>From BOE 5/14/2007 Agenda:
It is recommended that the Board approve Martin G. Brooks, Superintendent of
Schools, effective July 1, 2007, through June 30, 2012 beginning at the rate
of $212,000.
Dr. Brooks’ background is as follows:
� Ed.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University, Department
of Educational Administration
� Ed.M. from Teachers College, Columbia University, Department
of Educational Administration
� Master’s degree from New York University, Department of
Secondary Education
� Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University
� Over twenty-three years experience as an administrator:
o Seven years as Superintendent of Schools, Plainview-Old Bethpage
Central School District, Plainview, New York
o Eight years as Superintendent of Schools, Valley Stream School
District
o Sixteen years with the Shoreham Wading River Central School District
as principal, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Deputy
Superintendent, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, and Director
of Elementary Education
o Teacher and guidance counselor for the Bronx, New York City Public
Schools
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>As reported by Long Island Newsday, Dr. Brooks’ current salary is $280K. Why then would he be willing to work in Ridgewood for $212K?
Does the $212K include all forms of taxpayer provided compensation (automobile, housing allowance, etc.)?
>For a review of Martin Brooks’ book, see What unbalanced constructivism looks like.
To learn more about the circumstances under which he left his old district, see The Rebellion at Plainview-Old Bethpage.
>Very much like Nero playing the fiddle while Rome burned…so are our BOE board members.
Are they participants or forced bystanders? For sure, they have ignored the concerns of the parents and the professionals ( parents ) who are in the business of math and engineering.
History will show what a dark time this is in Ridgewood educational standards…and we will think of these BOE board members and how they dropped the ball…what a legacy to leave the children.
>The BOE’s choice is a slap in the face to all Ridgewood residents. For the parents with school aged children…they obviously have no say as to “the what” and “the how” their children learn. For the taxpayers whose children have already gone through the system and moved on; and the people choosing to live in a special place like Ridgewood…one of your biggest investments (your property) will most likely go down in value. Historically…a poor school system begets lower property values. According to Dr. Brooks’ past district, he listens with a deaf ear and our current BOE members either do the same or just don’t care what their constituents think. The one benefit of all of this…the parents that oppose the currently used math programs will have onslaughts of other parents joining in to voice their concerns as their children’s education becomes willy-nilly due to the educational beliefs of the new leadership provided by Dr. Brooks. “A Tradition in Excellence”… what a FARCE!
>Why would the BOE contract any new superintendent for 5 years without first monitoring his/her performance in his/her new position? No different than a probationary period when starting a new job. Wouldn’t a 3 year contract have been a better choice? Just another intelligent decision on the Board of Ed’s part?
>and we will think of these BOE board members and how they dropped the ball…
The ball need not get dropped.
Sign the petition at vormath.info, go to BOE meetings, be active. Let your dissatisfaction be known. Let’s demand the school district we want and not settle for less.
We elect the BOE and can make change with every election. Let’s cultivate candidates with our ideals and help them get elected.
If we sit idly by and let this happen, we only have OURSELVES to blame.
>The parents at the Board meeting were in very much the same position as our teachers who are deeply disturbed by our lackluster scores but who feel they are missing the support of the district to address the reasons
for our problem. Our members are very practical people who don’t
cling tenaciously to a particular educationist doctrine; they want our students to do as well as they can, but they are tired of feeling that they have to engage in a subversive activity to teach our young people what the society expects them to know. They are tired of trying to explain to parents why their children are weak in arithmetic and why
they have to spend hours with them trying to figure out their math
homework. Their experiences are slowly causing them to lose confidence in the system too.
https://pobct.org/talk94.html
>How is Ridgewood doing this??? As a Ridgewood alum with a son to enter school in a few years I am sickened by this information. What is the BOE thinking? He’s willing to take $212,000 when he’s making $280,000? He’s clearly just looking to leave Plainview-Old Bethpage as they have surely figured him out. So willing he wanted to go to Kentucky.
https://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS01/703170476
This is a sad day for the Ridgewood School District.
>L.I. educator is named Ridgewood schools chief
The Record, Saturday, May 12, 2007
By EVONNE COUTROS
STAFF WRITER
RIDGEWOOD – The village school district has hired a longtime schools chief from Long Island as its new superintendent, capping a yearlong search by Bergen County’s largest school system.
Martin Brooks, 59, who has been superintendent of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District for the past seven years, will be introduced to Ridgewood residents at a school board meeting Monday night.
“The board and administration saw his integrity and he’s certainly a scholar and a collaborator who came closest to meeting our specifications for the position,” board President Mark Bombace said Friday. “We believe he will be a very good fit for the district.
“The district is not one which needs a major overhaul,” Bombace said. “What we need to do is continue to provide a good education to our students. We’re very excited about having him come on board.”
Brooks, who previously headed the Valley Stream Central High School District and Valley Stream Union Free School District 13, began his career as a teacher and guidance counselor in the South Bronx. He also has served in various administrative positions, including principal and assistant superintendent for curriculum.
“Ridgewood is known as an exemplary district,” Brooks said. “I see people deeply committed to the education of students and pride in the Ridgewood schools.”
The co-author of the book “In Search of Understanding: The Case for Constructivist Classrooms,” with his wife, Jacqueline, Brooks earned his doctorate in educational administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Brooks said he is not coming into the job with an agenda to overhaul mathematics or any other curricula.
“Any new superintendent comes in with an eye toward getting the lay of the land,” he said. “I will be speaking with faculty, meeting with parents and administrators and gathering as much information as they can give me.”
He will be paid a base salary of $212,000, $35,000 less than his current salary in Long Island. Brooks plans to take up residence in New Jersey during the week and commute home to Long Island on weekends. He will have use of a leased car paid for by the district.
“We benchmarked his salary against other superintendents in Bergen County and he’s not going to be made the highest [paid] superintendent in the county,” Bombace said.
The school board chose Brooks from a field of 33 applicants. He succeeds Superintendent John Porter, who was paid $195,000 a year and was in the fourth year of his five-year contract when he accepted a superintendent’s post a year ago in San Jose, Calif.
The board’s meeting on Monday will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Education Center.
>I expected a lot more parents from Travell expressing their opinions about constructivist teaching, especially the HSA. Based on the silence, I can only surmise that the Travell parents like this program and only a few thinking parents oppose it.
AN IDEA!
How about Ridgewood parents can choose which school their child goes to? Those in favor of TERC and CMP goes to the school that would like to implement it. The other kids go to the school that has programs other than TERC.
Very democratic. Teachers and parents will be happy…let’s make this a village ordinance!!!
>Impressive credentials for Mr Brooks…almost up to par with Dr. Arilotta’s…