Tag: BOE

Posted on

Ridgewood school board monitoring rising enrollment numbers

url

MAY 11, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, MAY 11, 2015, 12:24 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood district administrators informally assessed enrollment numbers of the village’s six elementary schools since 2009, a response to the public’s mounting concerns over anticipated class sizes next year.

In its search for a trend, the administration determined that a definitive conclusion could not be identified.

What the research did do, however, was provide a baseline for the district as it continues to monitor overall enrollment heading into the next academic year.

Board of Education (BOE) members said for the past several weeks that they have engaged in numerous conversations and fielded emails from parents alarmed with increasing class sizes. Two dozen parents publicly expressed related concerns at a school board meeting last month.

Those speakers, most with children attending Willard and Hawes schools, noted that high enrollment in the lower grades is adversely impacting the educational environment for the students. The rising student-to-teacher ratio also places a burden on the staff, parents contend.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/board-of-education-to-monitor-enrollment-1.1331434

Posted on

Ridgewood School’s Massive budget pushed tax increase over the 2 percent mark

url

May 7th 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, School taxes in the village are about to go up by more than 2 percent cap put in to effect , by Governor Christie in 2010. The cap limits increases in property taxes to 2 percent. There are several ways to get exceptions,which were pushed by Democratic lawmakers negotiating with Christie , who at the time pushed for a hard cap know on this blog as the 2 percent solution .

Towns, county governments and school boards in New Jersey can exceed the tax-hike limit for spending on debt payments, public employee benefits and response to disasters. The cap also doesn’t include many special fees that some towns levy for services such as trash removal .

Last week, the BOE adopted the district’s massive $101.2 million budget for the coming school year. According to the Bergen Record  the new budget would will raise taxes over the next year by $194.65 on the average village home assessed at $690,662.That increase represents a more than 2-percent increase from last year’s tax.(https://www.northjersey.com/news/ridgewood-school-taxes-to-increase-more-than-2-percent-1.1326603 ) Click here to view the latest presentation on next year’s school budget, given at the April 27, 2015 Board of Education meeting.

Residents are reminded of the invitation to stop by for coffee and casual conversation with Board of Education members and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein on Wednesday, May 13 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place. All residents are invited to drop in to share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns .

Also district parents and guardians have the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback to the Board of Education through the 2014-2015 satisfaction survey. The survey period runs from Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 15. All district parents and guardians with email addresses on file will receive an email link to the survey.

Posted on

Readers asks why No Outrage over Teacher Pay and Benefit Packages Similar to the Outrage over Public Safety Employees Wages and Benefits ?

url
–

You would think he would be all over this discussion with his crying and complaints about Teachers pay, benefits and pensions.
–
Where is his vitriolic claim that the “Union Thugs” in the NJEA are destroying the state? Why have we not seen his post on this discussion that because of the NJEA Union Thugs businesses are leaving the N.J. and so are residents!
–
And how many times did we hear  “N.J. Has the highest Property Taxes in the Country” because of the Public Safety wages and benefits, and lets not forget pensions? Shouldn’t he be here making the same claim about the BOE budget?
–
I will tell you why we hear crickets and nothing from him on this discussion, he doesn’t care about the BOE budget. That isn’t important to him. What is important to him is vilifying Public Safety employees, specifically Police and Firefighters. That’s what he is all about, nothing less and nothing more.

Posted on

Ridgewood school board adopts Massive $101 million budget

url

The Ridgewood Board of Education adopted its $101.2 million budget, a plan that calls for an average school tax increase of $194.65.

MAY 5, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2015, 10:13 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s $101.2 million budget last week, adopting a financial proposal that supports a new administrator hire, technology updates and curriculum enhancements.

The district’s spending plan will increase school taxes by $194.65 for the average Ridgewood home assessed at $690,662. The rise in taxes represents a total increase of 2.04 percent over last year’s bills, according to Alfredo Aguilar, the schools’ business administrator.

During a brief review of the budget on April 27, Aguilar highlighted the 13 new courses planned for the middle and high schools, completion of the 1:1 Chromebook initiative at the middle school level, and maintenance projects such as window replacements at George Washington Middle School and roadway repairs at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

He also noted various ways in which the district will attempt to curb spending, such as auditing school phone lines in an effort to convert to digital lines and cancel those that are not in use; installing additional solar panels to decrease energy expenses; and participating in a statewide consortium to purchase faster Internet access at a reduced cost.

Though some trustees said that the budget is not perfect, they agreed that it is a responsible plan that reflects the entire district and achieves the BOE’s goals.

“We have a sound budget, but we’re reminded of the challenges in front of us,” said BOE Vice President Vince Loncto, adding that the board’s responsibility is an “imperative to maintain the quality and reputation of the public schools” while “minimizing the impact on the taxpayers.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/trustees-ok-final-figures-in-2015-16-budget-1.1325596

Posted on

Residents concerned over rising Ridgewood class sizes

url

MAY 4, 2015    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, MAY 4, 2015, 9:59 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood school board trustees approved the 2015-16 budget without objection, but their vote last Monday night didn’t go unnoticed.

