Ridgewood NJ, once again we are reminded why so many parents and residents passively and some would say blindly support the Ridgewood Board of Education. Despite the many missteps , declining rankings, fighting,bullying, drug dealing ,bigots and ballooning budget the BOE continues to hold on to significant support by Village residents .
The ugly reality once again is fear by residents of retribution by the BOE,school administrators , teachers and coaches on their childern and the implosion of property values tied to school performance .Not suprisingly recent criticism of the Boards move to use taxpayer money to launch a lawsuit to extend trustee terms with no tangible benefit to students and taxpayers has been primarily spearheaded residents who no longer have children in Ridgewood public schools or never had children in Ridgewood Schools.
Ridgewood NJ, on January 18th the Ridgewood blog reported that the Ridgewood Board of Education has launched a lawsuit by trustees with the sole purpose to extend their board terms . In Ridgewood Board Of Education Sues to Extend Board Member Terms ( https://theridgewoodblog.net/ridgewood-board-of-education-sues-to-extend-board-member-terms/ ) the Ridgewood blog reported , “that not wanting to face election in April and looking to extend their term they have launched a Ridgewood taxpayer financed lawsuit against the Bergen County and the New Jersey Commissioner of Education .” The Ridgewood blog has already questioned the Ridgewood School Board Legislation and Advocacy on many no reated issues to Ridgewood Schools.
Ridgewood NJ, it appears the Ridgewood Board of Education trustees love to cling to their power , not wanting to face election in April and looking to extend their term they have launched a Ridgewood taxpayer financed lawsuit against the Bergen County and the New Jersey Commissioner of Education .
Board of Education Public Meeting January 28 2019 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM Location Education Center, 49 Cottage Place
Ridgewood NJ, In a unanimous opinion, a three-judge panel of the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey struck down the New Jersey Department of Education’s (DOE) regulations designating the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) end-of-course exams as the requirement for obtaining a high school diploma.
The Court held that the current rules violated provisions of the Proficiency Standards and Assessments Act (Act). This statute, enacted by the Legislature in 1979 and amended in 1988, authorizes the DOE to administer a single, eleventh-grade test in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics to determine proficiency under state curriculum standards for graduation.
“Even before the regulations were enacted in 2016, we urged the Department of Education to withdraw these rules because they clearly violate state law. Today’s ruling vindicates our position,” said ELC Senior Attorney Jessica Levin. “We are ready to work with the Commissioner, the State Board of Education and the Legislature to respond to this ruling in a manner that complies with governing law and reflects sound education policy.”
Key elements of the Court’s ruling include:
The current rules violate the Act because they require PARCC ELA 10, administered in tenth grade, and Algebra I, which may be taken in any high school grade or earlier, instead of an eleventh-grade graduation test. The Court held that “to the extent the regulations required testing of non-eleventh-grade students, they are contrary to the Act and are invalid.”
Administering multiple end-of-course exams for graduation contravenes the Legislature’s intent that a single graduation test be administered to eleventh-grade students.
The regulations do not fulfill the Act’s mandate that students be provided retesting opportunities on the designated graduation test.
The Act requires the DOE to give students access to a non-standardized test as a graduation alternative. The Court ruled the Act “compels DOE to provide for alternative methods of assessing proficiency other than through PARCC testing or any other standardized testing process.”
“The court struck down a graduation testing regime that was unfair to students and their families,” said Jeanne LoCicero, ACLU-NJ Legal Director.” We look forward to working with the State on new regulations that will comply with the law and remove barriers that disproportionately burdened poor students and English language learners.”
The court made clear that while the DOE may decide what test to use, “the regulations violate the Act to the extent they specifically authorize multiple tests administered in grades other than the eleventh grade.” The Court stayed its judgment for 30 days to permit the DOE to seek further review by the New Jersey Supreme Court.
The lawsuit challenging the regulations was brought by the Latino Action Network, the Latino Coalition of New Jersey, the Paterson Education Fund, the NAACP New Jersey State Conference, and Education Law Center (ELC). The groups are represented by ELC and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ).
Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education Public Meeting will be tonight December 17, 2018 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place .
At all regular meetings, two opportunities are provided for citizens to make comments. The public comment periods will be scheduled after presentations. or just prior to the end of the meeting, whichever occurs first. The first opportunity may be limited by the presiding officer . in order for the Board to continue with its scheduled agenda. The second opportunity will occur at the discretion of the presiding officer taking into consideration a break point in the agenda.
Trenton NJ,Legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph Lagana which would require school districts and charter schools to adopt nepotism policies cleared the Senate Education Committee today.
“We must ensure that our school districts are hiring the most qualified people for the job, without allowing personal relations to taint their judgment,” said Senator Lagana (D-Bergen/Passaic). “All hirings should involve a competitive application process and end with the hiring of the best possible candidate.”
The bill, S-2637, would direct boards of education of school districts and county vocational school districts to adopt and implement a nepotism policy. The adoption of such a policy would be required to receive state aid. At minimum, the policy would have to include the provisions outlined in the bill.
The bill would also direct the board of trustees of a charter school to adopt and implement a nepotism policy, incorporating the provisions outlined in the bill.
The policy would apply to relatives of school board members, chief school administrators, school business administrators, school board attorneys and directors of personnel.
A school district or county vocational district could exclude per diem substitutes and student employees from its nepotism policy.
The bill was released from committee by a vote of 3-0, and next heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
Wayne NJ, Senator Kristin Corrado’s legislation requiring middle school students to be taught the legal, social, and emotional consequences of “sexting” has been signed into law by the governor.
The new law sponsored by Sen. Kristin Corrado requires middle school students to be taught the legal, social, and emotional consequences of “sexting.” Continue reading CONSEQUENCES OF “SEXTING” BILL SIGNED INTO LAW
RIDGEWOOD NJ , Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC, an exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, has welcomed Kathleen Lops to its Ridgewood, NJ office as a Realtor Associate. The addition of this former international sales and marketing expert is part of the agency’s ongoing growth and expansion throughout the region.
Kathleen brings more than 12 years of industry experience to Special Properties, along with a strong commitment to provide all clients with personalized real estate services. Prior to joining Special Properties, Kathleen practiced sales and marketing within the financial industry around the world, including Boston, New York City, and even Sydney, Australia. With both her corporate and real estate experience, along with her new affiliation with Special Properties, Kathleen is able to leverage the strength of Christie’s and Special Properties’ unparalleled marketing resources and superior customer service program to assist clients at all phases of the real estate process.
Kathleen is a passionate community volunteer. She is a member of the Board of the Social Services Association of Ridgewood and can often be found working closely with her children’s school on community outreach projects. She enjoys playing golf, walking her pet collie and cheering on her children during their Ridgewood High School lacrosse games. Kathleen also pays frequent visits to her hometown in Maine, where she relishes in her New England roots.
Kathleen is a graduate of Lafayette College with a degree in psychology, and has lived in Ridgewood for nearly two decades with her husband and children.
About Special Properties Real Estate Services
Special Properties Real Estate Services, LLC embraces the history and traditions of its flagship brokerage location in Saddle River, NJ, into an expanded, modern presence in Mahwah, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Hoboken and Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ. With a staff of accomplished real estate agents and brokers, its clients across northern New Jersey and southern New York are provided with customized, personalized services, backed by the luxury real estate brand of Christie’s International Real Estate. Special Properties provides local expertise with global connections. For more information, call 201-962-9552 or visit www.specialpropertiesres.com.
Ridgewood NJ, A beautiful garden always attracts attention and is a source of pride for the owners. However, to create it this way, it’s not enough just to plant “something”, cut this with a powerful electric lawn mower and wait until it becomes beautiful. You need to competently approach to planning your garden in Ridgewood, NJ.
