Yes, madam superintendent. Mr. Donnie >> here. >> Miss Handy >> here. >> Miss McCalli >> here. >> Mr. Mcmood >> here. >> Miss Brogus >> here. >> Please uh join me in a um in a flag salute. Pledge of allegiance.
>> I pledge allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all the Ridgewood Board of Education has
been meeting in executive session pursuant to NJSA 104-2. 12. The minutes of this meeting will be released when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Pursuant to the uh requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, advanced
notice has been given to the Star Ledger, the record, and the clerk of the village of Ridgewood. In addition, notices were posted in the office of the board secretary and in all school buildings. Uh welcome everyone tonight. I just want to um there'll be one
one adjustment to our um agenda tonight. We'll have our presentations recognizing our retirees and then we will have our our RPS orchestra history and celebration of the
district or orchestra concert. We'll just move that up. Our student report and then public comment. So um just so that you can understand the flow of that meeting then we'll go into other business. So um we will start uh Dr.
Schwarz with um our recognizing our retirees. >> Good evening everyone. Thanks so much for coming tonight. I want to start with Mrs. Jamie sorry Mrs. Dr. Michelle Femick assistant superintendent who's going to be introducing our retirees
from our elementary school. Thank you, Dr. Schwarz. Uh, our first retirement and only retirement in this uh, round uh, at the elementary level is music teacher at Orchard Elementary School, Drew Krysmer. Good evening, Dr. Schwarz and board of
education members. Even on a busy night like tonight, we do appreciate the opportunity to recognize our staff members and especially Drew Krymer, who has dedicated over 29 years to the Rididgewood public schools. While I've
only worked here for just over a decade, I have had the pleasure of working with Drew during my time at Orchard. And what a pleasure it has been. most of the time. His journey here at Rididgewood has left a lasting impact.
As a music educator, he has the experience of watching children grow from kindergarten to fifth grade. Specials teachers, as they are known, form bonds with students as they remain constant through their everchanging school careers. This year, two of our
kindergarten students parents also had had Mr. Chrysmer at Orchard School. >> Right. which was a full circle moment for all of them. Perhaps the inspiration for tonight. Drew is one of the most creative and talented individuals I have
ever met. Every summer he creates mini musicals for our students to perform at Orchard the following year. While we have the traditional concerts at fourth and fifth grade, Orchard kindergarten through third grade students perform
full stage events, including coral singing, spoken lines, instrument playing, choreography, and even set design. These plays form a lasting memory for our students. One of my favorite moments is to hear high school
students who still sing and recite songs from their favorite Mr. Chrysler plays. Just last week, our first graders performed in their show. And we have one last Drew show this June when our kindergarten students will perform. See
how we've grown. Board members and Dr. Schwarz, you are all welcome to attend. I can guarantee it is a show worth seeing. Drew's creativity doesn't end at Orchard. He continues to showcase his talents every Sunday at the organ as the
director of music for St. John's Episcopal Church in Ramsey. He performs regularly, most recently in an afternoon concert at Princeton University Chapel. Personally, I would like to thank Drew for his help and support to me as a
school principal. His district knowledge and building expertise have proven so valuable as we have worked together. He is also a man of many talents and traits and his handy skills have helped transform many of our community spaces.
I know your colleagues join me in sending messages of thanks and congratulations. We will miss your impeccable sense of style and your wit. You have made our workplace feel like a second home. Thank you for being such a leader on our amazing team. Drew, we
wish you all the best as you embark on your next chapter. You are loved. You have made a difference and you will be missed. We can't wait to hear about your next adventures. Congratulations. >> Well, thank you, Mary. Um, I can say I
started here last century. Many of you have probably I did. I say this to the children. They're never sure what that means. And they do ask if I'm old. I say, "No, I'm not really old, but I am retiring." And they want to know where I'm going to go. And so that's sort of where I'm going back to the church. Um, but one thing I will say that hasn't changed in spite of all the things that
have changed in 29 years are the the kids themselves. The kids to me are still the same. They have no agenda. As long as you're nice to them, you're you're good with them, they love you, they'll do whatever you want. And that is the one thing that's kept me going um for the past 30 years now. And this one
here is good, too. So And now, Mrs. Murphy, could you introduce our high school teachers? >> Absolutely. And just as a reminder, if everyone can stay, we'll do pictures afterwards with whoever you want to take pictures with, all the retirees. So, at first I'd like to invite up Mr. Nice,
principal of Ridgewood High School. The next four retirees are all his. Um, but we're going to start this evening with Miss Amy Nolan, ESL teacher at Ridgewood High School. >> Good evening, everyone. It's my pleasure to be here tonight representing our four
retirees. Um, starting off with Miss Amy Nolan. Uh, just I was thinking about what I was going to say. I mean, I'm I'm going to be reading a lot from what your uh the supervisor of the department said and
then I'll give some little personal anecdotal. Um, but the four retirees have over 120 years of experience at Ridgewood Public Schools. So, I I was doing the math in my head, so it's pretty impressive. All right. It's my
honor to recognize and celebrate Amy Nolan for her 21 years of dedicated service at Rididgewood Public Schools. Amy's journey in education began in in a truly remarkable way as a as a Peace Corps and volunteer teaching high school in Democratic Republic of Congo. With a
background in history from Vasser College and no initial plans to become a teacher, it was this experience that ignited her passion for education. Teaching in French while simultaneously learning two African languages, Amy developed a deep and lasting empathy for what means to be a language learner to
navigate a new culture, a new language, and a new environment. that perspective became the foundation of her work and the heart of um gave her the impact on the the children at Rididgewood High School. In Rididgewood, Amy began in
supplemental in the supplemental program teaching both English and history, both transitional both before transitioning to ESL. While she spent three years at Somerville School, the majority of her career has taken place at Rididgewood High School, where she has built a program grounded
not just in language development, but in trust, dignity, and belonging. Amy's work extends far beyond instruction. She understands that learning a new language is not an academic task. It's deeply personal and a social experience. She consistently adapts and modifies her
instructions to honor both the cultural backgrounds and individual needs of her students. thoughtfully scaffolding learning in ways that highlight their her abilities and ensures their strengths remain visible as they develop language skills. At the time at a time
in in students lives when identity, belonging, and confidence are so critical. Amy provides not only academic support but a sense of stability and affirmation. Just as importantly, Amy extends the same level of care and thoughtfulness to
her colleagues. She is a trusted partner who works alongside teachers to support multil- language learners across the settings, sharing strategies, offering insight, and ensuring that students needs are understood and met. Her
collaborative approach reflects how deeply she cares not only about her own students, but all the students in in our community. Amy, your work changes lives. Your empathy, your dedication, and your ability to create space where students feel seen and connected leave a lasting
imprint in the district. While you will be greatly missed, we thank you for your 21 years of service to Rididgewood Public Schools and wish you all the very best in your next chapter. Personally, I got to experience many many students
come back and visit Amy and also she shared many um emails from students who reached out. One particularly um that I remember um he was in room 109 which is where I shared an office with Dave
Bailey counselor at the time. He was the guidance counselor but Andre um Andreas came to Ridgewood High School, had very little English uh English skills, and
now is a pilot for is it Delta or United Airlines? Um but came back along and and credits Amy for her ability to get him through um our very tough language. And um there are some other emails I went back to see. And there was some um two
other students that have broadcasting careers. they went to uh Satan Hall. Um and it's just tremendous the amount of work she does with these students who come in with very little English language acquisition. And um we're very
very proud that you are, you know, having this um retirement, but we're also um going to miss you very much. Congratulations. this if it's okay. I just have a short message for you. Um, it's a short
reflection on working with the population of multil- language learners and their parents that I've served for my career. Um, I feel really privileged to work with this population of students. Um, and I'm grateful that our district makes the effort to support the
program. Um, I think it's essential. Um, these kids strive to learn. They're polite. They're respectful. They're enthusiastic. their parents shower me with these really nice notes and I've saved all of them. Um the students say thank you,
they come back to visit. Um and honestly, it's really any teacher's dream job. Um and I'm proud that this group is part of our school community because I think that it makes it better and I think they're a model for all of us of resilience and gratitude. Um, I
also wanted to mention the Cambodia Club because I've been a faculty adviser for most of my career. Um, I think it's such a remarkable undertaking that this district has embarked on and it was originally led almost completely by
elementary school students at the onset. Um, it's a multi-school effort to raise money to build a school in a war torn country that experienced a genocide. and it's really something to be proud of. Um, and not only did the students fund
the school construction, but they also have continued over the years to pay the salary of a teacher every year. And it's been more than 10, 15 years now. Um, it's a really rare accomplishment, but
as we see with all kinds of generosity and kindness, there's also a payback. and I've seen how this project has empowered our young people and shown them that their efforts can impact the quality of life on the other side of the globe. Um, with each new group of club
members, I believe that they learn that helping others is gratifying. So, thank you for this occasion to address you um and this recognition. It's bittersweet to say goodbye because my career here has been rich and joyful.
and meaningful. Thank you. >> Next. >> Next, I'd like to invite up Lynn Heni, biology teacher at RHS. Miss Lynn Feny Lynn Feny is retiring from a uh from her position as teacher
of bio biology at the conclusion of 20 plus years um at Rididgewood High School. A longtime member of Rididgewood community as a parent and rotary member, Miss Feny began at Rididgewood High School as as both substitute teacher and
leap replacement before taking a full-time biology position. As a teacher of AP biology and biology, she has demonstrated a dedication to her students and the department with motivation to provide students with a deeper understanding of both content by
regularly including advanced lab techniques and experience into her lessons. Miss Fenie's commitment to the students at Rididgewood High School is tr truly commendable. She has demonstrated a tireless work ethic and enthusiasm for science during her years at Rididgewood High School. She will
greatly be missed as a teacher, colleague, and friend. With this, Miss Fenie the very I we wish Miss Fenie the very best and welldeserved retirement. Miss Fenie, and I can't believe I I I came home
today. I I wasn't um was returning from a a weekend um with my wife. We had I had off today. And um I always carry this little charm that you gave me after my dear friend Basil passed. And it's a
little uh angel. It's like a stone that she gave me and she said, "Hold on to this." And and and uh I'll never forget that. And uh I carry it with me most days at work. And it's things like that that create our environment at Ridgewood
High School. And it's people like Glenn who, you know, give her, you know, knowledge to our students, but also give it back to our staff. So, I appreciate that and I want you to know I'll continue to hold on to that and think about you and um your many years at
Rididgewood High School and many of the students will be doing the same as the you know as you know 20 plus years you've taught many many students. Congratulations. Well, I hope I can get through this. Um, just a couple of things. Um,
I would like everybody to remember that teachers really touch the future. You don't know how, when, where, the impact that you're going to have later in life. Um, and as Jeff alluded, I've been around the Rididgewood district since my
son started in around 1990. Um, I was on the executive board at Willard, executive board DW, my husband and I, of course, for Stars at Jamberee. Um, a little bit more so than myself. Um, I also served as president of Tik Tok, you
know, um, millions of years ago. Um, and I didn't look for teaching. Teaching found me. And it has been a true gift all these years to be able to do this. I'm sorry I'm so emotional, but
it's a it's a big transition. Um, one one note that I do want to say is um, Project Interact is near and dear to my heart. I have been part of Project Interact for 20 years. Uh probably most of you don't know but project interact
is a high school branch of Rotary International. Um we do all sorts of service projects. The club at Ridgewood High School is very very vibrant and active. We usually do anywhere from four to six service projects a month. Um we
have been on campus since 1988 and I really feel like Project Interact is inclusive of everybody. Um, and I think it's really really important for our students not only to have a tradition of academic excellence. I
think it's really really important for them also to have a tradition of service and um I just hope that it continues. Um, Ridgewood's been a great place to be,
um, both as a parent and a teacher and, um, I'm going to miss him and thank. Next, we invite up Mr. Rebecca Gone Gaton, math teacher, Ridgewood High School.
