Ridgewood schools - Page 45 of 315

Posted on January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 by James — 12 Comments

Fishbein: Dress for the Frigid Conditions

A letter from Dr. Fishbein: January 30, 2019
Note correction from earlier version: It’s actually 49 days til Spring!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Today I am writing to ask that your children dress extra warmly the next few days to withstand the expected frigid conditions that are being forecasted for our area.

Since so many of our children will be walking to and from school or waiting at bus stops, it is critically important that they be outfitted appropriately, with as little skin exposure as possible.

Please note also that while we presume our buses will be running on time, the frigid weather may cause unexpected travel delays.

I leave you with the pleasant thought that Spring is only 49 days away! In the meantime, please stay safe and warm.

Sincerely yours,

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D
Superintendent of Schools

Posted on January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Reader says , “This has been the standard operating model of Dr Fishbein and BOE. They bring in an expert for presentation, and post presentation declare everything is good”

“I supported and campaigned for Kaufman and I think we need to give him some time. He was trapped by the working method of BOE. This has been the standard operating model of Dr Fishbein and BOE. They bring in an expert for presentation, and post presentation declare everything is good.
They did exactly that on Monday. They went into a closed session – without a published agenda, breaking OPMA rules, they threatened all board members that the sky will fall if they voted to withdraw the motion, and then came out at public meeting and repeated their scripted presentation. This is their response for EVERY question raised to them. Presentation and then declare themselves GOOD/Winners.
Kaufman did not get enough time to process that information and to respond/put the motion. The BOE really need to adopt same format as the council. They need to discuss difficult topics at woerk session and then vote at the next meeting, so board members get enough time to think through those topics.
You can’t expect Kaufman to become fighters like Knudsen and Sedon on day 1. It probably took them some time too to understand the tricks being played by the majority.”

Posted on January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 by James — 5 Comments

Delayed Ridgewood School Opening – Thursday, January 31, 2019

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Due to the extreme cold temperatures and potentially icy roads and walkways expected tomorrow morning, all Ridgewood Schools will operate under the delayed opening schedule Thursday, January 31, 2019. Under the delayed opening schedule, the school day will begin two hours later than usual.

School bus schedules will operate two hours later. Elementary school children who have not ordered lunch must bring a bag lunch to school as there will not be sufficient time for children to go home for lunch when there is a delayed opening.

For students who walk to school, please dress warmly and allow extra time and caution while walking

Posted on January 30, 2019January 30, 2019 by James — 25 Comments

Kaufman Drops the Ball at Ridgewood BOE Meeting

file photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Mr. Kaufman appeared to drop the ball at Monday nights Ridgewood Board of Education meeting when failed to ask for a motion to drop the trustee term lawsuit.

Board observers say that a motion to dismiss the lawsuit would have put
BOE members on record supporting or opposing term extensions.

Posted on January 29, 2019January 29, 2019 by James — 5 Comments

Prospective Ridgewood Board of Education Candidate Information

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Board Election Information for candidate petitions are available at the office of the Board Secretary, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood, NJ between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Completed petitions must be submitted to the Board Secretary. The deadline for candidates to submit their nominating petitions is Monday, February 25th at 4:00 p.m.

You would need at least ten signatures and your signature may count as one of the ten.You must file your petition with my office by 4pm on February 25th.

Ten Things School Board Candidates Should Know

Posted on January 29, 2019January 30, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Reader says , “Well, ain’t that typical of entitled people. I want what I want and I am entitled to whatever I want “

Well, ain’t that typical of entitled people. I want what I want and I am entitled to whatever I want , even if I have to stop the rotation of the planet to get it.

Hey BOE how about a little humility. We have great laws in the USA , how about respecting them. If things don’t work out perfectly have a little perspective. I mean you ran once, you won, so run again if you have to, and see if you can win on your merits, on what the public thinks of your record so far. The proper way to look at the situation is for YOU to see it as an interesting challenge. I mean SHAME ON YOU. What kind of example are you setting for the children. Learning to accept disappointment is part of life. And this is no major disappointment. So your term is cut short, so what, it is not a death sentence. AND THAT IS HOW YOU ARE TREATING IT. What are you teaching the kids; ya know what, you are teaching the children that when they receive life’s inevitable disappointments and they don’t get their way, instead of sucking it up and moving on, maybe they should take drugs and pain killers to kill their emotional pain. You BOE people are despicable.

Posted on January 29, 2019January 28, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Reader says , ” RHS is full of hubris and we are sowing the results”

file photo courtesy of Boyd Loving

Because when principal declares pompously in front of a full house back to school night that he has visited many schools around he world by RHS is the best he has seen ……………..fill in the blanks. RHS is full of hubris and we are sowing the results. Our kids are not getting the education they deserve. There are teachers that do not teach but just throw stuff at students and we have to scramble to find tutors and pay and arm and a leg to get the kids what we already pay for through taxes. We need a complete overhaul of the BOE and especially RHS higher ups. This is the only way to get back to the great times. We need passionate and competent people who have a clear vision and strategy with the best interests for kids and their families in mind.

Posted on January 28, 2019January 28, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

Reader says , “maybe the kids don’t deserve the scholarships”

“Just a thought- maybe the kids don’t deserve the scholarships. Maybe, and I’m sure you’ll all prove me wrong with a plethora of angry comments about the lazy, greedy teachers but maybe just maybe the kids are not worthy of the awards you feel they are entitled to. I know in Ridgewood entitlement is a tough concept for many but maybe, on some outside shot the kids are not trying as hard or missing too much class time out of school on weeklong skitrips or maybe their parents are just pushing them through and overcompensating for all of their failures by placing blame on everyone but the actual kids. Just a thought, and I’m probably wrong – sorry to interrupt the blamefest -carry on with the venemous posts.”