Take Climate into Account
When deciding on the creation of the best garden, keep in mind that there is a moderate climate in Ridgewood, NJ. Moderate climate, fairly humid, with a mild summer, mild winters, long warm in spring and autumn, provides an opportunity for favorable growth and development of a huge number of plants. The garden of temperate climate is characterized by the use of deciduous broad-leaved trees and shrubs in combination with herbaceous flowering plants.
Trees and Flowers to Choose
The main accent in the compositions of such a garden is made on the diversity of color and structure of foliage, on the combination of various forms of trees, ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials. Such trees as maples, chestnuts, ash trees, mountain ash, hazel, barberry, hydrangea, varieties of spirea, buddleias, junipers, and from herbaceous perennials – hosts, ferns, polyanthus roses, primroses, dicentra, bells, astilbe will look good in your garden.
What to Avoid
When creating a garden in Ridgewood, NJ, avoid bright, contrasting combinations of yellow, red and blue. For the garden of a local climate, the prudish British restraint, the use of more tranquil, close-to-natural colors or a monochrome scale is more suitable.The main color of this garden should be green with all its shades. As you can see, very much of the traditional European plant set is quite suitable for the middle band. Although the selection of plants for winter hardiness should be more stringent and care – more thorough.
20180808 – Village Council Public Meeting
VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE COUNCIL REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING
AUGUST 8, 2018
8:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order – Mayor
2. Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act
3. Roll Call – Village Clerk
4. Flag Salute and Moment of Silence
5. Acceptance of Financial Reports
6. Approval of Minutes
7. Proclamations
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over 2018 Statewide Crackdown
Declare September Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Declare September National Preparedness Month
8. Comments from the Public (Not to exceed 3 minutes per person – 40 minutes in total)
9. Village Manager’s Report
10. Village Council Reports
11. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
12. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING – RIDGEWOOD WATER
NONE
13. RESOLUTIONS – RIDGEWOOD WATER
18- Award Partial Contract – Southside Reservoir Rehabilitation (NTE $450,000)
18- Amend Current Contract – Pipes, Appurtenances, and Service Materials (NTE $250,000)
18- Award Professional Services Contract – Passaic Valley Water Commission Pipeline Project ($149,175)
18- Award Professional Services Contract – W-4 Licensing Coverage for Ridgewood Water
14. ORDINANCES – INTRODUCTION
3662 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Meter Times at Train Station
3663 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking on Overbrook Road
3664 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Establish Multi-Space Kiosk in New Locations
3665 – Amend Capital Ordinance – Reappropriation of Funding for Stretcher for EMS
3666 – Capital Ordinance – One Hook Lift Body with Accessories (NTE $58,000) – Parks Department
3667 – Capital Ordinance – Reappropriation of Funds – Reconfiguration of Train Station Parking Lot ($330,000)
3668 – Establish Licensing of Sellers of Electronic Smoking Devices
3669 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Allow Displays in Central Business District
3670 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Permitted Encroachment of Stairs into Rear Yard
3671 – Amend Chapter 190 – Land Use and Development – Front Yard Setback in B-2 District
3672 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Bus Stops
15. ORDINANCES – PUBLIC HEARING
3653 – Amend Valet Parking Ordinance
3654 – Amend Chapter 105 – Animals – Establish Position of Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officer
3655 – Amend Chapter 244 Smoking
3656 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – No Left Turn – In to and Out of the Driveway at 121 Franklin Avenue (Starbucks)
3657 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – No Turn from North Maple Avenue into Exit Driveway of 305 East Ridgewood Avenue (Jersey Mike’s Subs)
3658 – Amend Ordinance – Enforcement for Dead/Dangerous Trees
3659 – Amend Outdoor Café Ordinance – Enforcement of Rules and Regulations
