the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewod NJ, Dr. Fishbein provided a brief background on the district facilities analysis before the LAN Associates presentation. In 2015, the Ridgewood Board of Education engaged with EI Associates to conduct a facilities assessment.
Following discussions with the Facilities Committee over the next several years, LAN Associates was brought in to develop a second opinion and prioritize needs. This fall, the community was invited to tour the buildings and learn more about the potential projects.
While the projects are still in the preliminary stages, the district financial planner and bond attorney will join the January 6 Board of Education meeting to share what the tax impact would be for potential projects under certain parameters, as well as to explain our current debt and the allowable financial capacity to borrow for these projects.
Steve Secora, vice president of LAN Associates, presented the proposed capital projects, estimated budgets, needs, potential debt service aid, and the timeline. To view the presentation, click here. Following Steve Secora’s presentation, Matt Fink, an architect with LAN, presented the concept for the RHS Performing Arts Center.
LAN associate is Dr Fishbein’s puppet. They present Dr. Fishbein’s views as their own “expert opinion” to the board.
Dr. Fishbein is trying to give 100M contract to a single firm. WHY?
Spend that money, it’s still not going to make Ridgewood high school number one.
He thinks that LAN will “protect” our interests. Wrong! LAN is lining its own pockets at the taxpayers expense. Once the $70 million number is established, it will be spent. That’s how contractors work.
Ridgewood used to be populated by smart people…
The board of education is unable to take any action because every board member is probably benefited by some actions of the superintendent. Four of them had their terms extended. One is trying to get a religious holiday, which I think has already been promised to him for his vote on this referendum, one is selling books from his bookstore to the district, and one is using board attorney to fight her ethics complaint. They all have received or are in process of receiving benefits – and thus are unable to say “no” to this poor plan to spend our hard earned money.
They are talking about a 1000 seat performing arts center and a spiral staircase! How many spiral cases does one small town need: RHS,Library and the existing one at Village Hall!
The flawed judgment of the BOE on this makes me question every decision they make. They have lost all credibility.