I know one thing about Rebecca, she does not like this. Um, she was my mentor 37 or 37 years you were here. So when I started 31 years
ago, Rebecca was my mentor as a math teacher, which I'll talk a little bit more at the end, but um it means a lot to me that she's sitting here now and um you know, getting to enjoy and all the students that you've, you know, impacted
throughout the your career because there's been a lot. Um so I'll I'll talk a little bit more at the end, but I'm going to read what Ashley wrote. Um, tonight we celebrate an incredible career, one defined not only by years of service, but by the lives that has been
impacted along the way. When we talk about Miss Katon, I immediately think about her energy and not just the kind that allows her to run marathons in her free time, which is impressive enough, but the kind of energy she brings into her classroom every single day. The same
perseverance and dedication it takes to complete a marathon is exactly what she has demonstrated throughout her career in education. Her classroom has always been a special place. You can feel it the moment you walk in. The laughter, the smiles, the sense of comfort. Students are are not just learning math,
they are enjoying it. Whether it's through the creative lessons like the AP statistics Eminem activity or simply the way she connected with her students, she makes math meaningful and memorable. She has a gift for creating an environment
where students feel safe, supported, and confident. A place where they are willing to take risks, ask questions, and even laugh along the way. And if you're if you ever passed her classroom, you've seen it. She's always smiling. that positivity that positivity is contagious and has left a lasting
impression on everyone around her. Beyond the classroom, her impact stretches even further. She has dedicated many years to coaching basketball. She has also served as a longtime math team adviser, supporting students who share a passion for mathematics and helping them grow and
succeed. And while we celebrate her professional accomplishments, it's just as important to recognize the person she is outside of school. a devoted mother of three, involved in her church and and someone who clearly values community, connection, and service in all aspects
of her life. Now, as she reaches her next chapter, she will be joining her husband, Tom, who's here tonight, and retirement and and his retirement from public education, a well-earned milestone for both both of them. So today we celebrate
not just a teacher but a role model, a mentor, a coach, and a constant source of positivity in our school community. Miss Katon, thank you for every mile you've run, both literally and figuratively. For your students, your colleagues, and the community, your
impact will continue along after today in every student you've inspired, and every life you've touched. Congratulations on your retirement. You've earned this. Um, just to complete a few things. As I said, she was my mentor. And the
math department, for those of you, we have a lot of students here tonight, used to be in the basement. And in the basement, this was before email. We had, I think, one computer, but it was a computer that we used to generate tests. Um, and I remember putting in codes to
get the test, like B25, and it gave you a factoring problem. Um, but more importantly, and I know you'll remember this, Rebecca, Miss Katon, sat by the phone, and because you didn't have email, the phone rang a lot. And she
would always on her prep period have a little pink pad and write notes and I would come back from my class and it would say, "Call back soando." But she would do that constantly for many, many of the teachers on those pink pads. The other thing she probably doesn't think I remember, she used to live in Ringwood
and that's where I'm from and she used to have a garden. Maybe you still do, but she used to bring in cherry tomatoes all the time and share them with the department and I love that. Um, way into October sometimes. Um and um it's the
little things like I said like again this is going back 31 years when I remember being in the basement with a my mentor who was teaching me how to be a great teacher, a great leader um and now is retiring. So I am deeply touched by
your career and also the personal things that you gave me along my career. Um congratulations. I hope you have great plans with Tom and your three daughters. Um, and I'm very happy for you, Rebecca. Congratulations.
I don't have much to say, but I just want to say it's really been a privilege and a pleasure teaching here for 37 years. Um, I think I'm very very fortunate that almost every day of those 37 years, I truly enjoyed coming to work and working with the children. Thank
you. And last but not least, I would like to invite up Moren Morgan, school nurse, Fridwood High School. Moren, I'll say you're another one that probably doesn't love the the um the attention, but you're getting it. So, congratulations.
Um so, Moren um is been our school nurse for the past 20 years. Um she began in 2006 here. She supported countless students, families, and staff members, often in their most vulnerable moments.
She established and maintained a sense of collaboration, camaraderie, and shared commitment to her service as the school nurse. Um, thinking of the number of students or I'm getting these uh stats from Mr.
Kildday, anywhere between 6,700 and 7,800 office visits every year happen at the high school. Um, and we have another, you know, uh, nurse at our school, but they're constantly busy. um oftentimes running to classrooms um you
know sometimes with a wheelchair and you know getting around the building. She knows the building as well as any administrator. She knows where to be. Um but more importantly the it's the advice that you get from her when you go and ask her questions and and um you know
about anything uh an illness. She's on sometimes 504 committees, sometimes she's on INRS. um she has to be as the school professional in terms of medical issues. She works very closely with Mr. Yang uh Dr. Yankis um our long-term uh
you know physician who's been uh with us for many years. Um Dan listed a number of and I'm sure you can give a few more but between abrasions, bruises, bug bites, cold symptoms, dizziness, dress code violations, emotional um issues, hangails, illnesses, jammed fingers,
nausea, pain, scrape, sore throat, sunburn, upset, um stomach, vomiting. Um I can probably you can probably continue to go on. Yes. Um, needless to say, Rididgewood High School Health Office is a busy place and it's very chaotic.
Amidst all this, Miss uh Miss Morgan uh was there providing the simplest of care in the most most lifethreatening of care and and anything in between the two extremes on any given day. Thank you for providing this care, moments of growth,
resilience, and achievement among Ridgewood High School and its staff. Personally, I've been there with for many serious um issues that have happened. Um you know, you know, and a lot of times it's the
you see the the poise of a person during extreme cases um specifically um sometimes life-threatening and you know whether to call an ambulance and make those decisions on any given um you know
situation. Moren is always calm. She's cool. She's collective and does a great job with all of our students. And um I'm I'm assuming the kids here today, they know her face because they've been in there at some point. But um we are going
to miss you and all of your experience and what you bring to us every day for 20 years. Thank you, Moren. I didn't know I was going to say anything. I'm just going to say it's been an honor to work with the most amazing educators and amazing students
for 20 years. It's been a really great one. Thank you. Tyrese would like to get their picture taken over here. We'd love to do that. And if you have family, we'll be able to take the uh your picture with your family if you'd like that. Um so we'll
do that right now. And uh then our next presentation will be uh the orchestra history and celebration which will be a short presentation. Eli got Okay. Yeah, I was going to say
Hey everyone, thank you. Uh if we could um have the presentation for the music. Oh, it's trying to You're going to be right here, guys.
We'll try to scooch in here. All right. Hello. And we're gonna start again. Thanks, Chris. Welcome to their music. Yeah, >> Greg. Thank you so much for having us here tonight. Um, before I begin, I just
wanted to introduce this is our our district orchestra staff. This represents fifth grade. Alina is at all six of our elementary schools. Amanda at BF, Christy at the high school, and Janelle at GW. Uh and just about a month
ago they did the impossible the we have never done before uh which really was an idea that solely generated from this group. Uh you know I'm going to be the the guy on the microphone. Uh certainly this was the voices behind uh
this project happening. You know this was these guys saying let's do this. Um, and it was a it was a big this is I was probably they've been talking about this for years. Uh, but it was this project was about a year in the making to sort
of from idea to fruition. Uh, so we had about 540 students, 550 students uh, fifth grade through 12th grade uh, on the floor of the GW gym uh, performing music uh, just about a month ago and it was really quite outstanding. So, we put
together just a couple of slides just to walk you through um a little bit of the history of the program. Um these guys had in the in the creation of this project had sort of called out some images uh that were up at uh the the event and I just thought it would be
nice to sort of recognize some of those. Um, so if we go to the next slide, it's just a picture from uh kind of the iconic front steps of Ridgewood High School, you know, 1914. Um, dating back all the way. You know, it's just really
impressive to know that the orchestra program has been here uh in Ridgewood for such a long time. Um, and we really thought that there was a nice intersection between the launch of the strategic plan and the journey of the graduate and really this example of the musical journey that our students take.
I mean really K12 uh obviously we had a fifth grade through 12th grade showcase of that work. Um, so if you go to the next slide, this is a lot of stuff that we talk about sort of within our department about the power of music education uh
that it teaches so much more than playing music together. And not to downplay that because that's a really special human uh experience, but also the and and this was on full display. So I get, you know, with many of these events, I get to see behind the curtain a little bit. I saw the rehearsal of
this. So we got to they got to do this. I didn't I watched them do it right an hour before we went like live with this event was the first time that they did the rehearsal. Um so if you can imagine the the level of self-management, leadership and resilience that needs to
occur uh with our students in order for that to happen. Um that is something that is practiced daily in these classrooms. um to setting up your instrument and tuning it and taking care of it uh and practicing at home and working in small groups uh and failing over and over and over again and trying
again. Um, so it was really uh what you saw uh on the stage on the gym floor was really just uh an encapsulization of all that happens you know in the classroom uh you know starting in kindergarten but really in fifth grade when they you know
they open the case for the first time and they pick up that instrument for the first time. If you go to the next slide and again here and I alluded to this just at the beginning um really just we thought it was a wonderful way to sort of align uh the journey of the graduate
the new strategic plan uh and talk about the progression of of and much of what they wrote and spoke about that evening was about the growth that occurs in fifth grade and then in sixth grade and then in seventh grade. So each one of the the teachers spoke uh and talked
about the that growth that occurs uh over time uh and really about this idea of perseverance and a growth mindset. You know that you can't do something doesn't mean that you can't do it. It just means you can't do it yet. Uh and I think that
that's something that really lives in the music classroom. uh and it's so evident again and this evening that you know that that these students performed it was very much uh in the air right so you could see uh that growth and hear
that growth right in front of you uh and then sort of this last little bullet here that this this can't happen uh we just heard about all these you know outstanding teachers that are retiring and speaking about the community of Ridgewood public schools these types of things can't happen without uh community
support both inside the classroom, you know, uh the third floor of the ad center, uh and in our in our uh homes in in this village. So, um you know, we really just wanted to present this, thank these guys sort of publicly for coming up with a a idea and seeing that
to fruition. Um and then we have a very short little clip that hopefully is going to play because we tested it uh just a moment before that just sort of highlights this last little piece uh where this is um where everybody is playing together. Yeah, it was super fun.
