>Whilst lavishing fawning praise all over Dr. Porter, Sheila Brogan made the following statement: “New Jersey is hostile to education.” No Ms. Brogan, NJ is not hostile to education. We are, however, hostile to the haughty rich who think of nothing but themselves and ways to mitigate their own guilt when raising taxes to pay for a school system that is falling each year in quality. We are hostile to a set of administrators who lose $6,000,000,000.00 of tax money in a rat hole know as the School Construction Corporation. We are hostile to a group of administrators who push through dark fiber project which is both unnecessary and out dated. We are hostile to a board of education who squanders millions, then has the unmitigated gall to ask for $7 million more for a capital improvement project on two schools who’s declining population make the improvement unnecessary. People like you Ms. Brogan are making the town of Ridgewood inaccessible to the middle class through yearly increases in taxes. That smacks of bigotry and is something to which the people of NJ are truly hostile.
Whitefang….posted in the rrc forum
followed by…..
Anonymous said…
To Whitefang,
If your so unhappy with the Board of Education run for a position and change it. You will then, and only then, understand how the involvement of the State of NJ in local government is a hinderance and a joke. The state also passed bills that required planning and zoning board members to attend classes on duties and responsibilities. These members are not paid for their (free) service to the community or classroom time. Hey, why don’t you propose these members get paid for their time…then you would have a real reason to gripe!!If you think that the board has contempt for reasonable controls and it demonstrates it’s hostility to taxpayers and their wishes… change it by getting elected. I will even help with your election campain if you like!!Maybe I will be singing your praises when you give this board that well needed attitude adjustment you believe it needs. Until then your just a blogger and a complainer with no knowledge of what you speak about….ajfire@hotmail.com
followed by……
I have to say that I hope that was a slip of the tongue by Ms. Brogan who is normally on top of these things .With the insane levels of spending on public education it is hard for the average person to understand your statement especially given continued decline of quality of public education putting it in jeopardy of making no economic as well as intellectual sense to anyone.
pjblogger
and then ….
kittygirl said…
pj, sadly it was not a slip of the tongue as she said it at least three times during the televised meeting. ajfire, it is interesting that you want anyone to run before they complain. Didn’t Greg May run and was opposed strenously by the sitting board members? He would have been just the fresh level headed voice we needed. The board holds the taxpayer hostage by throwing up the “don’t you care about the kids” flag. I do care about kids. I don’t care about wasted money for pet projects that are politically motivated, How much of Porters package would have paid for security at both elementary schools?You serve without pay at YOUR CHOICE. You obviously get some satisfaction and gain or you wouldn’t do it, that is human nature. Secondly after watching that meeting you do not have the town’s best interest at heart. You are letting Porter get away with stealing from the town. He did not fulfill his contract. He is leaving before it is over, yet is getting all the benefits as if he completed the contract. Thirdly I am working so hard to pay the ridiculous amount of taxes I am saddled with that I don’t have time to run for office I am working to pay for each and every increase you pass. Whitefang is correct. The school board is running the middle class out of town. I am a professional and so is my husband, both college educated. We rent here because we cannot afford to buy here. We are both active in the community yet you dismiss us as “bloggers” and not important. Thanks, that makes me feel part of the process for sure. If you really want to help. Have school go all year so the working stiffs can have a safe place for their children to be while I am working, Or better yet have after school programs so that I can continue to work to pay for the school and not worry about my teenaged son for the hours I am not able to be at home since the taxes do not accomodate one income families.
9:57 AM
Greg May responds…
Thanks for the compliment Kittygirl.
When I ran in 2005, I did hear alot of complaints from folks that think the Board of Ed is hostile towards the public. Is this the reality or a perception by the public? If it is only a perception then what should the BOE do to change what some in the public think? After all, the Board is an elected representative of the public and should be serving in the public’s best interest. As far as the involvement of the State in local government, which way do we want it? No involvement from the State, but we want you give us more money or too much involvement from the State and not enough money for what they have mandated? How many times has the Board stood up and challenged the State and said if you mandate it you must fund it or we will not comply with it. I for one would back the Board in an action like this and if it went to court, wouldn’t mind my tax dollars being spent defending it.This past year there was a lot of talk about the aspect that we have lost home rule, why is that? How has the board fought for home rule? There are realities and perceptions. The public needs to get more involved. The Board of Ed also needs to work to change the public’s perception. People should not fear challenging the Board in a respectful way, just like the Board should show more openness to the different opinions of the public.
To Kittygirl, First,
I believe you are under the mistaken belief that I am a member of the Board of Education. I assure you, I am not an elected member of the School Board or involved in the school system in any way, other than being a taxpayer. Who better to run for an elected office than someone who says things are not running right? I think it was great that Greg May ran, unfortunately voters chose not to elect him. Who’s fault was that, the voters of course!!Regarding your comment about Greg Mays run being opposed strenuously by the sitting board members… The last time I checked the sitting board and their opinion is not how someone gets elected to the Board. The voters, all of about 15% to 20%, are the deciders of who is elected as a Board Member, and until enough voters go to the polls to say enough is enough we will continue with business as usual. I agree that education in any town, let alone Ridgewood, has gotten out of hand. But the only cure is for the public to use their power of vote to change that. I, like you, do care about our children’s education, the only question is at what price? My objection to this forum is the individual who complains about things, which they have every right to do, but doesn’t have the answer to fix the problem. It has been said that our current form of government isn’t perfect, which is true, but it is the best we have found so far…. don’t just complain about the government… offer solutions to the problems you are complaining about, that’s the real way to get things changed!!I really cannot comment on Dr. Porters leaving, because I don’t know enough about his contract or the terms of his leaving. For all I know you are 100% correct.
To Greg May,
I was happy to see you enter the race for the Board of Education, I hope you chose to run again. Regarding the State, I really can’t figure out how the State can know better than our local residents, parents or teaching professionals what is best for OUR schools and students. Worse than that can someone, anyone, tell me what productive roll the Federal Government should be playing in local education? The no child left behind act…unbelievable. Outside of basic guidelines the State should not be getting involved in local education issues. I believe you are right on point when you say the Board should stand up to the State on some issues. As for the money that we get from the State, if I remember correctly that money comes from each and every taxpayer in the form of sales tax, income tax and other taxes. They, the State, are “giving” us back our own money, minus of course processing costs. Isn’t it interesting that the Homestead Rebate Checks are sent out just before election time…coincidence? I don’t think so…..Greg, you said it when you stated “The Public needs to get more involved.” I have taken time out from my day to write to the Governor, State Senators and State Congressmen and yes even the President George Bush. Maybe I am wrong, but believe if more people voted and wrote to their elected officials maybe we could make things a bit better. ajfire@hotmail.com
AJFire
I think many people come to forums like this because they have a complaint that isnt’ being heard (the BOE is a perfect example of not listening, I know because I’ve tried). Many people don’t know the answer but want to share their fustration with others in the hopes that others might have an answer. Sitting silently and suffering is not an answer either. If you have a solution, now would be the time.And one more thing: If you don’t like forums like this why are you participating?