3660 – Amend Chapter 265 – Vehicles and Traffic – Parking Meter Times
3661 – Amend Chapter 145 – Fees – Parking Meter Fees
16. RESOLUTIONS
18- Title 59 Approval – Furnishing and Delivering Sodium Bisulfite Solution and Sodium Hypochlorite Solution
18- Award Contract – Furnishing and Delivering Sodium Bisulfite Solution and Sodium Hypochlorite Solution – Water Pollution Control Facility (NTE $49,040)
18- Title 59 Approval – Furnishing Laboratory Analysis Services – Water Pollution Control Facility and Graydon Pool Facility
18- Award Contract – Furnishing Laboratory Analysis Services – Water Pollution Control Facility and Graydon Pool Facility (NTE $15,773.15)
18- Award Contract Under State Contract – Portable Radios – Police Department 18- Award Contract Under State Contract – Two 2018 Chevrolet Tahoes (NTE $72,649) 18- Award Contract Under State Contract – Emergency Lights and Equipment for Police Tahoes (NTE $34,864)
18- Award Contract Under State Contract – Two UHF Mobile Radios for Police Tahoes
18- Award Contract Under Bergen County Contract – Western Star Chassis (NTE $109,051) 18- Award Contract Under Bergen County Contract – Toro Groundmaster Lawnmower (NTE $26,027.33) 18- Award Contract – HVAC Upgrades at Village Hall (NTE $251,400) 18- Approve Agreement, Authorize Execution of Contract, and Designate Redeveloper – Hudson Street Parking Garage (NTE $10,992,000)
18- Declare Property Surplus – Police Bulletproof Vests
18- Appoint Municipal Humane Law Enforcement Officers
18- Response to Resolutions from Township of Wyckoff and Borough of Midland Park Regarding Ridgewood Water
17. Comments from the Public (Not to Exceed 5 minutes per person)
18. Resolution to go into Closed Session
19. Closed Session
20. Adjournment
Ridgewood NJ, the National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood warning .Flash Flooding possible into this afternoon.
…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EDT TODAY…
The Flash Flood Watch continues for
* Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New York,including the following areas, in northeast New Jersey,
Eastern Bergen, Eastern Essex, Eastern Passaic, Eastern Union,Hudson, Western Bergen, Western Essex, Western Passaic, and
Western Union. In southeast New York, Bronx, Kings (Brooklyn),New York (Manhattan), Northern Queens, Northern Westchester,
Orange, Putnam, Richmond (Staten Island), Rockland, Southern Queens, and Southern Westchester.
* Until noon EDT today
* Showers and thunderstorms will become widespread early this morning, gradually moving east by this afternoon. Areas of
urban and poor drainage flooding are likely, with flash flooding possible.
* Flash flooding can be expected in locations that experience successive heavy rain showers and/or thunderstorms moving
through. Locations across the Lower Hudson Valley and northeast New Jersey that have already received substantial rain in the
last couple of days will be particularly vulnerable.
Ridgewood NJ, the list is out , the 2019 Niche Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users. Learn where our data comes from.
Ridgewood High School came in a very respectable #26 in a list filed with a majority of private schools .
#20 Tenafly High School
#26 Ridgewood High School
#36 Fair Lawn High School
Ridgewood School district came in an impressive #18 once again trailing Tenafly #8, Fairlawn #11 ,but besting Mahwah #24 , Northern Valley Regional #25, Ramsey #27 and Glen Rock #29.
Ridgewood NJ, According to a story in Philly.com, New Jersey is one of the leading exporters of college students. The website quotes the National Center for Education Statistics in that, in 2016, 31,561 high school graduates left New Jersey for college, while only a mere 4,299 came to New Jersey from other states.
That flight is the largest net loss of students in the country. The New Jersey Business and Industry Association points out that New Jersey taxpayers pay an average of $20,000 per student per year for K-12 education, and, when students leave for college they often don’t come back.
Philly.com pointed out several possible reasons for the exodus for this: the lack of a major city to attract young people, the cost of higher education in New Jersey (the fourth most expensive in the nation), and the availability of many colleges in neighboring states. The problem has caught the attention of legislators, too; the commissioned a study to identify why only 45% of New Jersey students stay in state for college.
