the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood School Board discussed the litigation matter that was on the Executive Session agenda. Two board members recused themselves due to a conflict. The Board discussed the next steps in regard to this matter. A motion to appeal the current case was approved.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Due to the health concerns related to COVID-19, tonight’s meeting will be conducted via videoconferencing. Comments or questions can be submitted prior to and during the public hearing through the link in the section below.
The public is welcome to watch from home on Fios channel 33. Meetings are also streamed via the “BOE Webcast” tab on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Saurabh Dani v. Ridgewood Board of Education, earlier yesterday, a Judge granted order enforcing litigant’s rights. For the second time, Board of Education was found in violation and failed to do something ordered by the court. See complete order in comments, a stark contrast of what BOE (James Morgan) posted days ago.
Continue reading Judge Grants Order Enforcing Litigant’s Rights Against Ridgewood Board of Education
by James Morgan
Ridgewood NJ, The BOE discussed a litigation item in Executive Session Thursday evening that concerns a settlement proposal of a lawsuit against the Board by Saurabh Dani, a candidate for the Board of Education in next week’s election.
This settlement proposal was not sought by the Board and originated with Mr. Dani’s attorney.
Continue reading Ridgewood Board of Education Takes No Action on OPRA Lawsuit Settlement Offer
the staff of the Ridgewood blog.
The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold its next Regular Public Meeting on Monday, May 18, 2020. The Board meets at 7:00 p.m.
Boyd A. Loving
Ridgewood NJ, I am extremely disappointed that the Ridgewood Board of Education (BOE) has still not made provisions for taxpayers without computers to make comments during their virtual public meetings. As of today, the only way a taxpayer can make a public comment during a virtual BOE meeting is to submit it in writing via a hyperlink posted on the BOE’s website (the hyperlink is also embedded in the electronically circulated meeting notice).
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold its next Regular Public Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2020. The Board meets at 7:00 p.m. at 49 Cottage Place.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, yesterday we reported that Board of Education candidate Dan Creed claims someone using “fake Facebook profiles ” has been attacking him and Board candidate Muhammad Mahmoud . Creed immediately called for you guessed it, “civility” .
Continue reading Well Dan Ask Councilmen Voigt But We Are Sure It’s No Victoria Burpee
Reader says that we have an incumbent running for the Ridgewood Board of Education whose claims cannot be verified. Mr. Mahmood has ignored or sidestepped questions from the residents—- which is opposite his claims of transparency. He needs to answer the questions with substantiation, because this role is too important.
Continue reading Residents ask Ridgewood BOE Candidate Mohammed Mahmood to verify his claims
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, once again the Ridgewood School district is accused of playing favorites . Parents have long feared that any dissent with the great and powerful school board leads to their ostracisation and their children being bullied by teachers and administrators.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold its next Regular Public Meeting on Monday, April 13, 2020. The Board meets at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Due to the health concerns related to COVID-19, the meeting will be conducted via videoconferencing. Comments or questions can be submitted prior to and during the public hearing through the link in the section below.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education Election (to vote on the Board of Education budget and elect one Board of Education member for an unexpired 1-year term and two Board of Education members to three-year terms) and the Ridgewood Municipal Election (to elect three Village Councilmembers to 4-year terms) will be held on the same date, May 12, 2020. These elections will be a Vote by Mail election only. There will be two separate ballots in the envelope sent to you, one for the Board of Education and the second one for the Village Council. Vote by mail ballots will be mailed to all registered voters, no later than April 24, 2020. The Vote by Mail ballots must be postmarked by May 12, 2020 and received at the County by May 14, 2020. Therefore, please vote your ballot and mail it back, as soon as possible so that your vote will count. The envelopes included with the ballots are postage paid.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, at Mondays Ridgewood Board of Education meeting, Ms. Poelstra provided an update on the Home Instruction Plan. Information about the plans for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 are posted on the homepage of the district website for easy access. These Google sites contain valuable resources for students and parents to help them through the process. For K-5, the Google site has sections by grade level where parents can access the daily lessons. Initially, daily lessons were posted in the morning, but after receiving feedback from parents, the district began to post them the evening before, which gives working parents time to review and prepare for the next day of home instruction. Teachers are online every day from 8:00-12:30 to answer questions. The middle school and high school websites are designed specifically for the students to give them easy access to information about the schedule, attendance, resources, technology issues, and more. Additionally, our Technology Innovation Specialists are evaluating tools that be used for face-to-face instruction, particularly with the elementary students.
“The fact that the BOE members let this go to a legal matter is shameful on the part of the entire Board. This started off as a perfectly lawful request that they decided not to respond to, which in-turn forced the lawsuit. I’m sure they were hoping that Dani would let sleeping dogs lie. They made a strategic blunder. When a Board does not respond to a perfectly lawful request under the laws of the state, and then they are forced to respond by way of a lawsuit, the Board should resign. The court’s decision shows that they wasted time, money, and ran afoul of the law, specifically the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), which used to be called “Right To Know Law”, which governs the public’s access to government records in New Jersey. So, they were holding back on every citizens “right to know”. Time, money, and public records, is what they are there to provide oversight over, and be good stewards over. If they cannot do that for themselves, they cannot be expected to provide financial oversight and governance over a school system. It’s total irresponsibility of their roles as board members, and the board speaks with one voice, a resolution for the entire BOE to step down is in order.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ,Superior court judge orders Ridgewood BOE to produce certificates from board members, to certify the manner in which they access Board of Education emails:
On Friday, March 13th, Superior court judge, Bonnie Mizdol ordered the Ridgewood BOE to produce certificates from two members of board, within 7 days attesting to the manner in which they access Board of Education emails from any and all non-Board devices and/or non-Board email accounts. These certifications shall be detailed and specific, including but not limited to::