>> So again, I just wanted to uh publicly thank everybody for their support in making this happen. Uh many of you up here, you know, really helped uh make this possible. Uh but you know it's these teachers that come in uh and these students that come in every day to put in the work uh and have the big ideas.
Uh and this is just an example of of that happening. It was really special. First time it's we've ever done it. Uh and uh I'm excited about the next time that we do it. Although again that was a we'll figure out how we're going to do that again. Um but again, thank you so much.
>> Well, thank you. I you know this was so joyful. I I decided I wouldn't come. I wouldn't take an extra seat since I knew there were going to be so many parents. So, I watched it online. I smiled throughout the whole thing. Thank you. You know, fifth having 500 students all
playing really wonderful work. Thank you so much. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. our student report. >> Yes. Yes. Thank you and good evening everyone. Uh first I would be remiss if
I did not mention that the schools have been on edge with the staff changes rumored for next year. Students across the school have been having conversations in their classrooms and in the halls concerned about the impact of these proposed changes. It's really been throughout the entire
school. Moving backwards, uh the night of Wednesday, March 25th was the district-wide youth art month event at the high school. Students grades from grades 6 to 12 or K to 12, sorry, displayed art around the high school, including 3D works and paintings, and
parents got the opportunity to come and look at all of the incredible art. Later that night was the virtual 10th grade parent meeting with over a hundred parents on the call. They discussed scheduling for junior year and started preparing for the college process. The
next day on March 26th, there was a reception held to celebrate the Bergen County Youth Art Month uh for the county and highlight the talents of students. Uh, a special distinction goes out to Jim and Chun who had their work showcased at the New Jersey State Youth
Art Month exhibit, which is a truly incredible honor. On May, sorry, April 10th was the spring pep rally. All sports ran out and it was a lot of fun. It's a new tradition that's been happening at the high school for the past few years, but it's really
a great one as it brings the whole school together. Uh the April 14th was the band spring concert at Westside Presbyterian Church. The students went over earlier that day and practice and then that night had the concert and they performed a special piece in honor of
the 250th anniversary of the nation that involved a teacher, Mr. Unanown, delivering the Gettysburg address mixed in with the piece. So that was something that was very special. On the 16th was the moon and white recital as students showcased their incredible artistic
abilities for teachers and excuse me parents from around the district. Uh the 16th was also the Holocaust Remembrance Service that Dr. Schwarz spoke at. He gave an interesting and engaging talk and I had a chance to go see him speak.
It's really great to see him as part of this community and we really appreciated it. Moving on, this week uh AP seminar and AP research students started presenting their IWAS and research projects. Uh I
had a chance to present my research project today and I know Mr. Ross will be has been in the buildings looking at those as well as other uh administrators. Next week will be NJSLA testing for grades uh 9 and 11. I believe grades nine will be testing all three days on
English and math. Grade 11 will be Tuesday and Wednesday for science. On the 29th will be the small ensemble concert in the RHS campus center. RHS on top of the bands that they already have, they have these small groups that are more specific saxophone ensemble, brass
ensemble. They get to perform that are more like clubs. So that'll be a great event. And of course, AP exams start the week of May 4th and will continue through the 15th. A total of 1,513
tests uh will be taken over 631 kids which are really truly incredible numbers. Additional additionally Mr. Ferrari the humanities supervisor has been running a series of a push AP US history review sessions to help prepare
students both in Amstead and in the AP US history class. So that's been a great way to bring students together and he had a chance to interact with all of the students. I turn it over to Grace. >> Yes. So unfortunately I will be one of those kids taking AP exams in two weeks.
So wish me luck. Moving on on a lighter note, we have clubs. Right before we left for spring break, new players had their production of Annie, which was wonderful, and now they've begun rehearsing for McBTH. Um performances will be on the 14th through the 17th of May. So, please purchase tickets. On the
28th, both Maroon Maroon Men and AC Cabellas competed at ICS semi-finals. And although neither groups placed, they did end their uh wonderful season with many incredible highlights. So, good good job to them. On the 6th of this
month, RHS National Art Society collaborated with the Memory Project where they send um handdrawn portraits to children in Cambodia. And earlier this meeting, Miss Amy Nolan highlighted the importance of our relationship with Cambodia. Um, on the ETH, uh, Girls Who
Code visited the Ben Franklin Middle School and introduced to over 200 students the concept of computer science, specifically teaching them how to use microcontrollers, allowing students to programmatically create music and images. It's a little too complicated for me, but you know, the
middle schoolers can understand that. On the 12th of this month, HOSA had their state competition and a couple days later, it's rescheduled, but a new club at RHS was supposed to have their first meeting known as RHS exchange. Um, its premise is interesting because it's
dedicated towards fighting the political polarization, which is particularly relevant right now. Um, and their first debate was supposed to be on whether or not the US should send aid to Israel. So, an interesting topic. Um it's the process is also interesting as they have
dedicated speakers for every side. So right leaning proide, left-leaning um anti- aid and all sorts. And then also every single debater has to go through an approval process with a current or former history teacher. So when they do reschedule the meeting, I'll be sure to check it out and let you guys know how
it works. Um, on the 16th, NHS took a field trip to the MA Environmental Volunteers Organization Farms, which is a sustainable farm, and they spend most of the school day volunteering. Um, moving on to athletics. Right before spring break, we had our spring rally,
which kicked off spring sports, starting with boys tennis. They are currently undefeated this season with a record of 8-0, and an upcoming match against Pamas this Thursday on the 23rd. Uh, next up is girls golf. They had a recent win against Ramapo on the 15th and an
upcoming um meet uh match against Mawa this Tuesday and they have a current record of six and five. Um girls softball they had also had a recent win against Ramapo on the 17th and they have an upcoming game against Wayne Valley on the 22nd. So we wish them much luck and
I'm not just biased because my friends are on the team. Um the next sport is girls flag football. They have a current season of a whopping 50 5-0 record. They had a recent 30 39 and0 win against St. Benedict's which is extremely impressive
and they have an upcoming game against Immaculate Heart this Wednesday on the 22nd. Um second to last is boy boys baseball. They ended their spring training with a record of 8-0 and they had their first game on the first of this month. They had a recent win
against Emerson Burrow and have a current seven and three record. Um second to last is Crew and on the 12th they had their many flick four competition with 14 top three finishes and six wins. Um and then this weekend
they have their Garden Garden State Rata and Cooper Cup in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. And last but not least on the 5th of this month, Will Lassaro made the under 17 national team development program. He's a member of the boys um the RHS boys ice hockey team and he was
also selected for all state kind of highlighting back to the national development um national team development program. Only 23 total individuals are chosen nationwide and actually 19 out of 25 of the under 17 national team development program were on the men's
Olympic ice hockey team that recently took home um an Olympic gold which is extremely impressive for Will Lassaro. And then as for upcoming events, DECA has their national international competition later this month from 25th to the 28th. And that closes out our student update. Thank you
very much. Lots happening. >> Uh next we're going to um open up for public comment. Um but before we do that, um our superintendent uh Dr. Shores is just has a few um uh comments
to frame the budget. The um but when you do come to the microphone, we just ask that you give your name, the municipality you live in, and please, there's a little timer here. Uh please um keep your remarks to four minutes or
less is is our request. Thank you. Uh Dr. Schwarz, >> good evening everyone. Thank you, Mrs. Broen. Thank you all so much for coming out tonight. We really appreciate your involvement. I notice we have a lot of students out here tonight. We appreciate you taking the time. We know you're here to advocate for uh for staff members that you feel feel um very strongly
about. We look forward to hearing from all of you. There have been a lot of questions over the last few months uh last few weeks I should say about last month or so regarding the budget and there's a we've been doing our best to try to respond to folks via email as we've had questions. But I do want to provide a few clarifications for
everybody here and then of course as we get to public comment we want to hear everything that everybody has to say. So for starters uh we started this we began making our budget announcements about potential cuts for this year at our meeting preliminary budget meeting introduction meeting on March 16th and
on March 23rd we became we were able to be more concrete about what our strategies were going to be for helping to close our budgetary gap. We've seen extraordinary increases in health care costs uh and a variety of other rising costs and uh decreasing in state
funding. And so we've need to we need to be able to make sure that we have a sound budget for next year. Our priority has always been to make sure that we are being as reasonable as possible with the measures that we take to make sure that our budget works for next year. It's been imperative to us that we do not uh
take measures that impact student programs to whatever extent that we possibly can. That said, there are services that are going to be impacted. Particularly right now, one of the most distinct services is in the form of busing, uh, particularly with those who receive courtesy busing who are within the the distance required by law to
receive busing and receive it. Anyway, uh, so we are continuing to communicate and and make sure that all of our information that we're sharing is exactly accurate. We're vetting all of the all of the measures at this time. Many of you, I'm I'm sure, are here because over the last couple weeks,
we've had to announce to some of our staff members uh that we will not have a position for them next year. And I want to be very clear that many of those decisions, the ones that were made for the sake of the budget, um every year we have some staff members who don't come back uh because that's just the natural
order of things. But for this year particularly, we have some folks who would otherwise absolutely be coming back to be a part of our district. But because of the way that we have had to reduce positions, and I mean we're reducing positions across the board. We're reducing positions here at central office. We're reducing position
positions at all the schools. Um we're doing our best, as I said, to make sure that we're being as careful as possible to avoid uh any pain that that is unnecessary, but unfortunately pain is somewhat unavoidable. So I want to say that you're all welcome here. We want to hear from all of you. And what we're trying to do with all of our existing
staff is through other through through other vacancies, we're trying to find places for people. And I'm sure some of you are here tonight to advocate for someone uh who is not who we do not currently have a position for next year. But in so far as any staff members have a teaching position or a faculty
position or or any position uh like that in our schools and we don't have a position next year, should a position open up, they will be given first consideration. And so, of course, your words here tonight are welcome because that helps us to see see the value that you have in them as well. Also, I want to be clear. I know that we have some
folks here I think are concerned about uh some of our some of our staff that perform in extracurricular capacities such as coaching. And I want to be clear that we're not making decisions about coaching here tonight. Co our positions are about teaching um full-time teaching positions during the day. We're not eliminating coaching positions. That
said, I understand that it is very hard as a someone who is a teacher and a coach myself. It is very hard to coach in a district when you're not a teacher in the district fully aware of that. So, thank you all. I'm saying I'm speaking on behalf of the board when I say thank you all for being here. We look forward to hearing from all of you. We respect
all of you and we're grateful that we have a community that's so engaged and is willing to come forward and advocate for our staff members. Is Bro, is there anything else? Oh, I was Can I just say one more thing? Um, just for some of you, if you're new to a board meeting, this is an official public meeting of the board of education. The board of
education has to do all their business at a public meeting because they work with taxpayer dollars, which means that this is a a legally protected meeting that follows very specific rules. One of those rules are that the public has a right to speak, but the board has a need so that way it's orderly to have a structure to it. So, Mrs. Broen already
alluded that there's a time limit. It's a 4-minute limit. There's a uh we'd love to make that longer, but sometimes we can be here for a very, very long time. So, we are going to keep to the four-minute rule. Also, it's public comment and because of the respect for everyone. We and for consistency, we can't engage in dialogue. So, you're all
welcome to come up and to say your piece, we're going to take a lot of notes. If you want to stay to the end, we'll provide some commentary and some responses and we'll do our best to acknowledge everybody's statements. Uh, but we will certainly be here listening even though we can't necessarily dialogue with you. And we certainly respect if you want to give your
comments and then if you don't want to stick around, if you want to go home, this meeting is being recorded. It's also being livereamed. you can see the responses at another time. I know it is a school night and there's a it's a it's a busy busy time of year for sure. Last thing I would say is with respect to specific employees, uh we can't div we
can't talk about employees publicly because they have rights to confidentiality. So, as a general rule, I don't won't discuss individual staff members or students or anyone by an individual name here at a board meeting or really outside of outside of outside of them being present, but you certainly
can. I would also just say that if you're interested in a dialogue on these topics as well, I do have a superintendent coffee on Thursday night. We call it a coffee, but it's a virtual thing. So, you can just log on through through um through Zoom and you can ask questions. That is not an official meeting of the board of education. So,
that's a more informal meeting. So, if you want to dialogue with me, students included, feel free to join. I'd be happy to talk with you more and some of uh the administrative team will be there as well. So I don't want to take up any more time but I just wanted to make sure that we touched on those points.
