Ridgewood schools - Page 31 of 315

Posted on January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

Mandatory School Psychological Surveys of your children, Reader says , “Before you know it, your boy or girl is on 3 meds before even stepping a foot in college!”

Nice, now every pissed off teen (is there any other kind?) will be able to disclose their frustrations to a computer system. To be carefully cataloged and stored, forever.

Next, school councilors who don’t want to be accused of missing warning signs would recommend visiting a shrink or a candy man to discuss treatment.

Before you know it, your boy or girl is on 3 meds before even stepping a foot in college! Everyone making $. The schools get more Budget, the shrinks and Pharma sell candy, the politicians get more support from school unions and drug manufacturers.

Everyone except your child that is. The teen is a nervous wreck for life.

Posted on January 20, 2020January 19, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

Reader says ,”I want to vote on the budget”

“I want to vote on the budget. It has a huge impact on my life. The grand plans for the library and high school are proof that we need fiscal oversight. It is my money.

I lived in Ridgewood before and after having children in the schools. I have downsized but I regret staying. The village has become nothing but a wish list for developers and short term residents.

Young buyers cannot afford and do not want big houses. Homes over $1 million are not moving. After renovations by homeowners many of these homes are still selling for less that what they were bought for 15-20 years ago. Realtors (who make a good living off us) should be honest about this. They will list a home and then push for never ending price cuts. They get paid either way.

Many high end homeowners have had reevaluations to lower their taxes. When the village has it’s next town-wide tax reevaluation we will all pay for the decline in high-end home values. The village expense pie will be divided and the under $1 million taxes will go up. It’s not “just the cost of a Starbucks every day”.”

Posted on January 18, 2020January 17, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says ,”One Village One Vote would take away our ability/right to vote on the school budget”

“The Blog has stated the facts. One Village One Vote would take away our ability/right to vote on the school budget which I believe represents almost 2/3 of our overall budget:Municipal and Board of Education combined. Many of the people in this group promoted the original plan for the giant garage that would have extended its’ footprint into Hudson Street, taken parking off the streets and dwarfed Mount Carmel for starters.. They supported the large Valley expansion plans. If you have any doubts about what that would have done to the community, take a ride over to Winters Avenue and see what the construction site looks like. They also pushed for the high density housing ordinances which have negatively impacted the entire town especially the CBD possibly for years to come. They were supporters of Paul, Albert, Gwenn and VM Roberta. These were bad years for the town politically . They voted in bloc and disregarded public input.”

Posted on January 16, 2020January 15, 2020 by James — 9 Comments

One Village One Vote Promotes Taking School Budget Vote Away from Taxpayers

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photo reposed from Facebook Group Ridgewood Moms and Dads With Free Speech

the staff of the Ridgewood

Ridgewood NJ, “One Village One Vote” has been promoting taking the right to vote on the school budget away from tax payers . This group helped destroy the Village by supporting high density housing, Valley expansion, the original five story garage that would have encroached into the street, attacking Our Lady of Mount Carmel and calling the deputy Mayor a Nazi in flyers during the last election.

Continue reading One Village One Vote Promotes Taking School Budget Vote Away from Taxpayers

Posted on January 13, 2020January 13, 2020 by James — 10 Comments

The Ridgewood blog would like to challenge our readers and all residents to read as many books as possible for 2020, Lets build a smarter Village!

file photo by ArtChick

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, There’s no secret to how to get smarter. You read a lot it’s that simple .There’s a whole host of people who have excelled , from Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to Richard Branson and Barack Obama, who will tell you the same thing. In the old days it was often said you can tell the second you enter a room if anyone there has ever read a book before.

Continue reading The Ridgewood blog would like to challenge our readers and all residents to read as many books as possible for 2020, Lets build a smarter Village!

Posted on January 13, 2020June 27, 2021 by James — 6 Comments

Public Comments at Ridgewood BOE meeting from Jan 6th, regarding the Huge Proposed $95 Million bond Referendum

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Form the Facebook group “Ridgewood Moms and Dads with Free Speech” Saurabh Dani commented asking readers to take a look at .” Pete and Susan’s comment in this video are REALLY important.” Its nice to see more taxpayers starting to recognize the fiscal mess the State of New Jersey is in and the enormous pension deficit, particularly with the teachers pension.

