The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The next Regular Public Meeting of the Ridgewood Board of Education will be held on Monday, May 6, 2019 at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Floor 3 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be aired live on television, FiOS channel 33 and Optimum channel 77, and streamed via the “Link in Live” tab on the district website at www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us. Meeting webcasts are generally posted immediately to the district website.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, last night the Ridgewood Board of Education voted tonight 5 to 0 to replace the artificial turf at RHS with the same rubber based turf that was installed in 2011 by the same company, Field Turf USA.
There was a small discussion in which Dr. Fishbein never mentioned that the field is in an active flood plain and because of that factor needs to be replaced earlier than anticipated by the promotional material. There was no mention of the recent Maple Field installation using “geofill” and no mention that because the field abuts a brook, the crumb rubber infill ends up in the brooks and streams .
Continue reading Board of Education Decides Turf is “Settled Science” Votes 5-0 to Re-turf flood Plain at Ridgewood High School
“This year, the election occurred during school vacation, in spite of efforts for mail in ballots, you cannot expect high turnout.
We need to vote on school budget; much more transparency, more hearings, more public scrutiny.and more important, we need to vote on candidates. Ever since the vote was moved from April to Nov years ago, not one contested election. Is that voter participation? Lets see how it goes next year, when there will be an actual choice of members of the Bd of Ed.
the staff of the Riddgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, according to voter turn out data the average April turnout for Board of Education Elections is actually higher since 2007 than November . Average April turnout is 21% and November is 16%.
This disproves the Board of Ed assertions to the contrary . A reader commented ,” The figures do not support a higher turn out in November. Over the last several years of compiling figures it shows the reverse. In 2016 when it was a presidential election, the numbers were up but not significantly so. Down ballot voting is almost always .lower. The issue for many is that when the Board of Education elections were moved to November, we lost the ability to vote on the budget. When that happens, it is harder to advocate for budgetary items you are for or against. There are fewer presentations and fewer people holding seats choose to listen. We also have seen many uncontested candidates elections. Incumbents keep their seats with little to no challenge. “
Also of interest is that studies made before the move in 2013 concluded that there would be a lack of interest which could result in uncontested BOE Candidate elections . This proved to be true.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood Nj, just days after the Ridgewood Board Ed $111 million dollar budget vote a group of Ridgewood residents lead by Councilmen jeff Voigt is already trying to take the ability to vote on the budget away from residents .
In Voigt’s letter to the Ridgewood News he spells out the case for not voting .
The irony is he claims the $50 thousand or so is lot of money to spend on voting for an $111 million dollar budget ,which accounts for over 60% of property taxes Village of Ridgewood and of coarse there is no mentionn of the self serving law suit filed by Board of Ed members paid for with tax payer money looking to prolong their terms . Our suggestion would be the BOE members should pay back the money spent on the law suit .We are sure it will cover the budget vote .
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The countdown to the School Election is underway! Next Tuesday, April 16, Ridgewood voters will cast their ballots on next year’s school budget. Schools will be closed for Spring Recess but the polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
This the school board that puts their own interests above that of the students or the taxpayers , using taxpayer money to circumvent the community by extending their terms till 2020 .
Continue reading Ridgewood School Board Faces “No Confidence” Vote Over $111 Million Budget
The staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, Community survey closes on Monday, April 8! Strategic Planning Initiative 2019-2024 .The Ridgewood Public Schools is embarking upon a strategic planning initiative to examine its strengths, challenges and opportunities. A community survey has been created that can be accessed through the home page of the district website. The survey deadline is Monday, April 8. Go to www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
the staff of the Ridgewood Blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Board of Education announces the following winners for the 2018-2019 Teacher Recognition Program:
Educational Services Professional Karen Coates
Hawes School Joseph Staunton
Orchard School Maria Sullivan
Ridge School Jill Marmo
Somerville School Kathryn Droske
Travell School Dawn Fleming
Willard School Wesley Halter
Benjamin Franklin Middle School Lisa Sutera
George Washington Middle School Vanessa Kabash
Ridgewood High School Charles Appel
The Ridgewood Teacher Recognition Award Reception will be held at the Education Center on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 7 p.m. for the award recipients, their families, school parents, teachers, and friends. Each of the award recipients will receive a stipend of $500 ($250 awarded by the individual Home and School Association and $250 by the Board) for use in their classrooms next year.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education has approved an enormous $111.6 million budget on Monday.
The average village home is assessed at $702,225 would see an increase of $173.96 om their property taxes .