>> Thank you Dr. Schwarz. Uh saying that we'll open for public comment. Um please come to the microphone and um thank you. Thank you. >> Hi. Can you hear me? Yes.
>> Perfect. Good evening. I am here tonight because I've been requesting transparency in the budget. >> If you could just give your name. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Bonita Shimky. I have two children, one at GW and one at the Bridgewood High School. >> So, I'm here requesting transparency in
the budget cuts, specifically the impact on our teaching staff versus the impact on the central administrative office. I am really grateful to see this community show up for Coach Franklin. I'm assuming I don't know him personally. Uh, but from what I'm seeing and what I've heard, I certainly wish I my kids had
the opportunity to be coached by him. I think that kind of impact really matters. Um, Miss Bergen, in one of your emails that you responded to me, you said, "It's my understanding, quote unquote, that the reductions in staff in the middle schools and at the high school will not impact class sizes
significantly in the core classes." You know, for me, that statement really frames that the impact is acceptable or minimal as long as core classes are protected even if other programs are affected. You know, I think by definition, Coach Franklin is not a core subject teacher, but I hope you can see
from this community's response, the value that he brings. So, I hope that you recognize that the impact of teacher layoffs is not only limited to core subjects alone, that that these decisions affect the full student experience academically, socially, and
emotionally. Now, I've repeatedly sent emails regarding the recent central office administrative persp. So, it's really hard for us to understand and this raises real concerns about prioritization and the decisions behind those. We've moved from one
single assistant superintendent to two. Um, our prior to certain appointments, 18% of our students were qualified for special ed services. Now, it's dropped to about 13% which is lower than the state average.
We also would like to understand the qualifications and selection criteria for assistant superintendent of both primary and secondary education roles and how candidates with non-instructional backgrounds meet those expectations. My understanding is
secondary and primary education primarily requires deep instructional and hands-on curriculum experience. So would love to understand how that alignment is assessed. I hate to bring this up and I know that you have mentioned there is uh confidential concerns and I completely understand that but there are also
rumors of a potential assistant superintendent departure. So if that's a case I strongly urge the board to pause before automatically backfilling that role and to re-evaluate if that position and its associated confidential administrative assistance support is necessary given our current budget
constraints. This is a combined salary over $265,000 and that would help retain a few of the impacted teachers. So I guess what we're asking again transparenting at an aggregate level not asking for names not asking for confidential details it is what is the
total number the total cost and the percentage impact of instructional versus central office administrative positions being eliminated and what is the expected impact on our class sizes for the high school for BF and for GW as well as what is the impact on the
student experience. This really should be shared before the budget is finalized and not after. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Matteos Mestin. I live in Ridgewood. Um, my name's on that sheet.
My name is on the petition for Coach Franklin. Uh, and I'd like to I'd like to address the elephant in the room. Uh, there's been a lot of tiptoeing around it today. I'd like to put some of that to rest. Coach Franklin is one of the most
important individuals at RPS. and failing to renew his contract would be devastating to hundreds of students at not only the high school who wrestle under his guidance, but also to the many
children at BF who he teaches in PE, my sisters among them. I can speak to coach Franklin not necessarily as a teacher because I didn't have the pleasure of learning from him in wellness, but I can speak to
his ability as a wrestling coach. I can speak to his character. I can speak to his ability as a mentor and his ability to build the character of the people that he mentors. Coach Franklin has impacted me very
deeply. And to a lot of people in the community, the decision the decision to lay him off seems like it was made in a vacuum without considering what the program would be losing and what the school system would be losing in someone like Coach
Franklin. The petition for Coach Franklin recently reached 1,157 signatures. That climbed three in the since the time that I've been here today. It hit 300 within 5 hours of being posted. The community's response to the decision
to not renew Coach Franklin's contract, I can't even put it into words. This community cares very deeply about Coach Franklin, and I would even say he's a pillar. Coach Franklin is from here. He graduated from Madrid High School and he
went through the wrestling program just as I have and just as 40 other people here, 42 actually, have been. He went through a lot to uh to make it back to Ridgewood and he's sacrificed a lot for the wrestling program as well.
He's put in countless unpaid hours helping us off season, uh, helping me off season and, uh, showing up to tournaments where he's not even on the clock at all. And that just speaks to who he is. I mean, he deeply, deeply cares about
everybody here, even the people that he doesn't know about. And now I'd like to read uh something that my buddy Elijah prepared. Elijah Pearlman. He wrestles at Richard High School as well and he couldn't be here
today. So, I'd like to read this for him. It is rare to encounter an educator like Mr. Franklin. To many of us, he is far more than a teacher. He's a dedicated coach, a mentor, and a consistent role model. I first I first met Mr. Franklin in my eighth grade gym class. At the
time, I struggled with my physical fitness. But rather than overlooking my challenges, Mr. Franklin invested in me. He refused to give up on my progress, offering the support and the encouragement that I needed to improve. Beyond the classroom, he has been a trusted adult in my life. He is someone I could always turn to when I needed a
listener during difficult times. Over the past three years, Mr. Franklin has taught me how to be a better person, not just through his words, but also through his daily actions. He leads by example, demonstrating true patience and a commitment to ensuring every student fully understands the lessons he teaches.
In my experience, anyone who has worked with him, whether as a student or an athlete, has nothing but the highest praise for his character. He pours his heart into his teaching and coaching, and the positive impact on our school culture is undeniable. I respectfully urge the board to reinstate Mr. Franklin so our community can continue to benefit
from the exceptional leadership and heart that he brings to our district. Thank you for your time. >> Thanks. Thank you. My name is Greg Barisanic. I live in Rididgewood. Um, as you can see, I'm here to support uh Bobby Franklin.
Um, I'm part of the Rididgewood Junior Wrestling uh board. I'm part of the Rididgewood High School boosters. And I know that as uh Dr. Schwarz had mentioned, Bobby can continue to volunteer, he can continue to coach, but
I would say that to think of it in a vacuum, and as Dr. Schwarz had mentioned, would be remiss. Um, as an educator, you're going to hear from many of the students. I think if you look at the outpour that you see from the community, he's just not your
run-of-the-mill gym teacher, physical education teacher. But as a parent, as an invested community member, I want to speak to you as a professional. I've worked in investment banking for over 30 years. I've dealt with budgets
significantly larger than what we have here. and I've been on both sides of restructurings, having let people go and having been let go twice now in my career. I do not envy your position. I know it's very difficult. I know it's
hard to make choices about valued individuals, but what I would say is different here is the amount of people he's touching. It's the amount of impact he's having on young minds. Not just as a coach, but as an individual from the community, as
Matteus eloquently said, he's homegrown. You do not get rid of an asset that is homegrown. You foster it. You build from it. You look to exploit it even. So, I would implore you, please, you can find
the money. I know you can find the money. You trim here, you cut there, you adjust the salary. You might say, "Greg, that's really easy." It is. I've done it. I've done it at large scale. So, I implore you, please reconsider
letting Coach Franklin go. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh, good evening members of the board. My name is Sal Chase. Um, I'm going to talk about Mr. Leer, but I do go to the football lifts in the morning and their coach is always there at 5:'lock in the morning helping anyone. So, um, don't
know him personally, but he's a great guy. Um, I'm in the 11th grade at Rich High School, and I'm here representing over 150 students and community members who signed this petition in less than a few hours in support of Mr. Andrew Leer. That level of support in such a short time shows how strongly students and
families feel about this decision. I understand the district is facing budget pressures, including rising costs and limits on tax increases. But from a student pers perspective, there's a major disconnect. If taxes are increasing and class sizes are also increasing, why are effective teachers being cut at the same time? That
combination does not strengthen education. It weakens it. Larger class sizes means less individual attention. Less individual attention leads to worer engagement and weaker outcomes. Removing strong teachers only makes that worse. A direct quote from this meeting's agenda states that quote, "The Rididgewood
Public Schools in partnership with the community is committed to the pursuit of excellence and innovation that enables all students to maximize their individual potential and become lifelong learners. Following through with the removal of teachers directly contradicts that the district's mission statement. Research consistently shows that teacher
quality is one of the most important factors in student success and that smaller class sizes improves learning outcomes. Mr. Leer is not just a teacher that that sorry, Mr. Lefer is not just a teacher that students like. He is a teacher who makes a real impact. Origin parents shared that Mr. Leer sparked
enough interest in history to inspire their child to pursue a future career as a history teacher. Students have also said that he makes history interesting, treats student with respect, and creates an environment where they generally learn and engage. A classmate of mine, Juan Sebastian Cord Corduro, stated that
with his signature that Mr. Leer has been a tremendous help to me this year in learning history. I am still in the process of learning the language and there were times when I struggled with the material or couldn't fully participate in the activities he assigned us. However, he always found an alternative solution. He showed me such
patience during every activity and consistently reaches out to me each of his students to offer whatever assistance he can. He teaches with a passion unlike anyone else and never moves on until he is certain we have grasped the material. He helps us tirelessly. From my own experience, Mr. Lefer teaches a challenging class, but
he never fails to make sure every student truly understands the material. He does not rely on simply handing out packets, and he does not reuse the same tests year after year. He constantly pushes us to think, engage, and active actually learn. His enthusiasm is contagious. What makes his class stand out the most
is his hands-on learning. One of the most impactful experiences was history court where the class was divided into two teams, prosecute or defend historical figures. We had to call witnesses, cross-examine and build arguments requiring extensive research and teamwork. That experience did more than prepare us for a test and made the context the content stick in a way that
