Tag: BOE

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Ridgewood school district’s energy program produces results

Ridgewood school district’s energy program produces results

JULY 11, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
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A “behavior modification” program designed to conserve the district’s energy use has turned in significant savings, but when put against the cost of hiring an energy conservation company, the district is just breaking even.

Last year, the Board of Education signed on for a three-year contract with energy-savings company Cenergistic for $168,600 per year and hired an energy specialist for $75,000 per year.

Although the data is not complete, Business Administrator Michael Falkowski told the Board of Education at a meeting on Monday, June 23, that a conservative estimate of savings puts them at 14.3 percent, or $128,235.

It’s been difficult to fully calculate energy savings, said Falkowski, because the district is in the process of disputing some bills with PSE&G. Falkowski said savings could be about 20 percent when all the information is compiled.

If the district does not break even, Cenergistic will fund the difference because it’s a “no loss” contract. When Cenergistic first pitched the program, they hoped for Ridgewood to see a savings of more than $3 million over 10 years, representing a roughly 30 percent reduction in expected energy costs.

“It’s been difficult to produce a comparison from year to year when the data isn’t available,” Falkowski said.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/energy-program-producing-results-1.1049698#sthash.rzUGCbRe.dpuf

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Ridgewood school district’s five-year math review under way

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Ridgewood school district’s five-year math review under way

JULY 11, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
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With big changes in state testing and curriculum standards coming down the pike, the Ridgewood school district is embarking on a five-year review of its math program.

Although curriculum reviews are routine – Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said they are done every five years – part of the process will look at the sequence of classes and lessons to make sure math topics are adequately covered in time for the standardized testing dates.

“The Common Core has come through and has changed the landscape,” said Greg McDonald, supervisor of mathematics, science, and technology.

The review began during the 2013-14 school year with a committee of teachers and administrators researching best practices and analyzing the current program, along with compiling standardized test results and conducting satisfaction surveys.

In response to one question, 100 percent of teachers in grades K-8 said they supplement the current math program in some form.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/five-year-math-review-under-way-1.1049840#sthash.BPn5Cbam.dpuf

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Ridgewood students, educators trying to find a way through the pressure

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Ridgewood students, educators trying to find a way through the pressure

JULY 1, 2014    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2014, 3:22 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

This past school year, Ridgewood High School (RHS) Assistant Principal Jeff Nyhuis dealt with a surprising problem.

He had to work with sports coaches to block out unscheduled time – during the summer. Some families have children playing so many summer sports, it’s a struggle for them to find time to vacation.

“It ends up encompassing the whole summer, so no one can really get away,” he said. “It’s ridiculous.”

It’s just one more indication of the P-word: Pressure. It’s a well-known word in Ridgewood.

And it’s a word that Ridgewood’s recent graduates, and RHS’ upcoming juniors and seniors, will learn even more about in the future as they struggle to stand out in a world that can be far more competitive and demanding than RHS. Some concerned educators and parents worry about RHS students who are already struggling too much to be the best in everything, working harder but not necessarily smarter, and sometimes forgetting to enjoy what they are doing.

In recent years, some concerned parents and educators have been fighting back against sources of stress (facing adults, as well as children), and this year was no exception. On the other hand, some parents and educators point out that pressure itself is not bad; challenge and competition can motivate and ready students for a tough world, they observe.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-students-educators-trying-to-find-a-way-through-the-pressure-1.1044279#sthash.B5w73MN4.dpuf

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Ridgewood Board of Education approves new administrators

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Ridgewood Board of Education approves new administrators

JUNE 27, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014, 2:46 PM
BY JODI WEINBERGER
STAFF WRITER
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The school board voted on Monday to move forward with hiring new administrators under the condition that Superintendent Daniel Fishbein research whether teacher evaluations qualify as unfunded mandates from the state.

A lengthy Board of Education (BOE) discussion resulted in a 4-1 vote, with trustee Christina Krauss as the lone dissenter.

Fishbein spoke of the long-standing need to replace the administrators let go in 2010 when deep budget cuts set in, but to some BOE members that argument paled in comparison to what they believe is the real issue: increased workloads from the state-required evaluations.

