Ridgewood Schools in a PR offensive
October 3, 2012
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Schools took a bit of heat in early September with the NJ Monthly survey showing Ridgewood High School drooped a whooping 8 places in their school ranking .
With in days Ridgewood Superintendent Daniel Fishbein gave a brief overview of comparative data from the recent NJ Monthly high school rankings. According to Dr.Fishbein Ridgewood High School (RHS) performed as well as, or better than, surrounding schools in Bergen County that were ranked higher by the magazine. https://theridgewoodblog.net/dr-fishbein-claims-drop-in-nj-monthly-school-rankings-due-to-the-fact-that-rhs-students-are-required-to-take-the-ap-tests/
Since then Ridgewood Schools have continued to garner media attention :
Greg Wu named 2012-2013 Ashby Award Winner , Ridgewood NJ, The 2012 winner of the coveted Ashby Award is Greg Wu, Assistant Principal/Grade Administrator at Benjamin Franklin Middle School https://theridgewoodblog.net/greg-wu-named-2012-2013-ashby-award-winner-3/
Willard is Named a National Blue Ribbon School ,September 11, 2012 ,Ridgewood NJ – Willard Elementary School has been named a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education. The announcement was made last week by the U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Willard is one of only 269 schools in the nation to receive the award. Willard earned the Blue Ribbon designation for its overall academic excellence, in the category of “Exemplary High Performing.” https://theridgewoodblog.net/willard-is-named-a-national-blue-ribbon-school/
Ridgewood Board of Ed won’t commit to a zero percent tax increase ,Wednesday September 12, 2012, 3:49 PM ,BY LAURA HERZOG,
The Ridgewood News. A zero percent tax increase will be considered, but will not be a firm goal for the 2013-2014 school year budget.https://www.northjersey.com/news/169513576_Ridgewood_Board_of_Ed_won_t_commit_to_a_zero_percent_tax_increase.html
RHS ATHLETIC TRAINER NICK NICHOLAIDES TO APPEAR ON THE ‘KATIE’ SHOW,RHS Athletic Trainer Nick Nicholaides, whose video on concussion awareness is garnering national attention, will appear on Katie Courac’s new show, “Katie,” this Friday, September 21 at 3 p.m. on Channel 7 (ABC). Also in the audience will be RHS student athlete Megan Donnelly.
Ridgewood enrollment numbers on the rise MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2012, 10:09 AM,BY LAURA HERZOG,THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
While school enrollment has substantially declined in many other public school districts, Ridgewood has been gaining students.According to data provided by the Board of Education (BOE), 52 more students are enrolled in Ridgewood this fall than were enrolled last year. The numbers also show that enrollment has steadily been on the rise in Ridgewood for more than 10 years. https://www.northjersey.com/news/170980391_Ridgewood_enrollment_numbers_on_the_rise.html
Ridgewood High School library upgrade campaign ramped up ,THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2012, 4:44 PM, BY LAURA HERZOG
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS .The Ridgewood High School (RHS) Home and School Association (HSA) will soon launch an aggressive fall fundraising campaign to pay for the transformation of the RHS library into a space better suited for 21st century learners. The renovation will potentially cost $850,000. https://www.northjersey.com/news/170564766_Ridgewood_High_School_library_upgrade_campaign_ramped_up.html
And yesterday we are told DR. FISHBEIN NAMED TOP SUPERINTENDENT IN NORTH JERSEY , 10.02.12: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein has been named top superintendent of the state’s northern region by his peer members of the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. Dr. Fishbein is now in the running for the New Jersey Superintendent of the year, which would make him eligible to be voted to the national title. https://www.ridgewood.k12.nj.us/
First Kudos for Willard, Dr Fishbien ,Greg Wu ,and Nick Nicholaides but one is lead to wonder ,what gives with the PR offensive ? pressure from Charter Schools , worries about the core curricula ? , big tax increase coming ? turf fields in flood zones getting you down ? Teachers prolonged contract discussions left some bad blood or is the BOE looking to buck the 2% cap? Or maybe Dr Fishbien is looking for a big raise ?
Why respond to a mediocre magazine?
Whoever said the NJ Monthy survey was the true measurement for our school systems? A lot of these top lists are more about selling magazines and they want to spread it out so different towns feel good or in this case bad about their schools.
Just remember folks approximately 66 % of our taxes go to the schools.
RHS is still a great school. I don’t subscribe to NJ Monthly because it has nothing to say on a monthly basis.
I moved here 10 years ago. The school portion of my tax bill is now larger than my total taxes were when I moved in. I find that crazy! I also think it’s crazy that the HS library was not included in the bond referendum, but all that turf was. Shows priorities.
Remember, the important thing is to uphold the “tradition” (and public image) of excellence and not actually improve the school by getting rid of the politically correct social engineering and focusing on instituting real math and science.