traditional meth methods could ne could never. Mr. Leer consistently goes above and beyond through activities like his history court, poster projects, and mystery case investigations that make learning meaningful. And something else needs to be said. Mr. Leer left the tenure position in Deerris to come teacher at Rididgewood. And now people
who have never seen him teach are evaluating him as nothing more than a number on a sheet of paper. That is not how you measure the value of a teacher. We are not just here to oppose this decision. We are asking for better solutions. We urge the board to consider re-evaluating non-essential spending before cutting classroom instruction,
exploring temporary or phase costsaving measures, and increasing transparency around how these decisions are made. Because cutting effective teachers should be the last option, not the first. If over 150 people can come together in less than a day, imagine how many more voices will be heard with more time. Students care about this. Family
families care about this and we're asking you that you take that seriously. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Abigail Stein and I'm in Mr. Leer's 10th grade history class. Um, and I also have comments about what
I'd like to say about him. Um, history is a core class and that's fundamental for my education. You were saying that you were trying to prioritize core classes and not cut them. However, he has been cut and especially which is supposed to have
continuation um, next year. We're supposed to have the same teacher to help our education. we're not going to have that and that strikes against us which is a the reason why I specifically signed up to do an academy. Um I speaking for the point that he should not be laid off and he should be asked
back next year. My class is here with me today and I'm speaking in their opinion as well which is I am one of 16 and there are nine people here today I believe. At the beginning of the year Mr. Leer he greeted us like a friend. um we spent several days learning about
each other and he worked this into education even the beginning of the year. He's a great teacher because he cares about his work and his students. Whenever I need someone to talk to, he is an open resource. For example, if I need help after school, I can go to him and I would spend the entire 30 minutes
that we are given for period 9 just speaking with him. And I will ask him about his I will ask him about his kids and he will ask me about stuff that I do for swim and that I do for type 1o um which he doesn't even have to know about it but he knows because he cares about
me. I feel like that I can learn easily with him as my teacher but in his class we not only do busy work and notes like my friends do in his in their classes we learn interactively. A couple months ago when we were learning about Andrew Jackson we had a mock trial in the classroom. It was really fun and it taught us life skills that we need to
know. For example, Mr. Leford when we were walking up to each time we would speak to the jury, he created a he created a theme song for us to walk up to which made it interactive. And every time somebody else walked up, each person had their own theme song, which
meant he cared about us. He pays attention to our details. We have created a petition with over 150 signatures that somebody said before and we've received several remarks upon it and I've read these remarks and I did not make a remark myself but they are
exactly what I would have said if I was in that person's position because these pe this teacher Mr. Leer he touched their hearts and he touched my heart too. The places we learn about in class Mr. Leer went out on his way to learn about it and he visited them himself. For example, he is an avid runner and he
has visited the majority of the places that we learn about in class because we are learning about the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and which places are often near New Jersey and he takes pictures of themselves sometimes on his weekends out going out of his space and
then when he goes on his runs and he comes back to us the next Monday and he tells us about these places as if we were really there. So we don't even have to go there because we understand what it would look like. We need young teachers who understand students and how they learn. I understand the circumstances for the
budget for next year, but please give him a chance. If it helps your decision, come to our class. I asked and see yourself how good a teacher he is. We've had teachers come and evaluate him before. And every single time I know that he passed with flying colors
because our class that day was just as the same way as it ran every single day. There was no important thing that we did that was different just because somebody was visiting us. We continued with the work that we were doing and we learned about important things. Thank you for
your time and consideration. >> Thank you. >> Uh hi, my name is Al Mcnite. Uh I live in Rididgewood. Uh I'm currently a freshman in uh Ridgwood High School. Uh last year I attended Benjamin Franklin Middle School where I had Mr. Franklin uh as my gym teacher twice in seventh
and eighth grade. Um at Benjamin Franklin the gym system changes every Martin period. So students are constantly getting uh new teachers and you're learning new units in gym. Because of that it can be hard to really connect with the teacher or feel like you're actually gaining something that sticks that will stick with you long
term. Um but every time I had Mr. Franklin's class um I knew it would be different. I knew I would leave not just physically stronger um but with a better understanding of how to take care of myself and why that actually matters. Uh that that feeling was not normal for me. I'm someone who doesn't usually like
school at all. Uh like a lot of students I go because I have to, not because I want to. But there are certain teachers who change that and Mr. Franklin is one of them. He made me want to be there. He made me want to learn. Um which is something that not many people can do. And it wasn't because of fancy presentations or anything like that. is
because of how real he was with his students. He doesn't just teach health and fitness. He leaves it. He He lives it and he shows us that it's something we can actually do. Um he talks about his everyday life, what he eats, how he trains, and how he can take and how he take care takes care of himself. That
makes everything feel real and achieve and achievable, not just something you hear about in class and forget later. That kind of teaching sticks sticks with you. It builds habits, not just knowledge. It makes students think about how they treat their bodies, how they can take care of themselves, and how small choices every day can make a big
difference long term. Those are lessons that go way beyond middle school. Those are lessons that will stay with you for the rest of your life. But what but what really makes Mr. Franklin stand out is how much he cares about his students. Um he pays attention. Uh he notices when someone's struggling. He takes the time to check in. Uh that might sound like a
small thing, but for some students, uh like me, it means everything. It shows that someone is paying attention to you. uh that someone actually cares about how you're doing, not just how you perform in class. Uh Mr. Franklin, who some people know better as coach Franklin, uh has also
had a huge impact me impact through me um on wrestling. As a ninth grader, I've only had him as a coach for one season. But even in that short time, he made a lasting impact. Like a lot of athletes, I've gone through multiple injuries that kept me out for months and even entire seasons. Those are some of the hardest
moments, not just physically, but mentally, too. It's easy to feel discouraged, frustrated, and honestly pretty negative. But during those times, Coach Franklin was someone who who always made sure I stayed in the right mindset. He checked in on me, made sure I was doing okay, and reminded me to stay positive and focused. Even before
he was officially my coach, uh like in eighth grade, I had a serious back injury. He he still took the time to check up on me um and ask how I was doing, reminded me to be smart and trust the process. He didn't have to do that, but he did, and that meant a lot, especially during a time when I needed it. Having someone like that in your
corner every single day can change everything. It can take a situation that feels completely negative to you um and give you something positive to hold on to. It can help you uh keep going when it when it's when it'd be easier to quit. One thing he said u I will never forget is God can move mountains but you
have to bring a shovel. That's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. And I know that from years that years from now if someone said that quote to me I would I would be reminded of it immediately and how coach Frank used to say that not just at a random time but when it really mattered and even for people who may not connect with it in the same way the meaning still
applies. Life will move forward but you have to put the effort to move with it. Um you have to always do your part. That's what Mr. Franklin teaches both in classroom and on the mat. He teaches effort consistently discipline and a lot of resilience. He teaches students how to push through hard moments and come
out stronger, which I can clearly speak from personal experience. I understand that there are policies and rules and that sometimes decisions come down to things seniority. But I strongly believe that there should be exceptions when someone has this level of impact because this isn't just a position. It's about the students. It's about having a
teacher who makes kids want want to come to school every single day. Having a coach who supports students during some of their lowest moments. It's about having someone in the in the building who generally cares and proves it every single day. Those kinds of people are not easy to replace.
>> Thank you very much. >> Hello. Uh my name is Wallow. I live in Redwood and I am a freshman currently. Finding myself and learning how to manage life during this confusing time uh in high school has not been easy.
Like many teenagers, I've needed support along the way. But finding somebody that will truly support that stands by you no matter what is rare. Luckily for me, I found that in Mr. Franklin. Many people know him here as their coach. And to speak on that, he is a phenomenon. He
has helped me grow not only as an athlete but as a person. Teaching me lessons I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The support he gave me during the resting season meant more than more to me than I can ever put into words. I will always be grateful for how
he stood by me through every high and low. But that's not what I'm here to focus on because the truth is I first met him as my wellness teacher. Even during the wrestling season, I would often call him Mr. Franklin. While my teammates refer to him as Coach Franklin. They thought it was funny,
like I was still in middle school. But what they didn't understand is that Mr. Franklin was like was the one who prepared me for high school. At that time, I didn't know him as a coach. I knew him as a mentor. We had met through the junior wrestling program, but we weren't close like we
are now. We would occasionally talk about preparing for high school wrestling, but looking back and reflecting, I realized he was preparing me for high school as a whole. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know whether to feel excited or anxious.
But I remember feeling a sense of peace knowing that Mr. Franklin was there by my side. I remember him telling me that I would love high school, that I need to stay academically focused while still enjoying my time. He told me what to expect and that there will be moments
where I struggle, but also moments where I shine. Without his guidance, I would be far more stressed and uncertain. Mr. Franklin is an irreplaceable member of the Ridgewood community. The time and dedication he gives to others is admira.