Because of the state- mandated transition to a new evaluation system, administrators’ teacher evaluation “events” have increased from 44 to 109, Fishbein told the board at a previous meeting. But, he emphasized, Ridgewood has fewer administrators when compared to other districts and the need for new hires predates the evaluations.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/trustees-sign-on-for-supervisors-1.1042907#sthash.nelqCiyv.dpuf

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Ridgewood Education Foundation Commits to 1:1 Technology

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Ridgewood Education Foundation Commits to 1:1 Technology 
June 9, 2014 

Ridgewiood NJ, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein has announced the receipt of a grant of $250,000 from the Ridgewood Education Foundation for the district’s new 1:1 Computer Device Initiative.The Ridgewood Education Foundation (The Foundation) will issue its first disbursement of $100,000 to the Board of Education at its July 23 meeting. Ongoing disbursements of $50,000 will be issued annually thereafter for an additional three years.“The 1:1 computer device initiative is the next step in the District Technology Plan and an important aspect of our goals for twenty-first century learning,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein.“On behalf of the Ridgewood Board of Education, I wish to thank The Foundation for their leadership and vision to partner with us in this exciting new program as part of their ongoing commitment and support of the district’s mission of excellence.”

Specifically, the grant will allow the district to purchase and distribute Google tablet Chromebook technology at all levels, K-12, starting in September at the high school and moving into the middle and elementary schools over the next several years.

Chromebooks and the accompanying suite of apps called Google Apps for Education (GAFE) and Google Drive allow users to store and share files from any device that has an Internet connection. As part of the1:1 initiative, the district has provided GAFE accounts to all students. Students in grades 6-12 have also been issued email accounts for internal use only. Using GAFE and Google Drive, students will be able to
access their work at school and home throughout their years in the district. Teachers will be able to provide instant feedback to students on their assignments and easily monitor student contributions to group work. All work done using GAFE is managed by the Ridgewood Public Schools in a safe and closed environment and is the property of the Ridgewood Board of Education

“Clearly from the district’s vision and plan the role of technology will be increasingly important in enhancing academics,” said The Foundation president Jennie Wilson. “The Trustees of The Foundation felt this was an important initiative for Ridgewood schools and vital to twenty-first century learning skills across the district. The vote to fund this grant to the schools was unanimous and very exciting for all trustees. It supports academics and fits perfectly with our mission to enhance education in the Ridgewood Public Schools.”

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Mandates lead to call for new school administrators in Ridgewood

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Mandates lead to call for new school administrators in Ridgewood

JUNE 23, 2014    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014, 1:52 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

The Board of Education (BOE) recently renewed discussions on whether the district should add two more administrative positions next school year.

The move is part of the superintendent’s three-year plan, which was announced last year, to ultimately replace seven administrative positions that were cut in 2010, when the district lost all its state aid and had to make big budget cuts.

The new positions would help lighten the load facing the district’s overworked administrative staff, argued Superintendent Daniel Fishbein. The schools chief first proposed the new positions, a science supervisor and a special education supervisor, at a BOE meeting in May.

But some BOE trustees, especially Jim Morgan, had doubts about the superintendent’s proposal, because it would add fixed costs of around $300,000 to the already strained, and rising, budget. Morgan also questioned the necessity of adding administrative positions, because the district is already operating effectively.

BOE Vice President Vince Loncto and trustee Christina Krauss also expressed reservations at the time. BOE trustee Michele Lenhard was absent for the discussion, and BOE President Sheila Brogan expressed support for the new positions.

In light of the opposition facing him, Fishbein came prepared at a June 2 meeting with a data-based argument in favor of the positions. He quantified the workload of administrators, and provided trustees with a list of other districts similar to Ridgewood with larger administrative staffs.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/mandates-lead-to-call-for-new-school-administrators-in-ridgewood-1.1040099#sthash.1m6A3CEY.dpuf

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BOE MEETS MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

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BOE MEETS MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014

The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, June 23, 2014 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 www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab. 

Click here to view the agenda for the June 2, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the webcast of the June 2, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.

2014-2015 Budget Information
Taking effect this year, the Ridgewood Board of Education has opted to move the annual school board elections from April to November, thereby eliminating the public vote on the proposed general tax levy if it is at or below the statutory tax levy cap. Since next year’s proposed budget falls within the mandated cap, it will not be put to public vote.
 
The Board approved the 2014-2015 budget at its April 28 Regular Public meeting

Click here to view the Budget edition of Newsline, sent to Ridgewood residents in May. The newsletter provides information about next year’s school budget.


Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 User Friendly Budget.

Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 full budget.

Click here to view the 2014-2015 Budget Presentation.

To send a question or comment about the 2014-2015 school budget, please email the superintendent atbudget15@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

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Reader Points to Conflict of Interest Between BOE and Valley

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Reader Points to Conflict of Interest Between BOE and Valley 

Between the half-mil with which Valley cheaply bought the BOE and the glaring conflict of interest represented by the Superintendent’s physician-wife’s relationship with the hospital, the Board would have done better to “recuse itself” than to force its president to make appallingly inaccurate statements (“no problem! bring it on!”) so destructive to children and so exciting to Valley that Valley’s legal team quoted her in its final (thank goodness), unexpected greatest-hits slide show on Monday night. This was the definition of sellout.

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BOE MEETS MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

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BOE MEETS MONDAY, JUNE 2, 2014

The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, June 2, 2014 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 atwww.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab. 

Click here to view the agenda for the May 19, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.

Click here to view the webcast of the May 19, 2014 Regular Public Meeting.

2014-2015 Budget Information
Taking effect this year, the Ridgewood Board of Education has opted to move the annual school board elections from April to November, thereby eliminating the public vote on the proposed general tax levy if it is at or below the statutory tax levy cap. Since next year’s proposed budget falls within the mandated cap, it will not be put to public vote.
 
The Board approved the 2014-2015 budget at its April 28 Regular Public meeting.

Click here to view the Budget edition of Newsline, sent to Ridgewood residents in May. The newsletter provides information about next year’s school budget.


Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 User Friendly Budget.

Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 full budget.

Click here to view the 2014-2015 Budget Presentation.

To send a question or comment about the 2014-2015 school budget, please email the superintendent atbudget15@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

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Ridgewood BOE MEETS MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

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Ridgewood BOE MEETS MONDAY, MAY 19, 2014

The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, May 19, 2014 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 atwww.ridgewood.k12.nj.us using the “Link in Live” tab. 

Click here to view the agenda for the May 19, 2014 Regular Public Meeting..

2014-2015 Budget Information
Taking effect this year, the Ridgewood Board of Education has opted to move the annual school board elections from April to November, thereby eliminating the public vote on the proposed general tax levy if it is at or below the statutory tax levy cap. Since next year’s proposed budget falls within the mandated cap, it will not be put to public vote.
 
The Board approved the 2014-2015 budget at its April 28 Regular Public meeting. 

Click here to view the Budget edition of Newsline, sent to Ridgewood residents in May. The newsletter provides information about next year’s school budget.


Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 User Friendly Budget.

Click here to view the Fiscal Year 2015 full budget.

Click here to view the 2014-2015 Budget Presentation.

To send a question or comment about the 2014-2015 school budget, please email the superintendent atbudget15@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.TaylorMade R1 Driversshow?id=mjvuF8ceKoQ&bids=205477

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Ridgewood school board trustees question adding administrators

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Ridgewood school board trustees question adding administrators

MAY 16, 2014    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2014, 12:31 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

Administrative work is rising, but so are district costs and taxes.

Because of this Catch-22, some Board of Education (BOE) members are at odds over a proposal, made by Superintendent Daniel Fishbein at last Monday’s BOE meeting, to hire two new administrators to supervise science and special education.

Ultimately, Fishbein wants to reinstate all seven administrative positions lost during budget cuts several years ago. This would include the two positions proposed for next year, two that would be proposed for 2015-2016 and the three administrators hired last year: Ryan Kenny, the new technology manager; Dara Gronau, supervisor of English for grades 6-12; and Jean-Anne O’Neill, supervisor of elementary education. All three receive a salary of $130,000.

BOE trustee Jim Morgan said he believes that the district is operating successfully without the additional administrators, who would add fixed costs to the already-tight budget. Morgan noted that in recent years, when the superintendent has presented the district’s proposed budgets, he has highlighted Ridgewood’s relatively high number of students per administrator while emphasizing Ridgewood’s relatively low costs per student, in comparison to other similar districts’ costs.

“I have serious reservations about the proposal,” Morgan said. “First is the funding. These two positions, which were envisioned last year, were not included in the budget. We’ve spent no time explaining to the community why we want to expand the administrative ranks by two people, which will cost us in excess of $300,000 a year.

