Tag: BOE

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Valley lawyer uses Sheila Brogan’s testimony of 2013- 2014 to contradict the statements made by the people regarding construction hazards at Ridgewood Council Meeting

valley construction
photo by Dana Glazer
April 7,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Rather a quiet meeting but we did get a bit of a lecture from our council pilot, Albert.  Residents both in Ridgewood and surrounding towns are concerned about the change in flight routes in and out of Teterboro that will increase the number of planes flying over our area and will bring increased noise.  Albert who loves planes explained how this change was for the greater good and well, planes make noise.

It looks as though the council is due in court on May 9th as they were also sued by Valley along with the Planning Board.  The PB settled as per the vote on Tuesday.  A trial is expected to last anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks. Not sure this is this another chance to stop Valley?

It is interesting that a new council will be elected on May 10th.  Also, we will be going to trial against Wyckoff, Glen Rock and Midland Park for improper use of funds by Ridgewood Water.  That case should be decided in the next week or so.  Nothing was mentioned at the meeting.  In all, nothing of consequence was mentioned.

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Regarding the Valley Hearings, the lawyer for Valley, Mr. Drill, used Sheila Brogan’s testimony of 2013- 2014 to contradict the statements made by the people regarding construction hazards for several years in the area when she said that she saw no problems because they have had construction projects at several of the schools in the past and all was manageable.  People were so upset when she said this because it was like comparing apples and oranges.  But her cavalier statement became a big part of Valley’s deflection of any concerns about its close proximity to Benjamin Franklin.
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Ridgewood Planning Board Wednesday Night Vote men caved and the women felt detrimental effects of the Valley Expansion far out weighed

valley construction
photo courtesy of Dana Glazer
April  6,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The men caved and the women behaved like troopers.  The men all voted YES for less than gallant reasons: Fear of further litigation and possible results that might be worse than the ” so called compromise.”

The women believed that Ridgewood was worth that risk and felt that the detrimental effects of the Valley Expansion far out weighed any benefits.

The public comments were unbelievable including little kids who spoke eloquently.

Our Board of Education members were missing and should have been there and should have advocated for Benjamin Franklin Middle school .  Their primary concern should be the health and safety of the children.  I don’t know why they would concede to Valley without a good argument for a better compromise.  We elected them to represent us.

Again I don’t know who is looking out for Ridgeood except Susan, Wendy and Debbie, The “Steel Magnolias” of the Planning Board.

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The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 4th

BOE_the ridgwoodblog
BOARD UPDATES

BOE-REA Negotiations
Click here to view an analysis of “Unused Funds’ identified by the REA during Fact Finding Proceedings, presented at the March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on March 4, 2016.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

Click here to view the backup for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

BOE Meets on April 4 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 4, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view a revised agenda for the March 21, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2016-2017 Preliminary Budget presented at the March 21, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the February 22, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

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Superintendent and Board of Ridgewood Schools to Host Coffee and Conversation

Dan Fishbein 10

Superintendent and Board Host Coffee and Conversation on March 29
Ridgewood Nj, The Board of Education and Superintendent will host residents for Coffee and Conversation on Tuesday, March 29, 2016. The public is invited to drop in at the Education Center at 49 Cottage Place, floor 3, any time between 7 and 8:30 p.m. to ask questions and share suggestions and concerns.

The remaining date for Coffee and Conversation this school year is Tuesday, May 24, 2016.

The consensus of the Board is to proceed with Full day Kindergarten recommendation.

Click here to view the presentation given at the March 21, 2016 Board of Education meeting of the preliminary School budget

 

 

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Ridgewood Schools to Present 2016-2017 $102 Million School Budget

BOE_the ridgwoodblog
March 24,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, 2016-2017 School Budget Presentations are Set for April 6, and April 19 2016

Two opportunities are offered to residents to hear about the proposed 2016-17 school budget. Board members, the superintendent and the district business administrator will be at George Washington Middle School auditorium on Wednesday, April 6 and at Benjamin Franklin Middle School auditorium on Tuesday, April 19, from 7:30 – 9 p.m. They will review the proposed budget and answer questions.