He sacrifices his personal time to support students and families, coaching high school wrestling, junior wrestling, junior football, and contributing in the Alps club. He builds real relationships with people he meets, and that makes him an incredibly valuable asset to this
community. It truly pains me to see Mr. Franklin being disregarded. I do understand the budget cuts and how it's struggled, but it is it is upsetting to see how much he's done for not just me, but for everybody else. I sincerely hope the board of education
will reevaluate the situation and recognize the lasting impact of Mr. Franklin has had on students in the future of these programs. Thank you. Uh, hello. My name is Derek Terso. I am a sophomore at Ridgewood High School currently. Uh, I'd like to start off by disclaiming
the fact that I've only been I've only been near Mr. Franklin as a co like as a recipient of his coaching. I'm a student from GW Middle School, so I've not been taught by him in the wellness program. However, I do think that he demonstrates character traits, especially through my time with him coaching me. There's character traits that he demonstrates
that you would want in a teacher, somebody that you want to keep in the Rididgewood school system. And I think one of the first times I noticed these character traits was a personal experience I had during wrestling season, especially this year since it's my second season doing wrestling. I always felt that I overthought so much. I tend to overthink a lot of things in
life and I overthought like especially in matches. I was like how like I don't even know what I was doing. I just kept overthinking things. I wasn't understanding myself. And then I spoke to coach Franklin. I sent him an email after practice and said, "Hey, can I sit down with you after this practice and go over one of my matches? I want you to
watch one of my matches and say, "Hey, you should improve on this. I want you to tell me the specific individualized things I need to focus on." And he responded and then about two days later, we had to work out a time. Me and him sat down in the coach's office. I believe maybe one other coach was there. It was me, the coaches, and the janitors
in the school building. That's how late it was. And yet, Mr. Franklin still found the time to focus on helping me grow as a wrestler by giving me individualized feedback. Because all the teachers that I consider to be the best are the ones that care for the individual, ones that are able to walk students through tough times, especially
tougher classes, as my schedule gets tougher, I want teachers that are able to walk me through the process and able to help me understand. And I think that coach Franklin, while he isn't a teacher in an AP or an honors class, he's still able to help students walk through their struggles physically, like how I was in the athletics part. The second thing that I wanted to highlight about Coach
Franklin was his experience in the youth program. Uh, usually after high school practices, I would go and help the younger guys, basically like a second practice for me. And even though I wasn't there every time, Coach Franklin was. And Coach Franklin provides a level of continuity that I think is super
important for the Rididgewood High School program because a lot of the people that coach Franklin sees in DF as as gym students and as wrestling junior junior wrestlers, they're able to see him in the high school. the specific students that really love coach Franklin and are excited to see him their
freshman year and are really hoping to see him their freshman years this upcoming year. So I think that somebody who provide that level of continuity and especially passion because you know that somebody that has that level of passion is a valuable asset for the Rididgewood High School community and like I mentioned a like like I like the
affforementioned thing of the individualized part. He doesn't just treat Bridge High School District as one entity. Like he saw me individually, pull me aside after practice where nobody was in the building and yet he was still able to consider all parts of me as a human out of the 50 people on
the wrestling team, the hundreds that he coaches and the hundreds that he's teaching in BF. I think that's somebody who provides this level of individualization and also represents the continuity from the middle school to the high school provides provides
basically a safety net I think for a lot of the students that is one of the most important things that we would want in the Bridgewood High School community something that it's a quality that we like to keep in especially the core class teachers people that are able to make tough times easier and yet I feel like when we consider only the core classes we tend to miss out on people
like coach Frank because that's a gym teacher and somebody that we don't really see really outside. We only really consider the coaching role. I remember one of the emails in response was like separating the coaching role versus the the teaching role. And while I did only experience coach Franklin as a coach, I still think that the
character that the characters character traits that he represents are intangible. Those things don't change when you're teaching versus coaching. Those are things that still represent the qualities of the high school district, still represent the qualities that pe that people see Rididgewood as. You don't want Ridgwood to be seen with
stigmas. You want to be seen the characteristics of perseverance, trying harder, and believing that you believing that you can make it. And that's something that coach Franklin represents in all of his students, especially with his range as a teacher, because if he's able to, especially in a teaching role, he's able to promote that idea of being
that widespread idea of what the original community wants to be. And that is why I believe coach Franklin should be given more consideration. >> Thank you. Hello members of the BOE and our administrators. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak. My name is Neil Siker. Uh a father of three. My
eldest is in Rididgewood High School. My middle is a GW and my youngest who's here with me today is at Willard. Um there's uh the I'm also a board member of RJW and a
volunteer coach. I'm also a volunteer and board member of Rididgewood SSA which is a food pantry for the food insecure. I mention these positions because they've both been platformed for me to meet a lot of wonderful people in this community that give so much of
their valuable time to the community. And of all the dozens and dozens of people that I've met, no one stands out at the top of the list and separates himself from the pack like Bobby Franklin. Um he is just such a wonderful
human being. It was a privilege today to honor some of these retirees. Uh it was a nice benefit of coming to this meeting. Um, and if I found a couple of common themes among those people that retired and have given so much to the
Rididgewood school system is one, their dedication to the kids and two, their ability to connect with the kids. Um, and when I see them on their in their departure and I think about the hundreds
and hundreds, maybe even thousands of kids stage touch, I could totally see Bobby Franklin in that chair 20 years from now or 25 years from now. And so the decision that you make is a difference of seeing someone like that touching hundreds perhaps thousands of
kids. Um, being a teacher is hard. Being an educator is hard. And there are hard skills like following lessons plans and teaching core skills. Being a coach is hard. And there are hard skills. Understanding technique, how to run a
practice. Um, but we could find those folks. I think something that Bobby has are soft skills that unless you met him personally, unless you observed him personally, you'd have real trouble understanding of the magnitude of his
soft skills. And I think the kids talked about it today and its ability to meet them at to at where they're at, whether it's in the classroom, in the football, on the football field, or on the mat. He has this remarkable soft skill, and I
can't explain it. Whether you're a kindergartener or you're a senior in high school, he has ability to connect, meet you where you're at, and understand your self-worth. I've seen a lot of kids get disillusioned, especially in middle school, um, with the phones and all the
things that are going on in this world. They're just coming of age. They haven't figured themselves out. And I have seen him bring those kids back into our community. And that's step one. Otherwise, you lose them. and and and and that might be they might be disillusioned with school. They might be
disillusioned with with with the sport they're in. I'm a volunteer wrestling coach and I have seen dozens of of of of our young kids get disillusioned with the sport for whatever reason and he has just some magical ability to bring them
back in to not quit and to see the best versions of themselves. And I hope today you will reconsider his position within our school system so that in 20 years from now we're clapping when he
decides to retire. Thank you. Good evening, members of the board, the Bridgel Board of Education. My name is Joel Torielli. I'm a Ridgwood resident. All four of our children have gone through the Rididgewood public school system. I'm also a proud graduate of Travel BF and Ridgwood High School. So,
I've put some time in here and tonight I'm here to speak in in support of Bobby Franklin. Both you as a board and all of us in this community are deeply invested in Ridgewood. We all care about our students and about the long-term strength of this district.
That shared investment is exactly why this decision matters. The mission of the Ridgerwood Board of Education speaks about excellence, innovation, and providing a rich and challenging learning environment that enables students to maximize their unique potential.
This isn't just language, it's a standard. And tonight, you're deciding where that standard truly drives our priorities. This decision about Bobby Franklin is about Bobby Franklin is also about what this district values. Bobb's much more than an educator.
He reaches students in ways that go far beyond the classroom. He builds discipline, confidence, accountability, and self-worth. He changes trajectories. I've seen it firsthand with my sons, Luca and Dante, who are both here, both inside and
outside of the classroom. And the community sees it, too. More than 1100 people have signed a petition in support of Bobby. These are parents, students, alumni, and community members that are sending the same message. Bobby
is someone who matters. And as you know, that kind of consensus in Ridgewood is rare and it should carry weight. I understand this is being framed as a budget issue, but budgets are not just numbers. To me, budgets are priorities. And too often when financial pressure
hits, the cuts come closest to the students. The educators often who make the greatest differences are the ones who are put at risk. While at times administrative structures remain largely untouched. If we're serious about the board's
mission, then resources must be directed first towards direct student impact. Every dollar should be measured against one question. Does this meaningfully improve outcomes for our students? Bobby Franklin clearly does.
So why is this the place the board is choosing to cut? Because removing an educator like Bobby does does not just save money. It reduces impact across dozens if not hundreds of students. In my mind, he's a multiplier. His
influence extends far beyond a schedule, a classroom, or a job description. I also want to address the idea that he could somehow continue as a educator or a coach in a limited way if he's no longer employed by the district. I don't think that's realistic.
His impact comes from daily presence. Comes from being embedded in the school, in the community, being accessible, being consistent, and showing up day after day for our students and our athletes. If he's working somewhere else, that added time travel and competing demands
make that level of engagement almost impossible. And once that consistency is gone, the impact, as you know, is diminished. You can't replace an educator like Bobby Franklin with a part-time workaround. Students and athletes do not experience people in fragments. They experience
them through consistency, trust, and presence. Years from now, students will not remember all the hard work you're doing and how efficiently the budget was balanced. They will remember who showed up for them, who pushed them, and who believed
them. Bobby Franklin is one of those people. So tonight, my ask is really simple and direct. Please reconsider the decision and find a way to keep Bobby Franklin in Rididgewood. Take a hard look where the resources are being allocated, especially at the
administrative level. and prioritize the people who are delivering the greatest impact for our students because retaining educators like Bobby Franklin in my opinion is not optional. It's essential. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello everybody. Um
thank you for letting me speak tonight. Chris Wilson. Um, I have two boys in the Ridgewood uh, wrestling program and I have a daughter who will probably be following her brothers in the program as well. And um, I know this isn't about Coach Franklin, this is about Bobby
Franklin as as the teacher. And um, I thought long and hard about what would be most impactful for you to understand. So I'll give a little bit of background about myself. So I served in the Marine Corps as an infantry officer from 2007 2012. What the Marine Corps does
exceptionally well with their infantry officers is they teach us how to analyze leaders and how to find the next group of leaders to lead. Um when I was getting out in 2012, I was offered a position in the Marine Corps to go and
teach the new breed of lieutenants coming in either at Officer Canada School in Quanico, Virginia or a place called the basic school which is a six-monthlong essentially military academy. Um again this is your factual things. Those are typically those officers like myself are assigned those
positions because our ranks and our um you know uh reports were were really high because the Marine Corps takes it very very seriously that to train and and uh understand who are the next leaders of the Marine Corps. So, I I do consider myself um an expert in
leadership and analyzing that and I can tell you that Bobby Franklin is an exceptional leader and there is no shortage whether that's in our government, in local businesses or school districts if we can have enough
leaders like Bobby Franklin. Thank you. Hello members of the board. I'm Thomas Bryan, an 11th grader at RHS. Um, I would like to talk about two teachers. Uh, first off, Mr. Zakowski. Mr. Zakowski has been a teacher that I've known since last year. Uh, I went to one
of his classes last year during my free period. Uh, and when I went there, everyone there was interested in his history class. Everyone was interested and he was interested in them as well. Even when I came in, a random student that didn't know him at all, they would
he would come up to me and ask how my day was going and he would learn things about me and like just talk about them. And it was really interesting to see that. This year I had him in my class. He was my teacher. And this year he has talked to me daily and every student
daily. He's been invested in everyone's life and he's been really interested in everyone. And he has a class that I have learned the most in. I've learned the most about history in his class compared to any other teacher that I've had. And he has been really a significant teacher
to my education. And I feel like he is just overall an amazing person as a leader and as a teacher and as a friend. He's just been an amazing person overall. Now, the second person I would like to talk about is Coach Franklin. As I know many people
have already talked about Coach Franklin, but I would like to give my own view as well. I did wrestling in ninth grade and he was a great coach during that time and I really loved him during my co being a coach and he was really just a great coach. I quit wrestling after that and I thought I
would be embarrassed to see him. I thought it would be embarrassing for me to see him because I quit that sport. And even though I quit, we had an Alps trip. And during that trip, he was one of the uh coordinators. And during that time, I thought I was going to be
embarrassed by talking to him, but he still talked to me like I was one of his like students or one of the people he was coaching. He talked to me like a friend. He talked to me as a peer. And he made me not feel as uncomfortable as I used to feel. And I feel like overall
from what everyone has said, Coach Franklin has been an amazing coach. He has been someone that has inspired so many people and so many lives. So I feel overall for both of these teachers, I'd like you guys to think about them. Just think about how much they've impacted other people's lives and just think
about where this money can be allocated elsewhere. Because even though I may agree that there is a budget cut, I believe that there are other places we can take that money from that don't involve teachers because teachers are the main foundation of this education system and getting rid of them will
cause this education system to lack because these two teachers and coaches are extremely important. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, members of the board of education. Um, you know, it's funny that Thomas just went before I did because
>> if you could just I'm sorry, give your name. >> Yes, I have Erica Brandt. I'm a Ridgewood parent, community member. Um, I have four kids who passed through the high school. And it just touched me that that student just said that because I was going to really only speak about
Coach Franklin. Um, because I understand that Mr. Zakowski who is a fabulous teacher is also a foregone conclusion because he was brought in on a temporary basis for two years. So um but I am going to speak about Mr. Scowski because
it's the right thing to do. Um I've written to the board with my questions and spoke in detail with Miss Bogan about the financial difficulties that the board is facing. No doubt there are gaps uh and I'm very grateful for the thoughtful replies and information that
was shared uh by the board. Uh I'm here tonight to urge you to reconsider the decisions that are affecting Mr. Zakowski and Mr. Franklin and more broadly to ask that this board move away from a last in first out approach when it comes to our educators. Seniority alone should never determine who steps
in our classrooms and stays in our classrooms. Quality of teachers must matter. I want to acknowledge something that it's often difficult to say publicly. I understand that we operate within collective bargaining agreements and that letting go of tenure teachers is extremely difficult. takes a lot of
consistency, effort, and painstaking documentation. These protections uh that exist for teachers are there for very important reasons. However, I can also say firsthand that there are teachers at Ridgewood High School who are disengaged, who do not cons consistently
show up for their students, and even have teachers who have disciplinary actions against them. Yet, they remain in the district year after year. And that reality is what makes this decision particularly painful because it signals to our families and our students that
excellence is secondary to longevity. Mr. Zakowski is the kind of teacher parents dream their children will have. My daughter comes home excited about history, eager to discuss ideas, ask questions, think critically, and that doesn't happen by accident, folks. It happens because there he's a teacher who
genuinely invests in his students. Mr. Franklin's impact stretches from elementary school through the high school. Those middle school years, every parent here knows they are fragile ones. This is exactly when young people need a coach and a mentor who sees them, who
builds their confidence, holds them accountable, and gives them something to be proud of. Hatching a child at that stage and giving them structure and belonging is not just good teaching, it's prevention. It keeps kids from becoming the struggling, disconnected teenagers that we see later on in high school.
