Ridgewood NJ, according to the Ridgewood Police , Ptl. Kevin McKeon and Ptl. Patrick Daly responded to 49 Cottage Street on December 14th to investigate a false public alarm. Upon arrival patrol spoke with Board of Education members about a suspicious email which made a threatening statement and demanded a payment via Bitcoin currency. The email was found by the IT Department and quarantined. Further investigation determined similar emails were sent on the same date in the state of N.J. and throughout the country.
Watched the public comments on TV. It was a love fest for Loncto. Ok. So the guy served 7 years. He deserves some praise. But oh man, the level of drama about his being VOTED OUT OF OFFICE was sickening. And when you consider the people who were waxing nostalgic about him, well, enough said. SO glad Cris Kaufmann is in office as of January 1. And in the next go round we will have two more new faces. Time to CLEAN HOUSE folks.
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education Public Meeting will be tonight December 17, 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place .
At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer . in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.
I know from personal experience that NJ school districts DO practice nepotism in hiring. I graduated with a Masters degree, GPA 4.0, received Outstanding Student Teacher Award and went on numerous interviews where the interviewer DID NOT EVEN MAKE EYE CONTACT. When I was later told I did not get the job, I always asked for feedback on the interview; what was lacking, what could I have done better? Nine times out of ten they said my credentials and interview answers were excellent but they already had someone in mind for the job. One time a lazy C student I knew from school got the job for which I interviewed. She had a mother, aunt and cousin already working in the district. I was shocked and disillusioned by the whole experience. They couldn’t care less about getting the best for the students.
Trenton NJ,Legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph Lagana which would require school districts and charter schools to adopt nepotism policies cleared the Senate Education Committee today.
“We must ensure that our school districts are hiring the most qualified people for the job, without allowing personal relations to taint their judgment,” said Senator Lagana (D-Bergen/Passaic). “All hirings should involve a competitive application process and end with the hiring of the best possible candidate.”
The bill, S-2637, would direct boards of education of school districts and county vocational school districts to adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The adoption of such a policy would be required to receive state aid. At minimum, the policy would have to include the provisions outlined in the bill.
The bill would also direct the board of trustees of a charter school to adopt and implement a nepotism policy, incorporating the provisions outlined in the bill.
The policy would apply to relatives of school board members, chief school administrators, school business administrators, school board attorneys and directors of personnel.
A school district or county vocational district could exclude per diem substitutes and student employees from its nepotism policy.
The bill was released from committee by a vote of 3-0, and next heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
A. GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Please remember this is a public meeting. Anything you say will be a public record. As a result, pursuant to law, the Board of Education cannot respond to you publicly concerning certain matters, such as those regarding an individual student or personnel. If there is a matter that you wish to remain private concerning personnel or students, please contact the Superintendent’s Office.
Public comment periods shall also be governed by the following rules:
1. Persons wishing to speak must, upon being recognized, rise, sign in, and state their names and addresses.
2. Each speaker shall be limited to four minutes. The Board Recorder will note the time. A speaker who has not finished in the allotted time will be directed by the presiding officer to summarize quickly and relinquish the floor within 30 seconds. (ref: Policy 0167)
3. Comments shall be limited to issues. If personal remarks or discourteous statements are made, the presiding officer shall require the speaker to stop. No person will be recognized for a second time until all others asking to speak have been heard.
4. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer, no participant may address or question Board members individually.
5. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
6. Questions requiring investigation shall be referred by the Board to the Superintendent’s Office for consideration and later response. A participant may be asked to submit such questions in written format.
Mr
Resolution for Reduction of 2019-20 Budget 2% Increase by $551,887
WHEREAS, the 2018-2019 Ridgewood School Budget property tax levy exceeded the New Jersey 2% ceiling on annual property tax increases by $551,887 by using allowable waivers under the cap rules; and
WHEREAS, the increases in state aid for the 2018-2019 school year provided the District with additional revenue not built into the 2018-2019 Budget; and
WHEREAS, the Ridgewood School Board voted on July 24, 2018 to revise the annual Requisition of Taxes from $97,996,144 to $97,444,257; and
WHEREAS, the reduction in the Requisition of Taxes was achieved using part of the additional state aid; and
WHEREAS, by reducing the Requisition of Taxes by $551,887, the property tax base was not reduced, and this amount will be in future year property taxes for purposes of calculating the allowable 2% annual increases; and
WHEREAS, it was the intention of the Ridgewood School Board to permanently reduce the property tax base by the restored $551,887;
NOW BE IT RESOLVED, the Ridgewood School Board does hereby instruct that the 2019-2020 Ridgewood School Budget be prepared under the assumption that the maximum allowable property tax increase is set at 2% LESS $551,887 to permanently eliminate the effects of the2018-2019 property tax increas
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education Public Meeting will be tonight December 3 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place .
At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer . in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.
Ridgewood NJ, the on again off gain teachers agreement is on again ,on November 19th the Ridgewood Education Association announced the REA and the Ridgewood Board of Education once again have reached a tentative agreement regarding a contract settlement.
Someone’s head should roll for this major screw up by the BOE’s IT department, but we know from past experience with similar boondoggles by municipal government entities (e.g., the theft of over 3/4 million dollars worth of parking utility revenue), that NO ONE WILL EVEN BE DISCIPLINED, let alone fired.
This is a HUGE embarrassment for Ridgewood taxpayers and the Ridgewood Public School System. Property values are certain to take a hit from this.
Voters should take note of the names of Board members who were on duty when this occurred (Ms. Brogan, Ms. Krauss, Mr. Morgan, and Ms. Smith-Wilson) and vote them out when their respective seats are up for grabs.
The protection is to educate kids like Einstein etc were educated throughout the centuries with books and paper and pencils. Bill Gates is VERY SMART. He knows that people are sheep and stupid. So he made billions. BUT his kids learn like Einstein etc. with books paper and pencils. No chrome where his kids go to school. Ha ha Keep buyin the next computer folks and smart phones and be sure to give them to your kids. Don’t worry. They are not addictive. Bill Gates said so. So did Mark Zuckerberg. Good guys.
Ridgewood NJ, In case you missed it, the parent of a 9-year old addressed BOE members during the public comment portion of Monday evening’s meeting and revealed that her son and one of his classmates were, and still are, able to surf porn and other “age inappropriate” videos using their school issued Chrome Books, via the school’s WiFi network, and during school hours.
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, November 19th 7:30 to 10pm .The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting will be aired live on FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77. Or it may be viewed live via the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab.
Budget Election Resolution : The resolution approved by the Board at their September 17, 2018 Regular Public Meeting regarding the school budget election.
Ridgewood NJ, Giving new meaning to the height of arrogance –
No mention of this November’s Board of Education election was ever noted on the Board’s official website. That’s right fellow taxpayers, the election was never referenced by the Board, at all.
No notice of election date was posted, no candidate bios were posted, no “please vote” message was posted, no election results were posted. NOTHING AT ALL.
What a bunch of arrogant morons the Board has become.
Our advice – VOTE THE BUMS OUT WHEN THE TIME COMES.
Kaufman is clearly normal, in that, he’s not interested in becoming enemies with anyone. But that doesn’t mean he will not start bumping into people in his new role as a member of the district’s board who already have ill will toward him because they are naked partisans or perceive him as a threat to their particular fiefdom. Just add water, and–Poof! Instant enemies.