Click here to view the presentation given at the March 21, 2016 Board of Education meeting.

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Ridgewood Board of Education Meeting tonight at 7:30pm !

Ridgewood_BOE_theridgewoodblog

BOARD UPDATES

BOE-REA Negotiations
Click here to view an analysis of “Unused Funds’ identified by the REA during Fact Finding Proceedings, presented at the March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on March 4, 2016.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

Click here to view the backup for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

BOE Meets on March 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, March 21, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the March 21, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the Full Day Kindergarten Recommendation presented to the Board at their March 7, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

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Is Full day Kindergarten Right for Ridgewood ?

kindergarten-cop-comedy
March 17,2016

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Fishbein presented a recommendation to the Board on bringing full-day Kindergarten to Ridgewood. His proposal is to fund a full-day program through a tax increase approved by voters this November in a second question.

While is seems an obvious great deal for parents , shifting costs away from baby sitters , the NJEA more teachers , the Ridgewood blog has yet to hear a definitive answer on how this is going to help the kids?

A study from Chloe R. Gibbs at the University of Virginia holds some preliminary good news for proponents of full-day kindergarten.

“Though many of the most important implications of the study won’t be clear until the students studied are much older, the first-of-its-kind randomized trial of full-day kindergarten shows sizable learning advantages for full-day students at the end of the kindergarten year.” https://www.edcentral.org/fullday-k-research/

While in the past the longer day seems to have far greater impact in districts in lower social economic standing than Ridgewood .

Same study ,”As a result, any difference in the groups’ outcomes may be due to full-day kindergarten or may be caused by other differences in their lives outside the classroom — such as disparities in access to learning opportunities and academic support at home — typically associated with living in poverty.” https://www.edcentral.org/fullday-k-research/

Residents have till now expressed concerns over costs , and what some parents have characterized as the “loss of childhood” . While others have felt it necessary given this era of overuse of standardized tests , but many are just not sold on the notion that longer hours equal better education .

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Ridgewood’s superintendent recommends full-day kindergarten

Dan-Fishbein-10

BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD – While Ridgewood teachers continued their quest for a new contract at Monday’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein switched gears to kindergarten, recommending a full-day program starting in 2017.

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/superintendent-recommends-full-day-kindergarten-1.1526375

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Dr Fishbein Recommends Full Day Kindergarten for Ridgewood

Dan Fishbein 10
March 7th 2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ , Dr Fishbein made his recommendation to the Ridgewood Board of Education to go to a 2nd question on the November ballot to fund Traditional Full Day kindergarten for 2017. The Board unanimously agreed. The process will now begin to get ready for that vote.

Full day kindergarten will most likely require more classrooms. Meaning the Ridgewood School District will we be bonding more school construction for all 6 elementary schools in a couple of years.  The usual move will be that the BOE will suggest more classrooms to accommodate full day kindergarten after the full day kindergarten is agreed to . Unless parents will be satisfied having kindergarten held in trailers in the parking lots of the schools.

So the reality is that like the Hudson Street Parking garage , this measure ,Full Day Kindergarten will result in further tax increases .
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Reader Insists Ridgewood Teachers are a good Deal for Baby Sitting our Kids

RHS_BEST_theridgewoodblog

Teachers’ hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or 10 months a year! It’s time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do — babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage.

That’s right. Let’s give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan– that equals 6 1/2 hours).Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day…maybe 30? So that’s $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.

However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

That’s $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

What about those special education teachers and the ones with Master’s degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute — there’s something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher’s salary is $75,000. $75,000/180 days = $416./per day/30 students=$13.80/6.5 hours = $2.13 per hour per student — a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!!

