>The Ridgewood Blog reported a fact and the flacks come out in full force trying to discredit it. Why? A fact is a fact. It is relevant because we just bought an expensive new elementary math program that requires teacher training to implement. The fact that teachers, after graduating from teaching colleges need to be trained to teach elementary math is a travesty.
Our system of education is broken and no amount of money or new programs is going to fix it. What is needed is a complete overhaul of the system, from top to bottom. Unfortunately, there are too many special interests involved who are feeding at the public trough. Education is no longer about what is best for the children, it is about what is best for the parasitic special interest groups and the cottage industries spawned by them.
In the Second Gubernatorial Debate, candidate Chris Christie said he would create a “red-tape review group” to help him “see what kind of mess Jon Corzine left us with.” Then, in answer to a subsequent question, Christie commented, “I went to law school because I’m bad at math and science, so 1 to 10 is a little difficult for me.”
Following is a list of 10 problems that Mayor Steve Lonegan already knows the people of New Jersey are confronting:
1) The New Jersey economy has been decimated by the Christie-supported progressive income tax.
2) New Jersey is losing high-paying jobs to neighboring states.
3) Small business owners are saddled with onerous taxes and regulations.
4) Taxpayer dollars are diverted to fund abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.
5) On the advice of a Christie advisor, the state’s pension system is now nearly bankrupt.
6) A bloated state government inhibits citizens from rising to their best possible potential.
7) Suburban taxpayers are forced to fund their own school districts as well as others.
8) Law-abiding citizens in New Jersey are deprived of their Second Amendment Rights.
9) Home rule has been effectively obliterated by un-elected bureaucrats in Trenton.
10) An unaccountable State Supreme Court has become the most powerful branch of government.
>***** PJ PLEASE POST THIS AS A NEW THREAD **** VER… ***** PJ PLEASE POST THIS AS A NEW THREAD **** VERY IMPORTANT – BEFORE BOE MEETING TONIGHT ****============================== ==============================
IS THE BOE WAIVING A PUBLIC INPUT BYLAW IN ORDER TO GO AGAINST PARENTS WISHES AND ATTEMPT TO AVIOD A LAWSUIT???TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOE Agenda for May 18, 2009.
Ridgewood BOE Agenda – May 18, 2009 Or cut and paste the following link: https://schoolsite.capturepoint.com/assets/resources/post%205-18-09%20rpm2.pdf
LOOK At Agenda Item “Vi. CONSENT ITEMS” Look at consent Item “B. ADMINISTRATION i. Approval: Waiver of Policy #6141”
It says:
i. Approval: Waiver of Policy #6141 Approval to waive Policy #6141, as listed on Attachment B, in accordance with Policy #9314, as listed on Attachment C. So what IS Policy #6141 and What IS Policy #9314?
Policy #6141 is a bylaw that states: He/she (the Chief School Administrator) shall establish procedures for curriculum development which ensure the effective participation of teaching staff members; pupils, as appropriate to their age and grade; parents/guardians; the community; members of the Board; and the use of all available resources.Policy #9314 basically is the right of the Board to waive bylaws
SO… WHY is the Board WAIVING THE BYLAW THAT REQUIRES PARTICIPATION BY TEACHERS PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ????PERHAPS BECA– USE THE BOARD IS AFRAID OF BEING SUED SINCE THEY ARE RAMMING IN A MATH PROGRAM THAT THE PARENTS DONT WANT?
Perhaps because of posts like this one on the Ridgewood Blog:
District boards of education shall encourage the active involvement of representatives from the community, business, industry, labor…Or Cut and Paste: https://theridgewoodblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/district-boards-of-education-shall.html
OR Perhaps because of posts like this on Laurie Goodmans Blog? Anonymous said… Laurie,I’m glad you’re reading about the role of board members. Please explain why you would violate our Ridgewood BOE Bylaw # 6141 which says the following, verbatim:”…New programs and courses of study should not be acted upon by the Board until the meeting following their presentation, in order for Board members to have an opportunity to review the proposed program.”Why are you planning to participate in a vote of a program at the same meeting during which it is presented?If you care so much about doing what is right, then explain why you would do this when it is so wrong. And Why Laurie, is the BOE WAIVING #6141 when you state this on your blog? For those who may have heard that the Board is somehow “breaking the law” in the process to be followed in approving the textbook…don’t believe it. Here’s the thing: Those who are claiming “foul” are mistakenly using the wrong section of Board policy. Policy 6141 states that the superintendent shall “establish procedures for curriculum development which ensure the effective participation of… parents/guardians and the community…” etc etc. This policy pertains to curriculum, NOT textbooks. We’ve had this discussion before, as you may recall: curriculum is what the students will learn… textbooks are how it will be taught. We’re not voting on a new curriculum — the curriculum is elementary math and we already teach elementary math. The curriculum that we follow is not changing. Just the textbook is changing. (An example of a new curriculum would be the RAHP program…or the new SAIL (special ed) program at the high school.)Something stinks in the Ridgewood BOE.