Continue reading Enormous $111 Million Ridgewood School Budget Will Result in $174 Tax Increase Per Home
the staff of the Ridgewoodblog
Ridgewood NJ, Approval: Resolution for Adoption of the 2019-2020 Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools The Ridgewood Board of Education, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, approves the following resolution: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ridgewood Board of Education approves the 2019-2020 school district budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools: Dr. Fishbein Budget Tax Levy General Fund $107,043,634 $96,014,943 Special Revenue Fund $ 1,467,567 $ 0 Debt Service Fund $ 3,138,550 $ 2,869,732 Total Budget $111,649,751 $98,884,675
The district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from the school district.
There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $96,014,943 for the ensuing School Year: (2019-2020). The General Fund includes $300,000 which is to be withdrawn from Emergency Reserve. CAPITAL RESERVE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE Included in budget line 620, Budgeted Withdrawal from Capital Reserve – Excess Cost & Other Capital Projects, is $1,300,000 for the following construction projects: • Renovation of Four Bathrooms at BFMS and GWMS • Replacement of Stadium Turf Field at RHS • Districtwide Parking Lot Paving • Repairs to the BFMS Track Pole Vault & Javelin Areas
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Board of Education will hold its next Regular Public Meeting on Monday, February 25, 2019. 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.
Preliminary Budget
agenda :
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, after filing a lawsuit that offered no tangible benefit to Ridgewood taxpayers or school children . The Judge ruled that the terms of a board of education member cannot be shortened, thereby extending the term of some increasingly unpopular Board of Education members .
Since the Village is currently stuck with these “trustees” for a longer duration , the next best thing would be to vote “NO” on the school budget as a “NO CONFIDENCE” vote against current board members.
If past precedence is any indication there is limited risk to the school system . Time for residents to put their “Resistance” to a better more productive use and none better than improving a child’s education . Resist the BOE and just say NO to the gigantic $111,000,000 budget.
Contact The BoardContact the Board
Ms. Jennie Smith Wilson, Board President
jswilson@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Mr. James Morgan, Vice President
jmorgan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Ms. Sheila Brogan
sbrogan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Mr. Cristopher Kaufman
ckaufman@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Ms. Christina Krauss
ckrauss@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Today February 15, 2019 in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Bergen County Law Division, The Honorable Robert C. Wilson, J.S.C, issued the following opinion in the Verified Complaint filed on January 18, 2019, by the Office of the Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools seeking clarification of Ridgewood Board of Education Member election dates:Judge Wilson ruled that the terms of a board of education member cannot be shortened.
Therefore, there will only be a budget election during April 2019 and not an election for seats on the Ridgewood Board of Education.
Based on this opinion, elections for seats on the Ridgewood Board of Education will be scheduled as follows:
The next board of education election will be in April 2020.
Those interested in running for a seat on the Ridgewood Board of Education in April 2020 and beyond are encouraged to check out candidate information available on the Ridgewood Public School website.
Contact The BoardContact the Board
Ms. Jennie Smith Wilson, Board President
jswilson@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Mr. James Morgan, Vice President
jmorgan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Ms. Sheila Brogan
sbrogan@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Mr. Cristopher Kaufman
ckaufman@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
Ms. Christina Krauss
ckrauss@ridgewood.k12.nj.us
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, reader says, “Chris Kaufman made a motion to withdraw the lawsuit. No one seconded his motion so there could not be a vote. I am so proud that I voted for this man.”
Cristopher Kaufman at the last Board of Ed meeting said : “I accept the consequences of [having the election in April 2019, thereby shortening the terms of existing members to 2.5 years] will have on my own term, but I feel it’s in the best interest of the Community that we have the Board of Education election with the budget vote this April.” Putting the Community first .
Disgraceful that the BOE Board members still do not want to take responsibility for the term extension law suit ?
Residents continue to question Board actions and get no response.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Stacey Ingraham Loscalzo is the most recent defender of the Board.
But nowhere in her many defensive Facebook posts does Ms. Loscalzo reveal that she is a member of the Executive Board of the Ridgewood High School Home and School Association, nor does she mention that she is a Facebook friend of BOE President, Jennie Smith Wilson and Sue Morgan (BOE Vice President Jim Morgan’s spouse) and Sally Morgan (BOE Vice President Jim Morgan’s daughter and business partner).
” I am writing so that the members who read here but do not participate can know that there are people who disagree with the prevailing views on this page.
Continue reading Ridgewood HSA Board Member Defends BOE Actions