Both of these men represent the best of Rididgewood, and our budget decisions should reflect that. If the district's tradition of excellence means anything, it has to start with keeping our best teachers, not simply our longest tenured ones. Please explore every alternative, including reduction of administrative
bloat before allowing educators like Mr. Zapowski and Mr. Franklin, to be lost to another district. Uh, you know, I'm a COO of a housing company. I'm very familiar with budget limitations,
regulatory agreements. Um, but I also know that when there's an emergency, budgets can be flexible. And I think this leadership should consider this an emergency. Um, and I'd also like to add that co-pilot and Claude make very great
administrative assistance. Uh, they allow less people to less staff to support more people. I personally have an administrative assistant that I share with nine others. So, uh, thank you for listening. Thank you for, uh, replying to our emails and, uh, just
please consider the things that have been said here and whether or not you can move things around in the budget to make this work for Mr. Franklin and Mr. Sakowski. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, uh, ladies and gentlemen of the board, uh, as well as, uh, Dr.
Schwarz, administrators. Um, I'm here today and I I know I reached out via email as well, but I I feel compelled to speak tonight, uh, on behalf of Robert Franklin. Um, some of you may know that, uh, >> Could you just give your name? >> Oh, I apologize. I'm David Mland. I live
in Rididgewood. I have two children. Thank you. >> In the Ridge School District as well. >> Um I'm also uh president of the RJW Junior Wrestling Foundation. And I say that not because of the foundation, but of the time that Bobby Franklin actually
donates to the program. He comes and helps out with our K through8 children. Not not a paid position. He does this after hours of coaching at the high school. donates his time to give back to kids, like I said, from kindergarten all
the way to eighth grade. And what I can tell you as being president of RJW is the tremendous feedback that I get from the parents and the community. Whether it be an email, whether it be a text, whether it be he went and coached four hours for a tournament all the way out in Del Barton that he's not getting paid
for. These aren't high school kids. some of them uh he may have a connection with from Benjamin Franklin or from the middle school, but he really does it because he loves the sport. He loves the kids and he loves giving back to the community. Um I know he was raised in Ridgewood, went to Ridgewood High
School, and I can't say what the kids have said already tonight any better, but what I can tell you is there's many, many more kids that would say the same thing. It may not be as eloquent as the the students that spoke here tonight, but they're certainly behind Coach Frankton and that I want to convey to
the board. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, Board of Ed. Thank you for allowing me to speak. My name is Michael Calipano. I have two children in the system, both at Willard, um, ages 10 and eight. I'd like to start by saying in full
transparency that I haven't known Mr. Franklin very long, only two years in fact, and interacted with him for only a few months in each of those years. So, not much time at all. However, despite the short amount of time I've known him, I'm here. It's actually the first board
of education meeting I've attended, aside from my mother-in-law's retirement from the Maywood School District a few years back. I share that to demonstrate the immediate and lasting impact a person like Mr. Franklin has on people, myself included. I'm compelled to be
here because he's that unique and that important, particularly his impact on the young people he interacts with and their parents. As a community and a board, I would imagine that one of our core goals is to hire upstanding individuals to take on the responsibility of teaching and
coaching the students of Ridgewood. Well, we have an extremely unique one already on staff. One who has an uncanny ability to influence, motivate, lead, and shape our community. It would be a shame to dislodge that.
I'd like to repeat a quote said earlier from one of the students that I hear Mr. Franklin share often and it's resonated with me and I believe it's something his father instilled in him. And to quote again, he said, "You can move a mountain, but you have to bring a
shovel." And so on behalf of everyone here and in support of Mr. Franklin in here tonight and our community as a whole, I'd ask you to all grab a shovel and make that move, not just for Mr.
Franklin, but for the community, the teaching staff, the students, and the teams that he impacts. Thank you. Thanks, Sorry, short people problems. Um, my name is Paul Lashado and I am um the wrestling Mr. President at the high
school. I'm actually speaking here tonight in support of Mr. Franklin, a beloved physical education teacher along with a decorated assistant wrestling coach. But my voice Tonight is just a whisper. The voices of these kids should
speak volumes. The voices in that petition should make you see how much he matters to this community. And that petition was not started by a disgruntled booster president. It was started by the kids. The kids themselves. While I was trying to figure
out how I can make you understand how much he means, these kids got together and they put that petition out. over a thousand folks. We are a community that believes in excellence. Don't let Mr.
Franklin go. He matters so much. He's one of our own. He helps these kids every day. And that work did not start on the mat. That work started at BF in those hallways. He speaks to those kids in a way that I wish I could speak to my
own four kids. He matters. Please listen to everyone. listen to us tonight. There's a rumor that maybe one of the assistant superintendent might be going to a different position. Maybe don't replace that position and try to save
some of the teachers, some of the teachers that care. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Esther Kim, a Ridgwood resident, and I stand before you as a product of the Rididgewood public school system. I started my student career at Orchard, then GW, then
RHS, and I'm a I'm proud to see teachers from my time still write raising the next generation, those who retired today, and people like Mrs. Handy, who was at GW during my childhood. Thank you for all that you do. Growing up, I had immense Rididgewood pride, a love of learning as a student, admiration for
our teachers, and respect for the administration's accomplishments. Call me naive, but I truly believe public schools is the best in the Northeast, which is why I always knew I would return here to raise my own children. During high school, I co-founded the official RHS dance team. I launched the
first publicly ticketed Asian festival. I represented Rididgewood on a European choir tour. I experienced firsthand how incredible it was to work with educators who put students and families first. Now, as a Rididgewood parent with a Willard kindergartener and a toddler at ITDC, this past month of budget
discussions has been disappointing, shocking, and a rude awakening. It has fallen short of the Ridgewood tradition of excellence, lacking levels of transparency, collaboration, and care for community promised by the Ridgewood name. Through this process, I've witnessed the common thread of frustration amongst parents impacted by
busing changes, teacher position cuts, program elimination. There's a disconnect between what the administration promises and what actually gets delivered. Families want to see the due diligence in a timely manner on budget decisions. The pluses and minuses on busing costs, teacher
salaries, program revenues. Constituents have the right to be informed. Elected members of the board of education are put in power to reflect the voice of people. If decisions like these are made behind closed doors, shouldn't the board be the voice of reason, the voice of the constituents in that room? In the case
of the ITDC community, we did not have that courtesy. On March 16th, Dr. Schwarz proposed changes in ITDC programming as a cost-saving measure. It seems counterproductive walking away from a profitable program during a budget constrained year. As parents, we're not fighting changes. We're merely
asking question, holding the superintendent's office accountable for transparency to mathematics. Over the past five weeks, our ITDC community have reached out to participate in said discussion and received no direct answers to our financial questions. We even filed Oprah requests, started a
petition, all grasping at straws for levels of transparency. Despite this, answers from Dr. Schwarz and Dr. Fenwick were vague in theory, still pending, referred to as an imprecise process. Student headcount is not vague. Number of teachers in a classroom, not vague.
Overtaking exactly three classrooms, not vague. Choosing to shut down the intake of infants at a 43-year-old institution, not vague. If the decision to sunset ITDC was made on vagueness, that is alarming. The final program changes to
ITDC were actually sent out on email last Friday, zero business days before tonight's meeting, two weeks before final budget approval, five weeks since we first started this conversation. Buried at the end of that email was an FAQ link that illustrated numbers we've been imploring for over a month. And
even after review of those numbers, I can tell you I have more questions than answers. No direct email response to parent outreach, no phone calls, no decency of a promised face-to-face meeting. Just an FAQ link after one month hiding behind a computer screen is a slap in the face. The families,
teachers, and staff at ITDC have become collateral damage. REACH and ITDC are equally esteemed programs. General education and IEP students equally deserve resources from this town. Staff and families at both schools equally deserve their voices to be heard.
Parents in this town are asking for timely transparency during a difficult decision-making year. We're merely asking for clarity on the means to which you come to this end. The board of ed and superintendent are not only elected and paid to deliver results, but also to foster the Ridgewood tradition of
excellence. Please live up to the standard it takes to carry the torch of this town. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Dana Thalos. I'm a Rididgewood resident, Somerville Elementary School mom, Rididgewood Infant Toddler Development Center mom,
and chair of the ITDC PTO. I'm here tonight as a follow-up to my public comments on March 23rd as unfortunately until a few hours before tonight's meeting. We had been met with strategic silence. Earlier today, we received a response from the public relations office with assurance of a scheduling a
future meeting where we would receive answers to the repeated questions I've asked over the past six weeks. No actual answers were provided, rather a redirect to the aforementioned FAQ page on the Rigid public school website that was uploaded as of April 16th. On March
23rd, we asked for clarity on several topics, including transparency, partnership to create and save a critical revenue generating public school program given that staff and parents had learned of this potential program shift via public notes on March 16th from versus from the administration
directly. And while we still do understand the macro challenges facing the budget, healthc care concerns and these challenges should have been known as of September or October of last year. While the FAQ website did address some of the partial concerns had it not been for the efforts of the parents over the
last six weeks, we are left to wonder whether any of this information would have been shared before the Mar the May 4th budget meeting or if a website would have been created at all. This conversation is about much more than shutting down ITDC. While that was never the desired outcome, parents understood
the many hard choices that were in front of the administration and the board of education, and we understood that closures were possibly a necessary measure. However, a process void of real transparency, engagement, and after the-act information is irresponsible, and we certainly hope that this is not
something we should continue to expect from this administration. Maintaining a tradition of excellence in rigid public schools requires excellence in public process and procedure. Parents deserved better throughout this process, and we will continue to demand more. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Hi everyone, my name is Reena Christie. I'm a lifelong Rididgewood resident. I went through RPS, have four children that also went through the school system. I'm currently a paraprofessional in the infant room at ITDC.