Nearly 80 parents and teachers crammed inside the Education Center, where two dozen of the attendees appealed to the board for reconsideration of several staffing decisions proposed for the upcoming academic year. Each of them claimed that rising student enrollment numbers without an accompanying increase in class sections would hinder the educational experience for their students.

In a brief budget presentation to the board and public, Alfredo Aguilar, the schools’ business administrator, pointed to various budget highlights, including $1.5 million in technology upgrades and a new generator for the Education Center. He also noted the budget was adjusted for “enrollment shifts between grade levels.”

One of those adjustments was the recent addition of kindergarten sections at two schools.

“There have been some concerns voiced in some of our sections in the elementary schools,” said BOE President Sheila Brogan. “Willard kindergarten [enrollment] is creeping up. That is an area of concern.”

 

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/rising-class-sizes-cause-concern-1.1324921

Posted on

RIDGEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS ON APRIL 27, 2015

cottage_place_theridgewoodblog

The  Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Pubic Hearing on the 2015-2016 Budget and Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

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.

Click here to view the agenda for the April 27, 2015 Public Hearing on the Budget and Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2015-2016 preliminary proposed budget presented at the April 13, 2015 Joint Meeting with the Village Council and Regular Public Meeting.

2015-2016 Preliminary Budget Information
Click here to view the latest presentation on next year’s school budget, given at the April 15, 2015 Board of Education meeting.

2015-2016 School Calendar is Approved
The 2015-2016 proposed school calendar was approved at the February 23, 2015 Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education.Click here to view the calendar.

Board to Survey Parents and Guardians
District parents and guardians will have the opportunity to provide anonymous feedback to the Board of Education in May, when they will be asked to fill out the 2014-2015 satisfaction survey. The survey period will run from Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 15. All district parents and guardians with email addresses on file will receive an email link to the survey. Click here for more information

Posted on

Ridgewood school board preparing 2016-17 calendar

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog

APRIL 17, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Anticipating minor changes that might impact Ridgewood families, the Board of Education (BOE) hopes to approve the school district’s 2016-17 calendar by the end of this month.

Just weeks after they finalized and adopted next year’s calendar, trustees engaged in a constructive dialogue during Monday’s BOE meeting as they reviewed the calendar committee’s recommended schedule for 2016-17.

“We told parents that we would try to get the calendar over a year in advance because we keep hearing ‘I want to be able to schedule what we’ll be doing, what the kids will be doing’,” BOE President Sheila Brogan said.

Board members generally agreed with the committee’s suggested calendar, which incorporated elements that most education officials deem desirable: First day of instruction begins after Labor Day; February features a full week of recess; and last day of classes is June 22.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/boe-gets-jump-on-calendar-schools-1.131131

Posted on

Ridgewood municipal, school officials discuss district’s budget

unnamed

APRIL 16, 2015    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015, 3:43 PM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Municipal officials gave high marks to the Ridgewood school system for its overall work and offered preliminary support to the district’s proposed $101 million budget.

At the annual joint meeting between the village’s governing and education leaders on Monday, Board of Education members and district administrators reviewed their anticipated 2015-16 spending plan, which will be up for BOE vote later this month.

The schools budget calls for an average tax bill increase of approximately $195, a figure based on an assessed home value of $690,662.

When combined with the district’s outstanding debt service levy, the amount to be paid is a 2.04 percent increase over last year.

In explaining the proposal, Alfredo Aguilar, district business administrator, highlighted the various programs that the budget would support. Included in his list were four additional staff positions, 13 new class offerings throughout the high school and middle schools, and $1.5 million earmarked for technology maintenance and upgrades.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-municipal-school-officials-discuss-district-s-budget-1.1310985

Posted on

Reader asks not a single employee of the Ridgewood Public School System who could have been promoted to fill the principal’s position at Orchard?

6Es9hMf3

There was not a single employee of the Ridgewood Public School System who could have been promoted to fill the principal’s position at Orchard?

What does that say about top District management and the BOE itself if we have no viable succession program?

From last night’s meeting agenda:

iv. Appointments

Administrator

FERRERI, Mary, K. – Principal of Orchard School, effective
July 15, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

Mrs. Ferreri credentials are as follows:
 Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, New Jersey
Master of Arts in Educational Administration – 2005
 The College of New Jersey, Ewing, New Jersey
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education/History – 2002

Experience:
 Westwood Regional School District; Principal, George
Elementary School – July 2010 to present
 Westwood Regional School District; Acting Assistant
Principal, George & Ketler Schools/Supervisor of
Elementary Programs/District Head Teacher K-6 – January
2009 to June 2010
 Westwood Regional School District; Third Grade Teacher –
2002 to 2009
 Westwood Regional School District; First Grade Teacher –
2002 to 2009

$150,000
pro-rated

Posted on

Ridgewood Board of Ed Meets Tonight 7:30pm

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog
RIDGEWOOD SCHOOL BOARD MEETS ON APRIL 13, 2015

The  Ridgewood Board of Education will hold a Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 13, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. This meeting will include a Joint Meeting with the Ridgewood Village Council to discuss the proposed 2015-2016 school budget.