IF THIS IS NOT THE REASON… Then can someone please tell my WHY the Board is WAIVING #6141 ??? ************ MORE DETAILS ************ GO TO BOE Agenda for May 18, 2009. https://schoolsite.capturepoint.com/assets/resources/post%205-18-09%20rpm2.pdf
Go to Attachment B (Policy #6141) in the Agenda:
HERE IS ATTACHMENT B: ====================================================== MAY 18, 2009 ATTACHMENT B
6141
Instruction Curriculum Design/Development
The Chief School Administrator shall be responsible to the Board of Education for the development of curriculum to meet identified pupil needs. He/she shall establish procedures for curriculum development which ensure the effective participation of teaching staff members; pupils, as appropriate to their age and grade; parents/guardians; the community; members of the Board; and the use of all available resources. Care shall be taken that certified staff shall not be assigned to teach material outside the limits of their certification and endorsements. The Chief School Administrator shall report to the Board the objectives, evaluative criteria and costs of each proposed program before seeking Board adoption. New programs and courses of study should not be acted upon by the Board until the meeting following their presentation, in order for Board members to have an opportunity to review the proposed program.Legal References: N.J.A.C. 6:8-4.5 Curriculum and instruction N.J.A.C. 6:8-4.8 Teaching staff and professional development Old Bridge Education Association v. Board of Education of the Township of Old Bridge, Middlesex County Manual for the Evaluation of Local School Districts (June 1993) Adopted:
Ridgewood Board of Education
Regular Public Meeting
January 27, 2003 ======================================================
HERE IS ATTACHMENT C: (Basically it is just the right to waive Bylaws)
MAY 18, 2009 ATTACHMENT C
9314
Bylaws of the Board Suspension of Policy or Bylaw
The Ridgewood Board of Education has developed a careful and deliberate process of formulating and adopting its policies and bylaws. Requests for suspension of any existing policy or bylaw should receive the same careful consideration. Therefore: 1. Any request for a waiver of policy or bylaw shall be considered in light of the policy or bylaw itself, rather than any particular circumstances of the moment. 2. The Board shall decide whether the policy or bylaw still reflects the considered intent of the policy or bylaw. If it does, the suspension will be denied, and the policy or bylaw reaffirmed in the minutes. 3. If the policy or bylaw does not reflect the intent of the Board, then the policy shall be waived by a majority vote of the full membership of the Board, and development of a revised policy or bylaw shall become the Board’s prime policy priority. In the event of an emergency requiring immediate action, the Superintendent shall have the power to waive policy or regulation in the single instance. In such cases, the Superintendent shall report the instance to the Board President immediately, and, where appropriate, to each Board member and will request reconsideration of the policy at the next regular meeting. Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:11-1 General mandatory powers and duties of the Board
N.J.S.A. 18A:17-20 Superintendent; powers and duties N.J.A.C. 6:3-1.12 Duties of the Superintendent Adopted: Ridgewood Board of Education Regular Public Meeting February 8, 1988 Reaffirmed: ====================================================== Publish Reject (
HORNER, Lois – from Assistant to the Business Administrator to Secretary to the Math and Science Supervisors, Ridgewood High School, effective July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
From: $111,646 (incl. Long.) To: $111,646 (incl. Long.)(off guide)
So the man about town was given a sneak peek at the new Blend and all I can say without giving away the store is its worth the wait. A hot shot designer ,new chefs and some local talent all look to make the new Blend the place to be so stay tuned looks like we could see an opening as soon as next week .
Sunday, May 17, 2009 Last updated: Sunday May 17, 2009, 10:04 AM BY LINDY WASHBURN NorthJersey.com STAFF WRITER
The New Jersey Health Department will conduct a public hearing within the next month concerning Hackensack University Medical Center’s proposal to reopen a community hospital in Westwood.
