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Accounting Issues With the “Infant Toddler Program” Need to be Addressed

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, close to $500,000 of tax dollars that had been earmarked for the K to 12 program subsidized an enterprise program (nonmandated). Another $250k of losses are projected for the coming year in that program. Moreover, there were accounting irregularities found that needed to be restated.

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Reader says, Students should always come first

RHS 2017

“Covid-19 is NOT a lethal virus, that is a fact. Lethal viruses do not spread, as they kill their victim, which stops the spread. People are not dying from covid19, they are dying from the one or more, known or unknown underlying diseases they have. It is a fact that children are not dying from covid19. It is okay for them to get the virus. They will not melt. If teachers are afraid to get the virus, for a valid or invalid reason, then they should be given these options:. Resign, retire early, take a leave of absence, go on unemployment or wear a hazmat suit. The teachers can easily be temporarily replaced by young, unemployed certified teacher, which are many, or college graduates. Why do so many teachers make everything about them, rather than about the children? The only reason teachers have their job is because of
the students. Students should always come first. Students need to be in school in person. Virtual school is not the same and is not what our taxes pay for. Lastly, how are young children supposed to do virtual learning at home, when both parents have to go out to work? Most parents are NOT teachers, who have the luxury of staying home just because they are in a strong union, that controls the politrickers. Many teachers are not living in the real world and need to be made to realize that the world does NOT revolve around them.”

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Reader Comments of Teacher Pay “…but they continue to whine”

Ridgewood Teachers

“Even if we agree that teachers work as much as the average worker, they are only working 10 months out of the year and those are 6 hour days, not 8 hour days.
And lets not talk about “teacher prep time” done before and after their 6 hour day, that is canceled out by the “overtime” done by the average worker before and after their 8 hour day.”

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Ridgewood Education Association Questions School Ventilation System and MERV filters

rhs 2020
the sttaff of the Ridgewood blog
Statement from the Ridgewood Education Association August 29, 2020:
The Board of Education is responsible for the health and safety of the staff and students of the Ridgewood Public School System. Teachers and secretaries have told the Board they do not believe their buildings are safe and yesterday many staff members submitted specific questions – not comments – to the Ridgewood Board of Education. These were specific health and safety questions that we have already asked our principals. Our principals don’t know the answers. We had hoped that the Board would have asked those questions on our behalf yesterday. Instead they chose to ignore them and not have them even read aloud. This public disregard for our concerns regarding the health and safety of staff and students gives us less confidence in our District’s reopen plan and has left us now with new questions for the Board. It is our hope that these questions will be addressed at their next meeting on Monday.

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Teacher says, “Don’t diminish teachers, they are the ones who are with your kids all day”

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photo credit https://writix.co.uk/

“As a teacher this is so discouraging to read. If you feel your tax money is going all to the school and the teachers are “ineffective” move elsewhere. My districts teachers have zero say in the decisions happening. It is sad you place blame on teachers being lazy when several go above and beyond to help children succeed and please parents. Remote learning in the spring was far from a vacation for me, it was difficult but I would rather do that than potentially get sick or infect a family member. Don’t diminish teachers, they are the ones who are with your kids all day.”

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Reader says, “Fact is there are some awesome teachers and great educators who can pivot under any circumstance, but unfortunately the fact is there is no shortage of those that can’t”

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“Fact is the Ridgewood’s school rankings have been on a downward slide for a while now, before COVID. Fact is when the schools closed last year, many kids slipped in their performance relative to benchmark because teachers weren’t able to get the kids to thrive in those circumstances (not the teachers fault per se, but some were notably disengaged). Fact is there are some awesome teachers and great educators who can pivot under any circumstance, but unfortunately the fact is there is no shortage of those that can’t. Fact is the rate of transmission in NJ, Bergen County, and specifically Ridgewood are all materially down since the peak, with only a miniscule number or new cases in the last month. Fact is parents aren’t paying taxes for full time teachers to teach part time. Fact is if all-remote implemented, there is a plethora of excess teachers/administrators that can be furloughed until school resumes normal operations, yet the fact is no such plan was ever contemplated.
Fact is the truth sometimes hurts when pointed…”

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Reader says ,”Some of my kids’ teachers were … obviously putting in a great deal of time and effort to make remote learning as good as possible. Others – crickets”

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“In my opinion CoVid has only exacerbated a dynamic that exists in any place of employment: Some people going above and beyond (whatever the motivation may be for their extra efforts), a lot of people meeting expectations and doing the job they are paid to do … and then the people I would describe as the Takers. No place of employment, public or private, is immune to this. Some of my kids’ teachers were very much present and obviously putting in a great deal of time and effort to make remote learning as good as possible. Others – crickets. Posting assignments, assigning kids to watch YouTube videos in lieu of teaching and just not interacting w/kids even remotely during the spring. In my (private company) – no different. Some decided to take advantage of WFH to not do all too much. I’m not speaking about people who had to care for sick family or step in to school their own kids. I hate to break it to people, but there are always Takers in society. The issue is if there is a tipping point, and productive people start to feel that they’ve been ‘had’ and decide why bother. In the private sector, it probably isn’t the right decision (in the long run) to so obviously show that you’re not really needed for the success of your enterprise.”