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.

Click here to view the agenda for the April 13, 2015 Joint Meeting with the Village Council and Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the 2015-2016 preliminary proposed budget presented at the March 23, 2015 Regular Public Meeting

Posted on

New solar panels may add to savings for Ridgewood school district

imgres-2

APRIL 1, 2015    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015, 10:19 AM
BY MALCOLM HERBERT
FOR THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The Ridgewood school district saved about $70,000 last year by installing solar panels at eight schools, and could be looking to increase those revenues by adding more solar energy units at the two middle schools.

Jim Wavle, president of Verterra Renewable Energy Group and a village resident, oversaw the installation of solar panels at all but two of Ridgewood’s public schools nearly three years ago. He was brought back by the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) to discuss possibly adding some more.

The potential new units would be set up at George Washington (GW) Middle School, which currently does not have any solar panels, and Benjamin Franklin (BF) Middle School, Wavle said at a BOE meeting last month.

Superintendent of Schools Daniel Fishbein reported that the district is exploring this possibility at this time because “the pricing point for us to expand our solar has come to a better point now.”

The district is considering a small solar project at GW and a larger, carport-based system at BF.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/new-solar-panels-may-add-to-savings-1.1299905

Posted on

Readers challenge idea of a private corporation abridging students first amendment rights

Twitter_logo_blue
Twitter_logo_blue
Readers challenge idea of a private corporation abridging students first amendment rights  

“The Ridgewood Public Schools guards our data and only shares with state and federal officials the information that is required by law. We make every effort to teach our students about good digital citizenship and with the beginning next school year, we will teach it more formally through a Digital Citizenship Curriculum, from kindergarten through Grade 12.”DANIEL FISHBEIN

Students in New Jersey were told repeatedly that they had no choice about taking a test(PARCC) which then resulted in their private information being given to Pearson and also restricted their first amendment rights.

I love how all the NJ DOE apologists are glossing right over the fact that our schools were being asked by a private corporation to discipline a student. What’s next? If a kid tweets that the school lunch is disgusting, will the school punish him on behalf of Aramark??
Posted on

Ridgewood school district putting goals into action

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog.net_1-300x225

Ridgewood school district putting goals into action

MARCH 24, 2015    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2015, 11:22 AM
BY DARIUS AMOS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Ridgewood education leaders have outlined several forms of action that the district will consider as it works toward the goals established during community planning sessions last fall.

At a March 9 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent of Schools Daniel Fishbein reviewed the laundry list of action items created to address five distinct BOE goal areas: student achievement, communication, diversity, facilities and technology.

These areas were identified during an hours-long brainstorming process, which brought together school board trustees, administrators, students and community members in September. Goals were then refined by a consulting firm, which presented its report to the BOE and the public in November, and accepted by the BOE.

In its 24-page presentation, Sousa and Stern Education Consultants provided a blank sample plan of action for the BOE to complete while including benchmarks and timelines for each of the goal areas.

According to the goal list, a focus on student achievement would create a comprehensive learning environment that will inspire and empower all students to reach their highest potential academically, creatively and socially.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/district-putting-goals-into-action-1.1294469

Posted on

Ridgewood Schools Budget and Strategic Planning Update

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog

cottage_place_2_theridgewoodblog.net_1-300x225

Ridgewood Schools Budget and Strategic Planning Update

2015-2016 Preliminary Budget Information

Budget includes district staff, academic offerings, extra curricular activities, and transportation; as well as continuing to maintain and improve district facilities

 2.00% Local Tax Levy Increase – Within the current state cap
 2.04% Overall Levy Increase – Local Tax Levy + Debt Service Levy
 $2,566,160 in State Aid – down $37,124 from FY15 (Debt Service Aid).
 $1,694,488 Expenditure Increase

Click here to view the presentation on next year’s school budget, given at the March 9, 2015 Board of Education meeting.

Strategic Planning Update

Student Achievement
Communication
Technology
Diversity
Facilities

The Board of Education has approved strategic planning goals.Click here for details..

Posted on

Ridgewood school board approves district calendar

cottage_place_theridgewoodblog

cottage_place_theridgewoodblog.net_21

Ridgewood school board approves district calendar

MARCH 6, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015, 12:31 AM
BY MARK KRULISH
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

Students should expect to begin classes before Labor Day this coming fall as the 2015-2016 Ridgewood Public Schools calendar, approved on Feb. 23, features an early start, among other minor tweaks.

Although opinions were varied on the individual decisions the Board of Education had to consider, trustees were ultimately able to build a general consensus and approve the new calendar by a 4-1 vote.

Board President Sheila Brogan, Vice President B. Vincent Loncto and trustees Christina Krauss and James Morgan all voted in favor of the updated calendar.

The final calendar contains a convocation date of Aug. 31, which is a Monday, for teachers and staff, followed by a professional development day and students arriving on Sept. 2.

A three-day break will take place from Feb. 15 through Feb. 17 and the last day of school for students – Ridgewood High School (RHS) graduation – will fall on June 20, 2016. The calendar also includes two built-in snow days.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/parents-can-mark-calendars-1.1283655