file photo by Boyd Loving
All If we take a step back it all seem very clear. $100+ million a year for a school budget is just not sustainable and needs to be reduced quickly. We are at a point now where housing values in our town (and Bergen county) have stalled and in many cases are retreating. The high tax burden is taking a toll and will only get worse quickly without some real action.
The best way to do this is to reduce benefits, (healthcare, vacation, reimbursement, free schooling for teachers out of district children, retirement, etc.), change the package for new hires, and also attack administrative costs.
Homeowners and more important the children are getting shortchanged. Just try to get a teacher or guidance counselor to help with a college letter, direction, or just recommendations. There is certainly no passion demonstrated or doing anything above the contract.
We cant afford year after year increases, real no other way
Here’s the problem with this comment. There’s no more time for “stepping back”. Changing HR packages for new hires won’t work either. Action is demanded NOW. Across the entire spectrum of the school and municipal system. The taxpayers of Ridgewood are not getting robbed. Your not being taken for a ride. Your getting F*&%$#. Daily. And every employee, Teacher and administrator within the system knows it and laughs every 2 weeks when the direct deposit hits. What are you going to do about it? NOTHING. Why? Because the employees, teachers and administrators know you won’t. One half is doing the exact same thing on wall street and the other half is barreling down East Ridgewood avenue in an oversized suburban talking on her cell phone trying to find a play date for Junior. And the party continues. and you can’t and won’t do anything to stop it. N E X T.
Highwaysand house sales lead away from these issues esp when kids are finished with college. It happens every day here win win for those ready to downsize from the local BS and high taxes
Don’t focus solely on teachers – there are more of them than other departments.. We have a huge school system.
What about police, fire and other departments? Shared services with other towns?
At the same time there are people on Facebook promoting full day K and turning Graydon into a cement pool. One woman proudly posted that we are a wealthy town. She thinks that we should be spending everyone’s money on her wish list.
Get rid of them all and we the residents will do it all.
Shared Services? Really? Sharing a street sweeper with Glen Rock is going to do exactly what?
NOTHING
Go right to the source of the issue and attack. No other alternative.
Take your town back people….the clock is ticking…..
Get rid of the collaborative teachers first. They contribute nothing to the classroom and only serve to confuse students as to who is “in charge” and who they should be taking direction from. Better to have more aids and not pay for a 2nd teacher if the goal is to help special needs students.
People think that more money = better schools = higher property values. Win/win!
High taxes = empty nesters move away = new familys with kids = more kids (and special ed programs). = DECLINING HOUSE VALUES. there is a limit to what this is worth.
And the businesses told us that a thriving CBD increases property values. Just had my realtor home evaluation updated. House value declined in the last year. House still good, market in the high end down.
So why do I want to pay for increased school expenses?
I do think that the striking teachers should be fired. They can accept a reasonable contract from the BOE or go away. As for other municipal employees, many positions have been cut over the past few years. Really need to audit the jobs and responsibilities of town workers carefully to see if more fat can be trimmed. I think there will be plenty. Sad tp say but I think 8:57 sums it up pretty well. For sale sign will be on my lawn next year. I’ve had enough!
3:44. Police, sanitation, roads. There are economies that can be achieved.
Most towns don’t have paid firefighters.
@5:32. They are not striking! they are not working overtime (unpaid) or doing anything extra outside of the contract. That stinks for the children but is not striking. The pictures are them expressing freedom of speech in a public way, whatever.
Roberta is wearing a red blazer tonight at the meeting…expressing support for the teachers?
8:25 Ridgewood teachers never worked “off the clock.” They may as well be striking for all the disruption their whining has caused. Tenure protects even the worst teachers and impedes meaningful reform. Across the board annual raises for even those who are poor performers? I don’t think so!
NOTHING IS OFF THE TABLE
7:41 is absolutely right, most towns DO NOT have a paid fire dept. are you kidding me?
That’s the first place to start for immediate savings. We don’t need them and we can’t afford it. That’s why I have FIRE INSURANCE.
between kicking ass at the BOE and slashing through the wasteful if not borderline CRIMINAL municipal budget we can save alot of coin.
@8:25 – Please explain the rationale behind 6 figure salaries, platinum benefits and pensions valued at millions for teachers who show up for 6 hours a day 8 months a year?
John. Most of us realize that teachers work more than 6 hours a day. They put in a lot of prep time and planning time. You are looking at their required time in the classroom. Like most of us they work at home too.
What are the high school teachers doing for that hour the students are bouncing around town during the middle of the day ? Or is it two hours ? Is that included in all that time they are putting in ?