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Reader says I support our BOE 100% Stop the sweetheart deals

BOE_theridgewoodblog

I support our BOE 100% and feel the REA and their Unions are out of touch with reality, meaning the real world. We must stop kicking the can and giving in to unsustainable contracts. My family of 6 pays $20,000 to $30,000 per year for health care, each of us has a $3,000 deductible, and we get to pay $45 co-pays, up from $30 last year. No raises for the last 3 years, so no additional money to go toward paying these Obamacare increases. Healthcare on a whole is flawed now beyond comprehension. We all must suffer including the teachers, police, and all civil servants suckling off the teat of their Unions.To all teachers, teach us how you can pay your fair share and not push it off to the taxpayers. Same for all civil servants nationwide. Paid unused sick time and vacation needs to go away for all. What happened to getting approval to possible carrying over 5 days like everyone else gets? Stop the sweetheart deals for retiring police chiefs, toll takers, etc. Enough is enough. I support our BOE for their understanding and urge them not to settle. Why is this country siding with a loud mouth Trump? Because we do need real change. Not Obama change which is just change left in your pocket.

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Ridgewood Board of Education Meets on March 7 at 7:30 p.m.

BOE_the ridgwoodblog

BOARD UPDATES

BOE-REA Negotiations
Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on February 12, 2016.Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with the The Ridgewood Education Association.

Click here to view the backup for the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with The Ridgewood Education Association.

BOE Meets on March 7 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, March 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the February 22, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the February 8, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

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Ridgewood school chief to advise trustees on best path toward full-day kindergarten

kindergarten-cop-comedy

BY STEVE JANOSKI
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

RIDGEWOOD — The school district’s superintendent will recommend next month whether the Board of Education should look to implement a full-day kindergarten program this fall or wait until 2017-18.

The recommendation, by Daniel Fishbein, will come on the heels of a report given Monday night by a special committee of parents, administrators and other professionals tasked with looking into the program’s feasibility in Ridgewood.

Cheryl Best, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment and the special committee’s head, presented two options: a tax-supported full-day program or an optional tuition-only afternoon service that would complement the district’s existing morning program.

Both would serve to extend the day for Ridgewood’s youngest students, the committee found, and allow more time for studying math, reading and science, as well as a snack/recess break.

But although the district could start a tuition-based program on its own, a tax-supported full-day program would require voter approval because the necessary money is not available in next year’s budget, school board President Sheila Brogan said.

In that case, the board would put a second question on the November ballot asking voters to increase the budget to fund it, she said.

Because the next school year will be well under way by the November election, Best said that any full-day program implemented in the school year starting in the year must be tuition-based. But if the board elected to wait for the 2017-18 school year, she said, it would have the option of posing the second question to the public this fall, and using the tuition-based proposal as a backup plan if it was rejected.

Fishbein said he will make his recommendation at the board’s March 7 meeting. Brogan said she was unsure if the board would make its final decision afterward — any request by trustees for further information could push the vote to March 21.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/village-weighs-starting-full-day-kindergarten-1.1519352

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Ridgewood Board of Education Committee explores full-day kindergarten

kinopoisk

BY MATTHEW SCHNEIDER
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

RIDGEWOOD – An exploratory committee gave a presentation examining the feasibility of full-day kindergarten at the Feb. 22 Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

While a previous report by demographer Ross Haber indicated that the district offering full-day kindergarten was feasible, BOE trustees have said in the past that the district simply does not have the funds to make this option available.

As a result, the committee looked into other options for implementing the change, like offering tuition-based kindergarten or raising taxes to generate funding.

According to Cheryl Best, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment, a number of residents filled out a survey asking their preferences regarding full-day kindergarten.

As shown in the presentation, an overwhelming majority (73 percent) were in favor of implementing full-day kindergarten. Additionally, 71.3 percent of those surveyed said that they used a supplemental enrichment program to complement their children’s current half-day kindergarten. Furthermore, 57 percent would support a tax increase.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/committee-explores-full-day-kindergarten-1.1518470

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The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 7:30 p.m

BOE_theridgewoodblog

BOE-REA Negotiations
Click here to read a Letter to the Editor of The Ridgewood News, which appeared in the paper on February 12, 2016.

Click here to read the Ridgewood Board of Education’s Fact-Finding Presentation with the The Ridgewood Education Association.

BOE Meets on February 22 at 7:30 p.m.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting at the Ed Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3. The meeting may also be viewed on FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.FiOS channel 33, Optimum channel 77 or from computers via the “Live BOE Meeting” tab on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda for the February 8, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the minutes of the January 25, 2016 Regular Public Meeting.