The state has determined Hackensack’s application to be complete, setting in motion a public review process that will lead to a decision by the state Commission of Health on the reopening of the former Pascack Valley Hospital.
Health Department officials notified the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and Hackensack executives on Friday that the application had been deemed complete.
“A public hearing regarding your application will be scheduled in your hospital’s service area within 30 days,” or by June 14, said the letter to a Hackensack vice president from John Calabria, director of licensure and certificate-of-need review for the Health Department.
The determination came in advance of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Rosemary Gambardella’s decision — scheduled to be announced Tuesday — about whether to approve the sale of Pascack Valley’s license to Hackensack for $800,000.
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center and The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, the two hospitals that oppose reopening the Westwood hospital, have fought to block the license sale. Valley offered to pay $2 million to purchase the license and terminate it.
Hackensack negotiated an agreement earlier this year with the trustees of the bankrupt hospital to buy the license. Donald Genaro, board chairman of the bankrupt hospital, certified to the court that the trustees had approved the sale.
“The Genaro certification, alone, is sufficient” to satisfy the application’s requirements, Calabria’s letter said.
“We are very pleased that the Certificate of Need application can now be considered for review,” said Robin A. Ratliff, Hackensack’s vice president for planning.
He noted that the settlement would not take effect until approved by the bankruptcy court.
“We’re disappointed that the Department of Health has deemed the application complete,” said Megan Fraser, a spokeswoman for Valley, “given that the Bankruptcy Court has not rendered its decision.
“We continue to fundamentally disagree with the need for a new hospital.”
Hackensack seeks state approval to open a 128-bed, full-service community hospital, to be known as Hackensack University Medical Center North at Pascack Valley. The hospital will be managed by Legacy Hospital Partners Inc., of Texas, a venture capital firm that has committed to invest $80 million, once the application receives final approval. The hospital will operate as a for-profit company, and pay taxes.
Pascack Valley closed in November 2007. The emergency department reopened last October for non-life-threatening emergencies.
>Nancy Schulz, Pearson Publishing and Regina Botsford. Yes, they are the winners of our choose a new math program contest. Did you even doubt for a minute that they had the winning ticket? Each will earn even more of your money and spend a year spreading the gospel according to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The losers? Our children who must now try to learn math under the computerized ministry of enVision Math. No cringing allowed as you next read the publisher’s own doctrine about the enVision program.
“Daily Problem-Based Interactive Learning followed by Visual Learning strategies deepen conceptual understanding by making meaningful connections for students and delivering strong, sequential visual/verbal connections through the Visual Learning Bridge in every lesson. Ongoing Diagnosis & Intervention and daily Data-Driven Differentiation ensure that enVision MATH gives every student the opportunity to succeed.”
You just can’t make this stuff up. They really wrote this! Sorry kids.
Just a reminder that the final WE series before the fall will be held on…
May 20th at 9:30am at the YWCA in Ridgewood.
Blogging is our topic.
Our speakers include…
Ridgewood’s own Alicia Simone! Check out her blog at https://aliciassnaps.blogspot.com/
Along with
Jen Singer… Check out her blog at https://www.mommasaid.net/ and her book at https://www.mommasaid.net/stop-second-guessing-yourself.aspx
and
Deb Smith… Check out her blog at https://www.jerseybites.com/
Please either RSVP to [email protected] and pay $12 at the door or pay $10 by mailing a check written to Stacey Loscalzo to 651 Wall Street, Ridgewood, NJ 07450.
>For Elaine Fernandez (5:43) – God Bless you for having the confidence to identify yourself.
Many who remain anonymous find the tone of the opposing group to be intimidating and threatening. 8:28am blogged that neighbors from surrounding areas attended the meeting to voice opposition to the deli: in fact individuals were solicited very selectively. As well, the opposition informed individuals in support of the deli that the May 12 meeting was closed and only those within 200 feet of the deli who received notification could attend. Further, some neighbors have been intimidated into supporting the opposition, or remaining silent, with the suggestion that their own variance requests would be collectively and vehemently opposed.
Once the racist signs were posted regarding the “bodega” many felt they too could become potential targets of such hatred. The use of the term BODEGA was to infer the presence of unwanted Hispanic’s in the neighborhood. It is shameful that a Ridgewood High School teacher would post such a racist sign on her front lawn. Anyone with a Hispanic heritage should be outraged! Anyone with Hispanic friends and family should be outraged! Anyone with a conscious should be outraged!
