photo by Boyd Loving
September 25, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
I want to thank everyone for their support and good wishes since I announced my retirement resignation on Friday, September 11. Arriving at this decision involved deliberation on what I
have accomplished during my tenure in Ridgewood and throughout my career, as well as what I believe is in the best interest of the district. The news of any major shift in the leadership of an
organization can lead to apprehension; however, my intention in making this decision was certainly not to cause conflict. On the contrary, this is a time when the community needs to come
together and continue to work in partnership toward the common goal of providing a comprehensive educational experience that fosters critical thinking, empathy, creativity, and
resilience in all students.
In my career as an educator, I have had the pleasure of serving students as a science teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant principal, principal, and finally, superintendent. The past few
weeks have given me the opportunity to reflect upon and be grateful for the expressions of community support, as well as to examine the many factors that contributed to this significant
decision for me, my family, and the district. While the past twelve years have been extremely rewarding, it is time for the selection of a new superintendent who will be tasked with
implementing the goals of the Board of Education.
I will continue to serve the families of Ridgewood through my retirement on December 10 and look forward to working with the Board to assist them in finding new leadership to continue to
advance the goals of the strategic plan, the vision for the district, and the eventual full reopening
of our schools.
Again, thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Dumb and Dumber in the photo. In fact, the douchebag with the camera should be branded “dumbest!”
Two of the biggest assholes in Ridgewoood caught on camera.
Voigt and Lehman. Enough to make me sick
“”however, my intention in making this decision was certainly not to cause conflict””.
That’s what one says when caught in the act.
Fishbein, your second “resign” letter reads more like a self congratulatory I done a great job reflection of your career and most significantly, your perceived value to the citizens of Ridgewood during your tenure at the Ridgewood school district. Well Dan, you really have a flair for the dramatic. Rather than reflecting on the sorrow and pain associated with the 19th anniversary of 9/11, you decided on that day to “formally resign” only to then to sit back and watch the staged support and for you with pleas of “…Please stay…” over the next 1 1/2 weeks.
To more appropriately comment on Fishbein’s 12 years in Ridgewood, the district’s schools and in particular RHS went from #5 down to # 37 in the most recent high school rankings, the bullying in the school district that is all to common continues after Fishbein was a meek participant in the most recent bullying incidents at the high school over the last few years. Add to this, the sexting scandal at the middle school about 5 years ago where it appears the Ridgewood school district attempted to keep the local press from catching wind of any improper behavior on school property. Also, when parents asked 6 years ago if the Glen School could house an all day K program, the answer was that there was no room there because of x, y, and z. All now know the xyz rational has resulted in years of hidden deficits and phony accounting to cover how the Glen School actually operates. As a result, Ridgewood became one of the last Bergen County school districts to have all day K, once some of the teacher’s “conference rooms” in the elementary schools were reassigned . Sorry about that teachers but at least you got to keep the subsidized day care you get for your kids at the Glen School while the majority of Ridgewood parents got the “waiting lists” treatment from the staff at Glen.
Don’t know if an investigation of the district’s accounting practices will uncover any illegal activity by anybody, but some people have wondered why a certain food vendor was given a contact years ago during Fishbein’s tenure that some felt did not provide healthy meal alternatives but was awarded a contract instead because the administration felt comfortable with that vendor.
So Fishbein, you can reflect on your career all you want, but the fact remains that the Ridgewood school district has not been a stellar example of ethical and moral excellence. Are you really leaving on the 10th?
Lots of big bellies in that photo. They can join the other *famous* belly boy in the next demonstration. CoVid has not been kind.