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Reader says ,”what an overwhelming majority of parents want for their kids, which is more in-person learning”

rhs 2020 schools out

“If the BOE wants to be taken seriously (including those at the top with very obvious and unethical conflicts of interest, who shall not be named), they should remain keenly focused on what an overwhelming majority of parents want for their kids, which is more in-person learning…5 days a week. The taxpayers already pay way to much for the school budget, and while we may tolerate some non-sense and waste in the spirit of town civility, the one thing that will most certainly cause residents to “storm the castle” is if we are forced to spend our hard earned dollars to incentivize lazy and ineffective teachers, who are using COVID as a tool for their personal agenda. Every profession is exposed to the risks of COVID, so why should they be preferentially treated at our expense? Either opt out if you are truly scared, or just follow the damn protocols…”

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CDC UPDATES GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS

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photo by Boyd Loving

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

The CDC has published updated guidance regarding school openings. The updated guidance provides additional recommendations for a myriad of topics, including ventilation, food service, and mask use as schools continue to prepare and implement their plans to start the 2020-21 school year. The guidance also expands on previous iterations regarding students with “special healthcare needs and disabilities” with a new section dedicated to these challenges. Schools may need to develop individualized plans for some students and staff, including those with limited mobility, those with visual or hearing impairments, those with underlying health conditions, or those who may have difficulties understanding or adapting to new routines. The information notes that some individuals may struggle with social distancing or isolation or mask use, or they may need additional visual or verbal reminders or assistance implementing the school’s social distancing protocols. The information also links to guidance regarding protections related to service animals.

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Reader says , “last thing taxpayers can afford is subsidize 20th century style “public servants.” Especially those who teach their children how to hate their own family and nation”

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photo by Boyd Loving

“Public unions gotta go. Unionizing against the public is a travesty. Ppl turned a blind eye while good times rolled, but we’re in a right spot now. And the decade of transformation has just started!

Expect fewer white collar jobs, normalization if demand for IT specialists and entertainers, high inflation and much higher taxes on top earners as well as property owners.

Covid merely accelerated the existing trend. With these issues, last thing taxpayers can afford is subsidize 20th century style “public servants.” Especially those who teach their children how to hate their own family and nation.”

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Reader says , “Should Corona last for the long run, the intelligentsia and NJEA unions will be toast”

rhs 2020

“residents here in Ridgewood know more about what happens than the eggheads at the BOE & REA who theorize on how to control thoughts as they trade bon mots at their cocktail parties. Should corona last for the long run, the intelligentsia and NJEA unions will be toast as they cling to their days gone by like the Luddites they are. I pity the truly great teachers in the district who have been lumped into the mix with the Marxists.”

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Reader Suggests Teachers Want Full time Pay for Part Time Work

rhs 2020 schools out

“So REA, if the Ridgewood BOE installs high efficiency HEPA filters in each classroom , will you agree to return to teach? These are recommended for critical healthcare applications like anterooms, isolation wards and COVID-19 patient rooms. When educational institutions reopen after the coronavirus outbreak, ASHRAE recommends a portable HEPA and UV air cleaner for each classroom, with at least two air rotations per hour. Will that, in addition to the already planned health, cleaning and physical distancing protocols, be enough for you to return to the physical classroom this fall? Or do you just not want to have to work full time but still receive full pay?”

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the fly has learned about “MERV “

fly on wall theridgewoodblog.net

…the fly has learned that the Ridgewood Schools system HVAC  is rated a MERV 8 with is the standard for New Jersey schools and office buildings, but the word is the REA wants to see a hospital standard MERV 13  installed in all Ridgewood schools , teacher and administrators may have to suffice with opening  windows  , except cottage place which has over the years presented its own set of problems …

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Reader calls it,”collective greed and union fueled expectations of more more more”

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“Such excellent commentary from fair minded people calling out Fishbien and the REA for what they truly are… have never been”doing it for the children” as they tell you every other second but just concerned for their over the top pay and how to continue getting paid for half an effort..the teacher as hero myth had truly been debunked forever now…”Sorry Billy, Mrs Jones doesn’t really care if she ever sees you again” the children will quickly learn this and remember for their lives..no memories of nice empathetic classroom leaders just a money grabbing union worker…disgraceful.
How NOT ONE teacher feels it in their soul that this set up is unfair to the parents and taxpayers of Ridgewood belies their collective greed and union fueled expectations of more more more…NOT ONE voice calling for some sort of give back to the generous community during these highly stressful family conditions is unconscionable and sad.”

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Superintendent Fishbein Hinting at a Change Plans ?

rhs 2020 schools out

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, The following is an excerpt from a letter dated Monday, August 17 from Ridgewood District Superintendent Fishbein to district parents (Superintendent Fishbein appears to be hinting that he will change plans and ask the state to authorize the Ridgewood District to resume instruction this fall via so-called “Remote Learning” only, delaying an actual physical return of students to their schools until later in the school year):

Continue reading Superintendent Fishbein Hinting at a Change Plans ?