MANY support the deli and would be more than happy to have it back. Those complaining purchased their homes across the street from the deli and knew it was there when they bought. The deli should come back as soon as possible. Perhaps PJ would be good enough to post pictures of the bigoted signs that are littering this neighborhood, and then, while at it, post pictures of the current deli along with the deli owner’s proposed modifications. It is a huge improvement and will compliment the neighborhood.
if some one could send in a pic of the disputed “deli” send jpeg to [email protected]
The Fly has learned that NJDEP officials have thus far declined to issue a permit for the construction of new restroom facilities adjoining the Kasschau Memorial Shell in Vet’s Field.
Last October, Village Council members had promised that construction of the new restroom facility would be completed prior to the opening of baseball and softball seasons. Several live and healthy trees have already been removed to facilitate the construction project.
By horatio Wayne NJ – May 4, 2009 — Assemblyman Scott Rumana has mastered the obvious, but he has no ability to fix New Jersey’s economic problems, say Republican Assembly challengers Anthony Rottino and Joseph Caruso.
Rumana issued an inane press release last week citing a “think tank” that says New Jersey is in economic trouble and has to spend less and cut taxes. But Rumana, as usual, offers no solutions.
“I don’t need to cite a think tank to know what everyone in New Jersey already knows: that New Jersey is in economic trouble and we must cut taxes and spending,” says Caruso, a business executive.
“The question is what are our legislators doing about the state’s economic problem? And the answer is nothing. Anthony Rottino and I are running for office to fix the state’s economy not to state the obvious,” added Caruso, a Wayne resident, who leads a $30 million corporation.
Rottino, an entrepreneur, said Rumana’s press release and s shallow statements such as “you can’t tax yourself into prosperity” represent the trite and inept responses to the state’s financial crisis that we get too often from Trenton politicians.
“Scott Rumana never ran a business, never met a payroll, and doesn’t have to deal with business taxes and government regulations. He has no idea how bad the economy is and how people are suffering,” said Rottino.
” He also has no idea how to address the economic crisis except to cite some lame report.”
Caruso pointed out that Rumana sits on the education committee and is a self described “major player” in Trenton. “Yet, Mr. Rumana has not offered any substantial or realistic legislation to cut wasteful education spending. He has not offered public pension reform and has not said what he will do to lower taxes and improve the state economy. He has no idea how to handle economic issues except to whine about them.”
Rottino added that by supporting Gov. Corzine’s low income housing mandates, Rumana has made the state’s economy worse. “Maybe Scott needs to read the report that says taxing economic growth to build more houses for people who can’t afford them, drives business out of the state and raises taxes on homeowners.”
Caruso said he and Rottino support concrete initiatives to cut spending and help the economy, such as lowering pension costs by moving government employees into 401K plans and increasing employee contributions to pension and health benefits plans. They also vow to help kill the state’s affordable housing mandates.
Caruso also said he would move to repeal the Paid Family Leave Act and remove the tax it imposes on employees.
“The state’s economy is in the position it is now because Trenton politicians are only good at two things: offering worn out rhetoric and caving in to special interests,” said Caruso. “Anthony Rottino and I have real solutions that we will fight to implement and we don’t need a “think tank” report to tell us what to say.”
The following communities comprise District 40: Cedar Grove Township, Franklin Lakes Borough, Little Falls Township, Mahwah Township, Midland Park Borough, Oakland Borough, Ridgewood, Ringwood Borough, Verona Township, Wanaque Borough, Wayne Township, Wyckoff Township
>From tonight’s Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting Agenda:
“ROGER SCHNORRBUSCH – (Postponed from 4/28/09) To request a decision from the Board, as to whether or not there was an intent to abandon a non-conforming use, namely a delicatessen in an R-2 single family residence district. In the alternative, should the Board decide the prior use was abandoned, applicant requests a use variance to permit a delicatessen in an R-2 zone at 203 S. Van Dien Avenue, Block 4301 Lot 1 in an R-2 zone.”
The proposed deli is within easy walking distance of Ridgewood High School and is being aggressively opposed by residents near the location.
Mr. Schnorrbush is the proprietor of the Parkwood Deli in Midland Park, which is a favorite hang out of many Village of Ridgewood employees, most notably Police Chief John LiPuma.