Posted on January 28, 2019January 27, 2019 by James — 2 Comments

Reader says , “multiple board members need to go”

“Agreed, vote no. Fishbein, Gorman and multiple board members need to go. They can’t get jobs in other districts. And along with Brogan and Loncto, they’ve overseen the demise of our once great schools. Their current “product” includes a mere four national merit scholars and only 2.4% of graduates in the Ivy League. It’s not a “Tradition of Excellence.” More like a “Legacy of Incompetence.” But until the mommies stop buying the lie their realtor friends keep telling them, nothing will change. Unless we are willing to admit we don’t have great schools anymore, the $110 million hype fest will continue.”

Posted on January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

Ridgewood Public Schools Annual School Board and Budget Vote

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The 2019-2020 Ridgewood Public Schools budget will be voted on by registered voters in the Annual School Election on Tuesday, April 16.

The following links go directly to pages on the Bergen County website.

How to:

Register to vote
The registration deadline is 21 days before an election. The deadline for registering to vote in the Annual School Election (April 16) is Tuesday, March 26.

Vote by mail
A registered voter may apply for a Mail-in Ballot by mail up to seven days prior to the election, or apply in person until 3 p.m. on the day before the election. Mail-in Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day and received no later than 48 hours after polls close, or returned in person before the close of polls on Election Day. The deadline to apply by mail for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for the Annual School Election (April 16) is Tuesday, April 9. The deadline to apply in person at the County Clerk’s Office for a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for the Annual School Election is Monday, April 15 at 3 p.m.

FAQs on voting
Answers to general questions on registering to vote and voting

Please note: The office of the Bergen County Superintendent of Elections is the primary source for full information on voting and elections. Please consult the Bergen County website for more information at https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/about-superintendent-of-elections.

Posted on January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 by James — 2 Comments

NJSBA’s 2019 April Election Candidate Kit Now Available Online

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) has posted the 2019 April Election Candidate Kit online.

This year’s annual school election will be held on April 16, 2019. The deadline for candidates to submit their nominating petitions is at 4 p.m. on Feb. 25.

School board secretaries and residents interested in board member candidacy can download the free kit, which includes information on:

Posted on January 26, 2019January 26, 2019 by James — 10 Comments

Reader asks , “how could we only have 4, National Merritt Scholars”

Many of our teachers are excellent and among the best in the nation. They are truly trying their best to properly educate our students. Many others are like one of my daughter’s teachers who said, “I really don’t have to do anything but fill a chair until I retire. I HAVE TENURE!” Or another daughter who constantly cut class and was in danger of not graduating because she had not filled her Physical Education requirements. I said “summer school for the educational classes she cut.” They said, “Oh, no. She has health problems so we’re only double upping on her PE.” And this went on while we were still highly ranked! At that time, however, we had 12 or more National Merit Scholars and around 35 National Merit Awarded Students. And they ALL got tons of offers including Ivy and other highly ranked colleges. Even as bad as the schools have gotten, how could we only have 4? Nowadays Ridgewood parents tutor their kids for everything so are the tutors that bad as well? It’s really an unreal situation to be that badly thought of by colleges. And I personally know many of the current great teachers. What is happening to the schools?

Posted on January 26, 2019January 25, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Reader calls BOE Members , ” Power Hungry “

“If any of you who think the Superintendent’s is gospel, maybe you should read the entire law the Board is complaining about. It clearly states that is an election is moved back from November until April the members who would retire in April will have shortened terms. (When it was first moved to April, in case people don’t remember, the people who should have retired that November got the six more months to serve until April.) So now the same Board who gleefully accepted that six more months are crying that their terms need to be extended again. I hate to think that volunteers could become so power hungry that they can’t stand even the idea of taking away their spending privileges.”

Posted on January 24, 2019January 23, 2019 by James — 4 Comments

Reader Questions ” Tradition of Excellence”

“Tradition of Excellence” ?

OK, let’s look at the numbers, shall we…

Out of the 70 municipalities in Bergen County, we in Ridgewood pay the 37th highest property tax rates. This is to say that we pay *slightly less than* the average property tax rate. We certainly do *not* pay “high taxes” relative to some municipalities.

These guys pay the most (expressed per $1,000 of assessed value):

Bogota (Borough) 3.8
Ridgefield Park (Village) 3.723
Dumont (Borough) 3.525
Hackensack (City) 3.415

Posted on January 23, 2019January 23, 2019 by James — 3 Comments

Ridgewood Kindergarten Registration is Feb. 5, 7

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION FOR 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR

NEW STUDENT ONLINE ENROLLMENT STARTS JANUARY 18, 2019
Registration Completion at Elementary Schools
Tuesday, February 5th and Thursday, February 7th from 3:30 – 4:30 P.M.
for more information click here to see Dr. Fishbein’s letter

You must complete the New Student Online Registration process before you attend the scheduled registration dates.
On the scheduled registration dates, come prepared to present a birth certificate for your child, as well as proof of residency. Medical forms must be returned to the school office before June 1, 2019. See below for proof of residency and other required documents.
Age Requirement for Kindergarten Students – Children must be five years of age on or before October 1 for admission to kindergarten in September.

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