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>Numbers show Ridgewood’s extremely lean staffing.
https://lauriegood.blogspot.com/2010/05/numbers-show-ridgewoods-extremely-lean.html
Over the past few weeks, Governor Christie and the media have made a big deal about some recently-released data. It showed that statewide, over the past 10 years, enrollment in New Jersey schools has grown 3%, while staffing in NJ schools has grown 14%. The Governor and others used these statistics to back-up the claim that there has been a “hiring spree” in our schools and that today there is “plenty of room to cut.” I would totally agree on a statewide level.
However, the statistics in Ridgewood are very different:
2000-2010 Ridgewood: (from DOE reporting)
Enrollment Growth = 11%
Total Staff Growth = 6.9%
And if we project ahead to next year (2010-11) based on the cuts we are making, it will look like this:
2000-2011 Ridgewood: (from DOE reporting)
Enrollment Growth = 11%
Total Staff Growth = 0%
In other words, Ridgewood’s staffing-to-enrollment growth ratio is the complete opposite of the rest of the state. (See year-by-year comparison chart at the end of this post.)
Unlike many other districts, Ridgewood is educating many more students in a much more rigorous program with much more state-mandated curriculum – and with the same number of staff — as 10 years ago. This doesn’t look like “bloat” to me.
FYI, the number of administrators in the district has gone down 34% in the same 10-year period. Our highest number of administrators was 37 in 2004-2005 down to 27 currently in 2009-2010 and cut to 21 next year. We have not had so few administrators in decades.
Our district serves 5,700+ students every day. And we will accomplish this next year with 21 administrators. I have to be honest and say while I’m all for streamlining and working “lean,” I’m a bit concerned about the workloads and effectiveness of those 21 administrators. It is for this reason that I can’t support cutting any more administration at this time.
Of course, if the Governor’s proposed 2.5% budget cap becomes law, we’ll be cutting our budget more next year, and we may have to find ways to consolidate a few more administrators. But for now, for this year, I think we’ve cut enough.
https://lauriegood.blogspot.com/2010/05/numbers-show-ridgewoods-extremely-lean.html
>
the Ridgewood blog recieved so many of these coments they could not be ignored:
Hey here’s a little story from last year that will give you a clue about how Mr. Orsini handles a child’s repeated cries for help from him regarding another child who had been relentlessly bullying her at school (not on line).
He ignored her cries for help repeatedly, did nothing to help her at all, took no action, didn’t even approach the issue with the bully’s parents and did not discipline the bully in any way. Yet when this poor victim finally reached her breaking point, after making a more that noble effort to make peace with this bully, and fought back, she was suspended. THE VICTIM WAS SUSPENDED, NOT THE BULLY. Why? Because administrators like Orsini are trained to make problems go away, not solve them. Usually this happens at the expense of the victim.
If you think that Mr. Orsini spends more time with and knows more about your child than you do, then I feel nothing less than pity for your child because you are a PATHETIC parent.
It isn’t up to a school principal to know and raise your child. It’s up to you.
Sounds like nothing much has changed there since 2006. My son was bullied at BF and physically assualted. Mr. Orsini would not speak to me when I went to the school. He offered me no sympathy and took no responsibility, He sent Lorna Oates to talk to me. When I insisted upon talking to him, he would not come out of his office and never called me as requested. When I finally got him on the phone, he scolded me for questioning why he never imposed a suspension or otherwise upon the bully. He told me: “I make the rules, not the parents!” Didn’t this idiot realize that I could sue Ridgewood up one side and down the other?
He did not have an antibullying program at the time or did he call the police liason officer when the incident occurred. So, now he is the Crusader against Facebook? Spare me! He is lucky that he was not sued or fired for that serious screwup but the Bd of Ed always sweeps their mistakes under the rug.
The following year, my friend’s son was repeatedly bullied by another boy. His grades tanked and he was suffering great mental anguish. His parents finally took him out of the school to a private school when Tony completely ignored the problem. Again, after writing a letter to the Bd of Ed and meeting with the superintendent at the time, nothing was ever done except rewarding Orsini with tenure. What a wonderful school district!!
>NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED MASTER PLAN
AMENDMENT FOR THE H HOSPITAL ZONE
Take Notice that, in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et. seq., and the Village of Ridgewood Land Use Ordinance, the Village of Ridgewood Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 3, 2010 concerning a proposed amendment to the land use plan element of the Village of Ridgewood master plan. The proposed amendment would revise the plan policies for the H Hospital zone district. The hearing will commence at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the auditorium at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey.