Continue reading Public Comments at Ridgewood BOE meeting from Jan 6th, regarding the Huge Proposed $95 Million bond Referendum

Posted on January 10, 2020January 9, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Generating efficiencies and cost-savings through public-private partnerships for New Jersey

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

TRENTON NJ, A measure (A4535) permitting public-private partnerships for energy-related projects cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee today creating an opportunity for more savings and freeing up public funds say sponsors Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce.

Continue reading Generating efficiencies and cost-savings through public-private partnerships for New Jersey

Posted on January 6, 2020 by James — 8 Comments

The Ridgewood Board of Education meets Tonight 7:30

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood Nj, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold its next Regular Public Meeting on Monday, January 6, 2020. The Board meets at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3 at 7:30 p.m.

The public is welcome to attend the meeting or to watch from home on Fios channel 33 or Optimum channel 77. Meetings are also streamed via the “BOE Webcast” tab on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.

Meeting webcasts are immediately available on the district website.

Click here to view the agenda in PDF format.

Posted on January 3, 2020January 2, 2020 by James — Leave a comment

Interested in Running for the Ridgewood School Board, Nomination Filing Deadline will be around end of January / first week of February

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, There will be a school board election in April 2020. THREE seats are up for election.

TWO seats for a three year term and
ONE seat for a one year term.

If you are interested to run for the school board, nomination filing deadline will be around end of Jan / first week of Feb.

Continue reading Interested in Running for the Ridgewood School Board, Nomination Filing Deadline will be around end of January / first week of February

Posted on January 3, 2020January 2, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.,Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools : Our Pledge for Tomorrow

Over the course of my tenure in the Ridgewood Public Schools, school safety has been the focus of several of my columns and numerous letters to parents. In recent years, I have outlined why we conduct school security drills, what measures we have taken to increase school security, and how our police practice “live” fire drills within our schools when students are not present. My thoughts returned to this critical issue after witnessing the powerful performance of “26 Pebbles” presented by the Ridgewood High School New Players this December. The one-act play tells the tragic story of the mass murder at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, in which a young man with mental health issues senselessly took the lives of 20 children and six educators before killing himself. The students’ portrayal of issues surrounding this horrific event was incredible and brought to light the underlying fears they silently carry every day. During the same week that we presented “26 Pebbles” and recognized the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, the media was flooded with news about another unfathomable shooting in Jersey City.

Continue reading Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D.,Superintendent of the Ridgewood Public Schools : Our Pledge for Tomorrow

Posted on December 18, 2019December 17, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Reader says ,”The library and High School are grabbing for the brass ring”

“The library and High School are grabbing for the brass ring. They have big ideas and big money wish lists. Why does the library “need” this “Reimagine” project? Why does the high school “need” a 1,000 seat Performing Art Center? I know that the developers are selling the downtown as a city with all the amenities.

Posted on December 10, 2019December 9, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Reader says , “Living near a school requires a person to put up with a number of things”

“If I lived on the neighboring streets, I would be gathering neighbors together to fight this asap. Living near a school requires a person to put up with a number of things, things that you understand before you purchase the home. I am sure none of these people signed up for living within a few hundred feet from a performing arts center. We all know that to keep it running, it will have to be constantly rented out. The traffic through the neighborhood is bad during normal school times and if I lived near there I would not want to add any additional congestion. I hope that people band together to stop this craziness. “

Posted on December 10, 2019December 9, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Reader says ,”people who oppose the PAC aren’t realizing is the massive need for this space”

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“As a former student of the music program, what people who oppose the PAC aren’t realizing is the massive need for this space. There is currently no quality performance space in Ridgewood High School that could support a full Band, Orchestra or Choir concert. Instead they use the campus center (a converted cafeteria) in the winter and West Side Pres. church in the spring. There is also currently limited rehearsal space which this plan would address. While this project requires a lot of money, this is a critical plan for the RHS music program to continue its level of success as well as staying competitive with other high schools, most of whom have a performing arts center exactly like the one proposed.. “

Posted on December 9, 2019December 8, 2019 by James — 9 Comments

Ridgewood Schools Facilities Plan: It’s one man’s ego and the board that is too meek

by Steve Kim

Ridgewood NJ, In 2018, Ridgewood School made a facilities presentation in which the Performing Arts Center concept was added in at the end. Then the location, scale and cost estimates were different. That’s the first diagram.

At the facilities presentation last month, another plan emerged (surprise!). That’s the second diagram. Different locations, and it takes up a big part of the parking lot, and of course, costs more. $30 million is the estimate.

by Steve Kim

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