.

https://www.northjersey.com/sports/high-school-sports/wrestling/rhs-182-pounder-aims-to-state-his-case-1.1283607

Posted on March 6, 2015March 6, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Dads’ Night performances set for this weekend in Ridgewood

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Dads’ Night performances set for this weekend in Ridgewood

March 5, 2015 Last updated: Thursday, March 5, 2015, 3:10 PM
By By Tiffany Katehakis
Staff Writer |
The Ridgewood News

There aren’t many opportunities to see grown men dress up in the costumes of their children’s favorite character.

But the fathers who are a part of Somerville-Hawes Dads’ Night set the bar pretty high when it comes to doing things for their kids.

The organization, now in its 71st year, has become a brotherhood of sorts, spanning multiple generations.

The event now has more dads participating than ever before.

This year Dads’ Night returns with two performances at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School auditorium at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 6 and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 7. The free show is general admission seating.

Perhaps it is the silliness of it all that these dads embrace that becomes the element that bonds them together.

The show is written, produced, and stars Ridgewood fathers with kids in the elementary schools.

https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/clubs-and-service-organizations/dads-night-performances-set-for-this-weekend-in-ridgewood-1.1283447

Posted on March 6, 2015March 6, 2015 by James — Leave a comment

Ridgewood school board approves district calendar

MARCH 6, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Students should expect to begin classes before Labor Day this coming fall as the 2015-2016 Ridgewood Public Schools calendar, approved on Feb. 23, features an early start, among other minor tweaks.

Although opinions were varied on the individual decisions the Board of Education had to consider, trustees were ultimately able to build a general consensus and approve the new calendar by a 4-1 vote.

Board President Sheila Brogan, Vice President B. Vincent Loncto and trustees Christina Krauss and James Morgan all voted in favor of the updated calendar.

The final calendar contains a convocation date of Aug. 31, which is a Monday, for teachers and staff, followed by a professional development day and students arriving on Sept. 2.

A three-day break will take place from Feb. 15 through Feb. 17 and the last day of school for students – Ridgewood High School (RHS) graduation – will fall on June 20, 2016. The calendar also includes two built-in snow days.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/parents-can-mark-calendars-1.1283655

Posted on March 5, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 2 Comments

RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, MARCH 5

RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY, MARCH 5

3.05.15 at 5:40 a.m.: Due to the winter storm conditions, the Ridgewood Public Schools will be CLOSED on Thursday, March 5, 2015.

Daniel Fishbein, Superintendent

Posted on March 3, 2015April 9, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

PARCC: More New Jersey Students Opt Out of Tests

PARCC: More New Jersey Students Opt Out of Tests

As New Jersey schools began administering new online state exams on Monday, a few affluent communities reported large numbers of students opting out.

In Livingston, the suburb where Gov. Chris Christie grew up, school officials said about 1,100 students declined to take the tests, more than a quarter required to take them.

In Princeton, more than half of the high-school students who are scheduled to take them in coming days said they wouldn’t.

These districts appeared to be among the biggest pockets of resistance to the tests aligned with the Common Core, a set of expectations adopted by most states that spell out what skills children should master in each grade. (Brody/Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/more-new-jersey-students-opt-out-of-tests-1425348219

Posted on March 2, 2015June 27, 2021 by James — 2 Comments

RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS : DELAYED OPENING MONDAY, MARCH 2

RIDGEWOOD SCHOOLS : DELAYED OPENING MONDAY, MARCH 2

Due to winter conditions, the Ridgewood Public Schools will have a DELAYED OPENING on Monday, March 2. Under the delayed opening plan, the school day will begin two hours later than usual. School bus schedules will operate two hours later. The morning kindergarten will be canceled; the afternoon kindergarten will follow the regular hours (12:20-3 p.m.). Children in grades 1-5 who have not ordered lunches must bring a bag lunch to school. There will not be sufficient time for children to go home for lunch when there is a delayed opening.

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