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Reader Calls Chris Kaufman, “a fractured Board Member”

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Chris (Kaufman) is a fractured Board Member, all he does at this point is raise opposing views for no other reason than to hear his own voice, most of his arguments are just for the sake of arguing because of the changing dynamics of the school board which he has no control over. When a board is ‘fractured’ by just one member it can barely function. Why is it that a tenured board member, chooses to run for re-election with his buddy (“Lastly, I have chosen to run with my friend Mahmoud.”) ? It’s because he realizes that he can no longer stand on his own two feet, and in addition, to present an even deeper divide to the board in the event that they both are elected. Chris should finish his term, and leave his volunteer post, there is only positive in having served, by running for re-election all he is doing is cementing a negative, lets do him a favor and keep him on the positive side of the volunteer ledger and cast your vote for a fresh volunteer board member. Mahmoud is barely present, so no mention.

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HyunJu Kwak Lays Out Her Mission for Ridgewood Board of Education

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I am committed to fully funding school’s needs for it to provide excellent education for the students in the district. I have voted to approve all school-related projects that were recommended by the administration. That includes additional elementary school guidance counselors, Orchard field remediation, high school artificial turf field project, BF middle school track resurfacing, safety equipment purchases, the transitional 18-21 special education STEPSS lease, and so on.”

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HyunJu Kwak for Ridgewood BOE

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photo of HyunJu Kwak at Brown graduation

Dear Ridgewood,
I grew up in Paramus in an immigrant family with modest means. I loved going to school, and whatever time I had left, I worked as a cashier at a local supermarket to pay my way for activities like a school trip to Paris. I knew that education was an investment towards a better future and school was a gateway to opportunities. I had a view, thanks to my parents, that if I work diligently, I can make a difference in myself and the world.

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Ridgewood Board Of Education Discusses Goals For The Upcoming School Year

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file photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education had a robust discussion on Monday, Sept 13th regarding district goals for this school year. The Board agreed to focus on data-driven goals relative to mental health, DEI  (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ), communication, and student achievement. The discussion can be found in the BOE meeting video starting at 1:08:58 (one hour, eight minutes, and 58 seconds). The presentation ensued from a presentation by an external consultant.

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Kaufman Motion to Strip Ridgewood School Board of All Oversight Fails

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, at Monday nights Ridgewood Board of Education meeting , Board member Chris Kaufman made a motion to give the Superintendent and administration the authority to approve vendors in time of essence repairs, this would have effectively made the school board irrelevant and removed the last bit of oversite over the public schools .

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HyunJu Kwak for Ridgewood Board of Education

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Dear Ridgewood Community,
The pandemic-related challenges seem to be ever-morphing, but commitments by parents, teachers, administrators and the whole community to maintain scholastic excellence for our students remain steadfast. There is much work to be done to ensure that students and teachers are given the resources to excel as the school returns to normalcy. My goal, as always, is to advocate for the students of our district and work for the Ridgewood community at large, so that our crown jewel continues to shine and that the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars are allocated effectively and efficiently. In order to stay on this mission, I am seeking re-election to the Board of Education this November 2nd.
In the words of Mr. Rogers, “We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond.” I feel deeply in my heart that this is my time to respond for Ridgewood and to keep working for the students and the community.
Thank you and please reach out to me at [email protected] or message me for any questions and concerns.
Sincerely,
HyunJu Kwak

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The Ridgewood Board of Education meets on September 13,  2021 at 7:00 PM for a Regular Public Meeting

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education meets on September 13,  2021 at  7:00 PM for a Regular Public Meeting at the Education Center.

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Susan Madison Candidate for Ridgewood Board of Education Introduces Herself

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Susan Madison Candidate for Ridgewood Board of Education (Facebook post)

“Our students have been deprived of the opportunity to experience “normal” schooling for 17 months. Now is the time to focus on the challenges ahead, not relitigate the past. We have a 5-member elected board that has the responsibility of getting our students back to the normalcy and excellence they deserve and that Ridgewood is known for. This is what the residents of Ridgewood expect from their elected BOE members and the reason they selected Ridgewood as their home.”

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Did Ridgewood School Board Members withheld Toxic Orchard field noncompliance info from the parents for 6 months?

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in 2007  Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Detected at Orchard School which would require remediation . At the time the often quoted Ridgewood Board of Education Supporter made the comment, “tell your kids don’t eat the dirt” .

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American Academy of Pediatrics Recommended that all Children over the Age of 2 Wear Masks when Returning to School

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education discussed additional ways to disseminate important communications to parents and whether or not masks will be required on school busses. For NJ Transit masks are STILL REQUIRED onboard vehicles and inside enclosed stations, but are no longer required on outdoor platforms or at bus stops.

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2020-2021 Ridgewood Student Performance Review

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, at the Ridgewood Board of Education meeting  data presented comparing three different school years : 2018-2019 traditional school year, 2019-2020 in person through March with fully remote spring, and 2020-2021 hybrid and remote instruction. During the pandemic, shifts were made to methods of instructional delivery and assessment. The student performance data presented was based on Fountas and Pinell reading levels (K-5), Envision 2.0 math scores (K-5), student grades in all subject areas (6-12), and teacher feedback through summer professional development.

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Consider a Ridgewood School Board Candidacy!

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file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Congratulations! You have taken the first step toward filling a vital role for your community – that of a school board member.

NJSBA’s Candidate Kit provides vital resources (downloadable PDFs listed below), as well as links to important websites for anyone considering running for their local school board.

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Ridgewood Schools will be open for full-time, in-person instruction and lunch, with the goal of operating at pre-pandemic norms for 2021-2022 school year

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, a few hours before the Board meeting, Governor Murphy announced that masks will be optional in the fall; however, the District has not yet received any specific guidance. As a result, some of the information in the presentation regarding school operations and scenarios for the 2021-2022 school year is already outdated. Schools will be open for full-time, in-person instruction with lunch, and the goal is to operate at pre-pandemic norms. Modifications have been made to health and safety protocols and will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. Should districts be authorized to make decisions on a local level, RPS will collaborate with the VOR Health Department, School Physician, and District Mental Health Coordinator to determine local guidelines.

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Ridgewood Public Schools Expected to Receive Approximately $1.1 million from the American Rescue Plan

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at Monday’s Ridgewood Board of Education meeting, the requirements for the American Rescue Plan Federal Grant were presented. The ARP (American Rescue Plan) Act provides $122 billion in funding to states and school districts to facilitate the reopening and safe operation of schools. The portion expected for Ridgewood Public Schools is approximately $1.1 million. How the grant can be spent is still being determined by the federal government. As more information about allowable uses of these funds becomes available, plans will be developed with community input and communicated.
The first step in acquiring our allocation is to provide information to the state and federal government on specific areas of our operation (Safe Return Plan), allow public comment, and then include these summaries on the first phase of the application. The Safe Return Plan template addresses eight (8) areas of operation, which are as follows:

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