Hackensack NJ, New Jersey is home to about 900,000 residents who are not United States citizens . That’ equals about 1 in 10 people in the state, according to most recent estimates. Census figures put Ridgewood’s non-citizen population at about 2,000, or approximately 8 percent of the village’s 25,500 residents.
The Ridgewood Public Library even hosts six-week program meets twice weekly for 90-minute classes. It uses the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services booklet “Learn About the United States, Quick Civic Lessons for the Naturalization Test.”
The federal government is planning to have the 2020 Census ask people their citizenship status. Many elected officials and community advocates say such a question could threaten federal funding for states like New Jersey.
The simple solution would be to create more US citizens in order to safe guard Federal Funds .
The next Census Day is set for April 1, 2020, and a 2017 release from the U.S. Census Bureau identified the date for wording of all Census questions to be submitted to Congress as March 31 of this year. So for those fighting for a question on citizenship status to be excluded, the clock has been ticking for months already.
To give you an idea of the magnitude of the issue the Ridgewood blog has listed the towns the have the largest concentration of Non-citizens in Bergen County .
Ridgewood NJ, To accommodate the lane closures necessary as part of the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) rehabilitation of the Route 495 Bridge over Routes 1&9 and Paterson Plank Road in North Bergen, several NJ TRANSIT local bus routes will require detours.
The Exclusive Bus Lane (XBL) will be maintained weekday mornings (6 a.m. – 10 a.m.) throughout the construction.
Beginning Friday night, August 10, the 31st Street ramp from Kennedy Boulevard to Route 495 westbound will be closed with traffic detoured onto Paterson Plank Road, directly affecting NJ TRANSIT’s local service on 18 bus routes requiring detours in the afternoon and at night. A week later, on Friday, August 17, one lane of Route 495 in each direction will be closed, limiting the roadway capacity and causing severe congestion. The construction requiring detours is anticipated to last approximately two and a half years.
· Buses will operate their regular routing westbound along 31st Street through Union City the entire span of the day.
· All current Union City bus stops on 31st Street will be served, including both Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard.
· Between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. on weekdays, all NJ TRANSIT Buses using the 31st Street ramp will follow regular routes and continue to have access to Route 495 westbound.
· All buses between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning will continue to use the 31st Street ramp but will be detoured onto Paterson Plank Road.
· Delays through Union City are anticipated due to increased traffic volume, and customers should plan accordingly for these delays.
Buses may encounter conditions that result in significant delays in the outbound direction during both the morning and evening peak periods.
AFFECTED BUS ROUTES
The following bus routes will be detoured between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily during construction:
No. 87 Jersey City-Hoboken
No. 107 South Orange-New York
No. 108 Newark-New York
No. 111 New York-IKEA-Jersey Gardens
No. 124 Secaucus-New York
No. 127S Ridgefield-Union City-New York
No. 129 Secaucus-Union City-New York
No. 144 Elmwood Park-Hackensack-New York
No. 160 Elmwood Park-Wallington-New York
No. 161 Paterson-Passaic-New York
No. 163 Ridgewood-New York
No. 167 Harrington Park-Teaneck-New York
No. 190X Paterson-Rutherford-New York
No. 190 (local) Paterson-Rutherford-New York
No. 191 Willowbrook-Montclair-New York
No. 192 Clifton-New York
No. 195 Willowbrook-Cedar Grove-New York
No. 199 Clifton-Lyndhurst-New York
The following bus routes do not require a detour, but are expected to be impacted by delays due to increased traffic congestion:
No. 83 Hackensack-Jersey City-Journal Square
No. 85 Mill Creek-Harmon Meadow-Hoboken
No. 127 (regular) Ridgefield-Union City-New York
No. 320 Mill Creek-North Bergen Park & Ride-New York (a detour will be necessary in later stages and information will be provided in advance)
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_riaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 165
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_inhaIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 166
Warning: Undefined array key "sfsi_mastodonIcon_order" in /home/eagle1522/public_html/theridgewoodblog.net/wp-content/plugins/ultimate-social-media-icons/libs/controllers/sfsi_frontpopUp.php on line 177