“I don’t really fully understand the need,” he said. “We’re continuing to highly perform.”

Fishbein, who proposed to pay for the positions with “breakage” (the differential between the costs of a more highly paid retiring employee and a new hire), justified the positions by pointing to rising administrative work.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/trustees-questionadding-supervisors-1.1017421

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Reader says Ridgewood pays 29.10% more for education than the national average

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Reader says Ridgewood pays 29.10% more for education than the national average

National average cost per student for public education – about $12,743 per public school student. – https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66

Ridgewood 2010-11 Costs Amount per Pupil: $16,456 – https://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/education/csg/12/csg.pl

Ridgewood pays 29.10% more for education than the national average,

Our residents do not make 29.10% more than national average wage to live here! This is what happens when teachers unions have the state in a stranglehold. Residents are leaving NJ because of high education costs Who will be left here to pay the taxes?

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Reader says If you want to truly save tax dollars, reduce the school budget.

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Reader says If you want to truly save tax dollars, reduce the school budget.

Its one of the nicer things about Ridgewood.
I’m tired of the new residents bitching about the nice things here, like the Paid Professional Firefighters, and rear yard trash pickup.
They come here, raise our taxes with these foolish school budgets, million dollar artificial turf sports fields, 10 million dollar horse farms (turned into sports fields) then beat feet out of town after their last kid graduates RHS, leaving the rest of us to foot the tab.
If you want to truly save tax dollars, reduce the school budget.
A good first start is larger class sizes, and shift medical ‘benefits’ to a bare-bones plan

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School budget elections disappearing in New Jersey

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School budget elections disappearing in New Jersey

April 12, 2014, 11:28 AM Last updated: Saturday, April 12, 2014, 11:28 AM
By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Just a few years ago, April school elections were a key date on New Jersey’s political calendar, the time most of the state’s voters had — but ignored — the chance to say yes or no to property tax increases.

Now, the only-in-New Jersey votes hardly exist.

Just 26 of the state’s 585 school districts will hold elections April 23. That’s 15 fewer than last year.

The change is a result of a law that, starting in 2012, allowed schools to save money and duck public outrage by moving school board elections to November and scrap votes on the tax levy. School budgets are the biggest component of New Jersey property tax bills, which average more than $8,000, the highest in the nation.

The conversion has been faster than expected, and it has come without much complaint.

Frank Belluscio, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association, said his group doesn’t believe the school budgeting process has changed much because the direct vote on tax levies associated with school budgets is a thing of the past in most communities.

The budgets, he says, are still subject to a cap on how much administrative expenses can grow, still get reviewed by state education officials and are still subject to public hearing. And those that call for property tax increases of about 2 percent still must be voted on — unless the bigger increases are because of certain exceptions.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/school-budget-elections-disappearing-in-new-jersey-1.938920#sthash.zbWpmLqc.dpuf

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Ridgewood council members, school board trustees talk taxes

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file photo Boyd Loving Village Hall

Ridgewood council members, school board trustees talk taxes

APRIL 10, 2014    LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2014, 2:46 PM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER

After receiving a short presentation on next year’s preliminary school budget, members of the Village Council questioned the Board of Education (BOE) on Monday about “efficiencies” and expressed an interest in more collaboration to potentially save taxpayers money.

District officials, meanwhile, highlighted the high performance level of Ridgewood’s schools and several already-existing fiscal efficiencies, while noting that Ridgewood’s school district receives relatively little state aid in comparison to poorer districts.

The two elected bodies have collaborated in several ways in the past year. In September, the council confirmed that the district owned Heermance Place and could therefore reserve it for Ridgewood High School faculty parking. In February, the council extended a smoking ban in village parks to sidewalks outside of BOE properties (including fields and schools). Now, the council is also discussing the potential of allocating the district a police officer specifically entrusted to the schools, known as a school resource officer, or SRO.

After Monday’s budget presentation in the BOE building, some council members, all of whom but Councilman Tom Riche were present, suggested there may be future ways to increase the district’s efficiency. Last year, the council managed to present taxpayers with a flat budget increase, and is working on doing the same this year. Ridgewood’s school budget for next year, which accounts for about two thirds of residents’ property taxes, includes a 1.908 percent local tax levy increase.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/news/education/ridgewood-council-members-school-board-trustees-talk-taxes-1.898582#sthash.Dfi1OmS6.dpuf