Any interested party may appear on said hearing date and at subsequent hearings and participate therein, in accordance with the rules established by the Planning Board and as set forth on the record by its Chairman. It is anticipated that the majority of the hearing on May 3, 2010 will be comprised of testimony by the Board’s professionals. To that end, any interested party who wishes to testify or participate in the hearing but who is not reached at the May 3rd meeting will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to participate during subsequent hearing nights. Subsequent hearings are currently scheduled for May 4 in the Village Hall Court Room, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ, and May 17, 18, and 24 at the Benjamin Franklin Middle School Auditorium, 335 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ.
The proposed master plan amendment will be on file at least ten (10) days prior to the start of the May 3, 2010 hearing in accordance with law at the office of the Ridgewood Planning Board, 3rd Floor, Village Hall, 131 North Maple Avenue, Ridgewood, New Jersey and will be available for public inspection Monday-Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The amendment, together with a copy of this notice, will also be posted as a courtesy on the Village’s website at www.ridgewoodnj.net. A copy of the proposed amendment will also be served upon the Bergen County Planning Board and the clerks of adjacent municipalities in accordance with N.J.S.A.40:55D-13(2) and (3).
Barbara K. Carlton
Planning Board Secretary
>I am 17, and I do not want to put these tags on my license plate because Im scared to death of someone following me home one night because they know Im a teenager and incapable of defending myself yet. Therefore I find kyleighs law to be more dangerous then actually good if you think about it.
>
I grew up in Ridgewood and have seen many changes take place. I have heard people say that the water in Graydon is dirty. The water dept tests the water on a continuous basis and has been doing it for years. First off, is Graydon a pool or a pond? I believe it to be a pond or a small lake. A swimming pool is artificially built.
Graydon was a small pond the was willed to the Vets Field by Mr Graydon along with the Village Hall building and Vets Field. People want to cement it. Why? I have heard numerous reasons and none of them carry any credence. Graydon has been the way it is for 100 years and it should be kept that way for at least another 100 years. People from all around love Graydon for what it is not for what it could be.
Leave Graydon alone. Keep it as it should be. A natural pond feed by Aquifiers, not a artificial cement hole in the ground filled with chlorinated water. If people want Graydon to be cememnted, will they also want all the other swimming places in the area to cemented? One more item. I noticed almost everyone posting here has decided to use anonymous instead of using their name. Interesting to say the least.
Rolf H
>Paper and pencils can be used to draw inappropriate, hate filled, pictures messages and ideas – and you could poke someone’s eye out. They could even be used to lure your child into a dangerous situation. Should we (and could we if we tried?) cut off access to keep our children safe? No, because they are everywhere and too valuable in so many ways – so as parents and educators we monitor and teach ethical, appropriate, safe use.
Over 200,000 children are injured using playground equipment each year – some are killed. Should we (and could we if we tried?) cut access to playground equipment to keep our children safe? No, because they’re eventually going to find play equipment and playing is too valuable an experience – so as parents and educators we monitor and teach ethical, appropriate, safe use.
50,000 people die or are injured in swimming accidents each year. Should we (and could we if we tried?) cut access to swimming to keep our children safe? No, because pools and lakes and ponds are everywhere and it would be dangerous if they fell in and it is too valuable and healthy a skill – so as parents and educators we monitor and teach ethical, appropriate, safe use.
30,000 people are killed and thousands more injured in auto crashes each year. Should we (and could we if we tried?) cut access to cars and driving to keep our children safe? No, cars are everywhere and driving is too valuable – so as parents and educators we monitor and teach ethical, appropriate, safe use.
Phones are used for criminal activities, even luring kids away from home. Should we (and could we if we tried?) cut off access to phones to keep our children safe? No, phones are everywhere and they are too valuable – so as parents and educators we monitor and teach ethical, appropriate, safe use.
There are applications of technology that can expose your child to inappropriate, hate filled, pictures, messages and ideas. Technology and the internet are everywhere. Do we cut off access? (and could we if we tried?) Or are these applications too educationally valuable? – As parents and educators it would be better if we monitored and taught ethical, appropriate, safe use.
Otherwise who will teach them about these things and where will they learn about them? Just a thought.
>
>”Speak thee little, listen much”.
When it comes to my kids, it’s the tenet I live by.
Want to know what your kids are doing? Listen! They will tell you what’s going on in their lives. I must warn you though, if you’re prone to freaking out whenever they tell you something that you find “shocking”, they’ll be less inclined share in the future.
We taught our kids how to behave in other people’s homes, in public places,in the classroom, etc. Behaving online should be no different. It needs to be made clear that they are expected to behave just as respectfully online as they would in the real World or lose the privilege.
Yes, they are still “children”, but children who are rapidly approaching young adulthood and struggling to achieve independence. You don’t want to be merely spectators in that process, but a guiding presence.
