March 16,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein will host residents for coffee and casual conversation on Tuesday, March 28. The casual meeting will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Education Center, 49 Cottage Place, Ridgewood. All residents are invited to drop in to share their thoughts, questions, suggestions and concerns.
The final 2016-2017 Coffee and Conversation is planned for Wednesday, May 17.
Superintendent’s Monthly Column: What’s Your Story?
Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s monthly column for The Ridgewood News, March 10 edition.
Preliminary 2017-2018 School Budget
At the March 6 Board of Education meeting, Business Administrator Dr. Alfredo Aguilar presented the preliminary 2017-2018 budget, which is based on a .97% local tax levy increase. The total preliminary budget is $105,565,593, which would mean a $184.39 annual tax increase on the average assessed Ridgewood home of $696,093.
Click here to view the preliminary budget presentation as a PDF.
Following discussion, the Board approved the following resolution for Adoption of the 2017-2018 Preliminary Proposed Budget for Submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Ridgewood Board of Education, to approve the 2017-2018 school district preliminary proposed budget, as follows, for submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools:
There should be raised for the General Fund Tax Levy $91,519,173 for the ensuing School Year: (2017-2018).
| Budget | Tax Levy | |
| General Fund | $ 100,503,229 | $ 91,519,173 |
| Special Revenue Fund | $ 1,378,767 | $ 0 |
| Debt Service Fund | $ 3,683,597 | $ 3,265,784 |
| Total Budget | $ 105,565,593 | $ 94,784,957 |
2018-2019 School Calendar
Click here to view.
Full-day Kindergarten update from the BOE 2.27.17 meeting
Elementary school principals are getting ready for full-day Kindergarten this fall. The goal is to expand the day so that the children can have better time to apply what they are learning rather add more to the curriculum. There will be continuing professional development on May 12 for all teachers, including the newly hired, and six teachers will go to the Paramus Parkway School to observe the program there. Furnishings and libraries are also being carefully researched. Click here for the presentation.
A letter from Dr. Fishbein on inclusiveness in the Ridgewood Public Schools
Click here to read a letter from Dr. Fishbein sent on February 2, 2017.
A letter from Dr. Fishbein, Dr. Gorman, Mr. Orsini and Dr. Kashmanian
The superintendent and principals of RHS, BFMS and GWMS wrote a letter to middle school and high school parents and guardians regarding the uptick in abuse of prescription drugs by students. Click here to read the letter, which was sent on January 30.
Superintendent’s January Column: New Year, New Website and New Ideas for Beating the Winter Blues
Click here to read Dr. Fishbein’s January column for The Ridgewood News.
HIB District and School Grade Reports
Please click here to view the Ridgewood District and School Grade Report for 2015-16, a self-assessment required under the Anti-bullying Bill of Rights.
Glen Rock’s proposed school budget is $51 million. Ridgewood’s is $105 million. Can someone explain the HUGE difference?
Vote NO against the BOE’s $105mn budgetzilla
11:41 – More than double the population….jeez!
Enrollment 11:41. Ridgewood is over twice the size. Not saying I like the 105 million.
No thanks. I can bang my head against the wall at home.