By the way, the quote is from the “Wiccan Rede”.
Tracy ~ The UnOfficial Witch of Ridgewood
>
>N.J. Supreme Court will hear arguments on Menendez recall
The often unpredictable New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to hear from Tea Party lawyers who want to recall U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez. The Tea Party originally filed a recall notice last year, but then-Secretary of State Nina Mitchell Wells declined to act on it after being advised that there is no recall mechanism for senators and congressmen. In March, a state appellate court ruled that Menendez might face a recall, but stayed any effort to collect signatures until after an appeal. (Editor, PolitickerNJ)
https://www.politickernj.com/editor/38712/nj-supreme-court-will-hear-arguments-menendez-recall
>
Here’s Why…
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Access America, The Travel Center’s preferred insurance provider, has a variety of insurance plans to suit most any traveler’s needs. Many of the plans include benefits like:
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You might not realize:
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*Airline revision fees are so high; many times, the cost of insurance may be less than paying a change fee.
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Need help deciding what’s right for you? Contact The Travel Center / American Express and speak with a Travel Counselor:
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>Well here is my opinion:
1st: BF is the only school without “Teen Angels” which is a group against cyberbulling – the main reason for the voluntarily ban. In GW we have a elective course about cyber bulling awareness and we go around schools (We can only do Orchard, Willard and Ridge for obvious reasons) teaching kids about what to do if you are cyber bullied. BF was going to start this program in their school but decided against it (last year I believe). If they were to just add a Teen Angel course then the whole issue would be solved.
2nd: You can’t get rid of facebook. Parents can close their kids accounts but they will just make a new one under a new name.
3rd: Student/Parent accountability: The principal of BF said that kids were posting updates at 3:30 in the morning on school nights. While I did mention “school” in that sentence the school has no authority when it comes to what happens in a pupils home. Parents should be the ones at fault for letting their kids say up that late. Simply add “Parental Controls” to your computer and problem solved.
In all: If BF were to have create a “Teen Angel” school then I guarantee that their would be less cyber bullying and if they had gone through with their plan to create it in the first place then this would have never happned.
Teen Angel Site: https://www.teenangels.org/
Peter Coti
George Washington Middle School Student
>MacMurphy’s Restaurant in Wlisey Square announces
our outdoor cafe is opening this week-end due to
the beautiful weather anticipated.
Join us for lunch or dinner for our usual regular menu
fare or sample our all day specials.
Dine w/ family and friends in the outdoor cafe and
don’t forget to ask what’s cold and on tap.
( Sounds like a blender drink week-end!! )
10 t.v.’s indoors if you want to watch sports.
Kentucky Derby will be featured on the big screen
on Saturday.
As life long residents of Ridgewood, stop in and say hello
to us and support local business.
Eileen & Scott Smith
MacMurphy’s
8 Godwin Ave.
201-444-0500
>Mayor’s new job costs town a meeting
Saturday, December 5, 2009
BY EVONNE COUTROS
The Record
https://www.northjersey.com/news/78581642.html
UPPER SADDLE RIVER — Mayor Kenneth Gabbert is shortchanging residents by reducing the number of monthly council meetings from two to one, and it happens to coincide with his being hired last month as Ridgewood village manager, says one councilman.
Wearing two hats is fine, but not when residents in Upper Saddle River will lose one council meeting a month, said Upper Saddle River Councilman Dennis Schubert.
“He has taken a very good job in Ridgewood, but it shouldn’t be to the detriment of Upper Saddle River,” Schubert said. “Since he took this job in Ridgewood, he has a meeting there on the second Wednesday and chosen to go to that instead of the meeting in Upper Saddle River. He has a conflict of meetings.”
Gabbert, who began his $165,000 a year job in Ridgewood on Nov. 2, says that’s not the case.
“Upper Saddle River handles Upper Saddle River’s schedule,” Gabbert said. “The council members in Upper Saddle River select the schedule that the council meetings are held. The mayor would only even vote if there’s a tie.”
Holding fewer meetings wasn’t an issue through 2009, Gabbert said.
“We’ve really kind of done it by default anyway — probably seven or eight of the meetings in 2009,” he said.
Meetings in Upper Saddle River are held the first Thursday and the second Wednesday of the month.
A reduction to one meeting will be a “month to month” evaluation, said Borough Administrator Ted Preusch. When the council meets on its regular Thursday, it begins two hours earlier to complete the work in one night rather than two.
“Based upon current issues, we can do two hours early on one night,” Preusch said. “I wouldn’t think you would be shortchanging the public because they have the opportunity to come to any meeting and the meeting that they normally do come to is the regular meeting of the mayor and council.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/78581642.html