I'm here about the restructure of ITDC, but I'm not here about the budget. I'm here to lift up my fellow teachers that are in risk of their lives being restructured and how it was done. And I chose to come here and speak to you face to face, not through an email.
So on the Glen School ITDC website, one of the FAQs question is, is this the beginning of a full ITDC closure? The answer is not what I'm getting at, but what I want you to hear is that the reply was first sentence, the district
wants to be direct and unambiguous on this point because dot dot dot and it ends with however if this assessment were to change in the future, the community will be engaged in that conversation through a transparent and deliberate process, not through
decisions made without notice. But I'd like to explain to everyone here and remind you how we all found out about this. So mid-March, one of the parents came to pick up a student and said, "I'm sorry about what's happening at ITDC." And every single one of us was
blindsided. Every person, including the administration. Now, for a teacher that has worked there and loved these children and have done so much for them and we have created a community and a team, something like
that was just a slap in her face. And it's not fair and it's not right coming from people who are supposed to be in charge of an entire community. Regardless, um he found out about it by listening to
the board of ed meeting in March. And then finally on April 16th, families and teachers received a notice through email. One month hardly seems like enough time to make a decision to restructure a program that has been in our village for over 40 years and is
highly regarded. This isn't corporate America. This is a place of love and learning in a close-knit village. These women and families in our community deserve a huge apology for the disrespect apology that they were treated and you can do that not by
following through with the proposed changes this year and allow all of us the time to work together to keep this program alive. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, hi. My name is Francesca Guza and I'm a senior at the high school and I've
been a part of the wrestling program for as long as Coach Franklin has. Um, I started my sophomore year and he started coaching that year. And I've wrestled for a really, really long time. Um, and I have to say that coach Franklin stands
out as a coach, not just for his passion um, about wrestling, but also about his care for you, not just as an athlete, but also just as a person. And, um, while I can't speak to how he is as a teacher, I can say that my brothers um,
have had him as a teacher and they've said nothing but um, positive things. Um but however I can speak to how he's affected me and um a lot of these people as a coach. So first and foremost, other than just being a coach at the high school, Coach Franklin is really
involved in the community. He um coaches Y classes for the youth and the high schoolers outside of the season and he's really committed to growing that program. Um and then also he's really committed to growing girls who wrestle
at the high school. I remember at the beginning of last year, um, the girls and I were trying to increase involvement of girls who were wrestling in our, uh, team and he immediately was on board to help out with getting new girls to join and he ran our first
practice that we had for just girls at the school and he's really committed to helping us grow that. So, he cares about um really wrestling in all aspects and us as students beyond just our sport. And you can't you're not really going to
find that anywhere else. I feel like that passion, his willingness to volunteer his own time and that spirit of like really selfless giving, that's something that you're not going to find in anyone. And I feel like getting rid of someone who we already have that's really contributing to our program, um
it does just doesn't make any sense. And like um members have said before, he's just not another number to balance while looking at the budget. He's an invaluable member of the community for more than um more than just the wrestlers, but also the people who see
him or co taught by him at BF and for the people that he coaches through the other youth programs. And so ultimately I feel like the students and what's best for us is supposed to be at the forefront of the decisions being made and prioritizing our education and our
development as um students and people is the reasons that we should be making these decisions. So I think considering how much of an impact Mr. Franklin and Coach Franklin has is something that really needs to be thought about. And I just want to highlight that we've
discussed how um coaching roles his coaching role like I sent an email and it was mentioned that his coaching role wouldn't necessarily be impacted just maybe his teaching role but like other people have mentioned it's really it's a lot harder to coach in a district you don't teach at like just logistically
it's a lot harder and we'd be losing that not just us as a team but also that pipeline from youth to um youth wrestlers to high school wrestlers and alo also just people um who like know him through other parts of the community including students at the middle school
and so I think ultimately even though I haven't had him as a have haven't had him as a teacher I think the same enthusiasm and dedication is required in both coaching and teaching and I think those things are probably those values are interchangeable and at the end of the day we should really just care about
what's helping students the most in growing in both their education and athletics and um it's about pushing us to become the best version of ourselves. So, I just want to say that Coach Franklin was crucial in helping me with what I've accomplished as um a wrestler and as a student, and I really hope
other students get that same opportunity to work with him in the future. So, thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Are there any other comments? I know I have comments from people who are uh remote. So, >> okay. Hi, I'm Megan Beerley uh Ridgewood
resident and um I haven't had time to prepare a speech because I got called a few hours ago from a parent very nervous on there's discussion and I haven't seen it posted anywhere. I'm hoping there can be some clarification. Discussion of the ELA program being um postponed till the
2027 school year. No. Okay, you don't have to respond now. Hopefully Dr. Schwarz can respond later, but I want to just illustrate again like so many of our students and our parents have spoken today, we need to stay focused on our kids and the impact that'll have on our children and this
ELA program that so many people have put so much work into and plans in place affects all of our students and affects all of their futures. So, I hope that that still is on the table for next year and um hoping that parents got this information and we can get some more clarity on that. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Good evening, board. Um, my name is Monica Aula. Um, first of all, I don't know coach Franklin, but it doesn't take rocket science and three degrees to figure out all these children here
begging you to keep the coach. It's your it's your decision tonight and to make the right decision for these children. Not for us the parents but for them. But what brings me here tonight um I like I mentioned my name is Monica
Aula. I live in corner of Undercliffe and North Maple Avenue. My husband Kevin and I um have four children. to a GW and to a Wheeler Elementary. Uh we have used the school service uh since our children started kindergarten. Uh for the past
three decades, uh our route the school has been classified as hazardous. Um and it is hazardous. In order to reach Wheeler Elementary, our children will have to cross two crossings. The first one is Glenn Avenue and then the the
second one will be at Upper Boulevard. Um, vehicles speed up on North Maple daily at all time. I know there's a speeding zone that is not respected. Um, and I
know our neighbors have been in touch with the police department for something to be done, but putting our children to walk to school is an im imminent danger. if they take the bikes or they walk. We
need the school service and our route. I'm here tonight to ask you to reconsider the decision of closing this route. Our neighbors in Undercliffe along with our neighbors in Malbury Place, Barnett Place, Pine Cliff,
Downing, Brighton Place, Oak Street relied on this bus service to deliver our children to school safely. I want to leave you tonight with a simple question.
If our route W9 to Wheeler Elementary has been hazardous for the past 26 years, what has changed now? What is differing now? We still don't have sidewalks. We still have to cross two
dangerous streets, Maple and Glenn. These two streets have become increasingly hazardous and great in and in and our children are in greater threat threat to cross them.
The safety of our children must be the board priority. It's in your hands to keep this route open. We do need it and our children need it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for being Blue.
>> Thank you. Uh, good evening. My name is Matthew Mazella. I am a Rididgewood resident. Um, I'm here to also express my concern about the proposed changes to the busing. Uh I also uh live on Undercliff Court and I have two young children who attend Willard Elementary
School and um on the W9 bus route. Uh again, our street um our neighborhood has been designated as a hazardous route for nearly three decades and literally nothing has changed uh to change that uh
from a safety standpoint. Uh in order to for our kids to uh walk over to Willard, it would uh require the most direct route uh to cross an active uh train track over the Hookas station. Uh and
the alternate route um would require our children to cross Glenn uh two times uh because the there's not a continuous sidewalk uh that goes from our side on Glenn over uh where the kind of railroad uh bridge is over there. So, and there
are no guards uh at those crosswalks. Uh so, this uh constitutes a very dangerous um route and we really just want to be there for the safety of our children uh on this. Um I submitted photos documenting the conditions to the
district earlier today and urged the board to review these before voting and to maintain the W9 hazardous route designation for Undercliff Court in the surrounding areas. uh to expect our kids to cross train tracks, get to elementary school is the exact reason why we have a
hazardous uh designation and uh and thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Uh Danny Tone, Ridgewood resident. I also live on Undercliff. Um so my two children will be impacted by the changing of the bus route. Um, as a
grown man, I don't feel safe walking to Willard on any of those or riding my bike that I have a trailer at, throw the kids in. Um, it's not a good situation to take my kids in a trailer and a bike to their own school. Uh, one kid is an ITDC. We'll get back to that in a
minute. Um, so we need more teachers, not less. Uh, Bobby Franklin really is a pillar of this community. I barely know him. My nephew is a first year wrestler. Uh, watching the change in him has been
phenomenal, and it's in no small part thanks to Bobby Franklin. My, uh, my brother-in-law got knee surgery, so I took my nephew to his first wrestling practice. And, uh, watching Bobby Franklin, I didn't know
who he was, but within five minutes of watching him with 50 plus first year wrestlers was incredible. He had these kids watching, paying attention. Their jaws were on the floor. I can't do that with two kids. I don't know how he did
it with more than 50 kids. Um, you've heard enough here tonight from everybody about him and and uh, incredible. I'm a coach myself and I aspire to to be a coach at the level that he is. Um,
ITDC, I I agree wholeheartedly. It was a disrespectful delivery to the to the folks there. Um and I I hope that you'll do better by them. Um the busing changes, please reconsider. 30 years like Monica said, um it's been
classified as a dangerous route. What's changed? Um and last but not least is get, you know, like many people here, I've gotten a letter that someone wants to come into my house and assess my taxes. They're not going to go down, they're going to go up. So let's figure this out, please. Thank you.
Thank you. Any Hi, I'm Liz Hanky. I'm a resident. Sorry that I missed any retirees. Uh, congratulations to all the retirees. I'm sure you guys made it special. Thank you. Um, I stand before you not just as a community member, but someone that's
deeply concerned about the direction of our district. A former student, physical education teacher, and coach of the Rich Public Schools. I'm concerned specifically about the decision to cut the physical education and health teachers. While administrative positions keep continuing to grow.
Sorry, if you can give me thousands of kids, I'll take over, but talking to grown-ups, it's trickier for me. Um, at its core, education is about student experience. is about the time a children spend with the adults who guide them, mentor them and support them on a daily basis. Health and phys and wellness
teachers are peripheral are peripheral to this are not peripheral to this mission. They're are central to it. They're among the few educators who connect with the students consistently who set them in motion outside of the regular classroom and they see them in a different light. They recognize some if
when something is off and they often serve as an early line of support for physical and mental wellness. We're living in a time where the whole district, if you look at every HSA, we're constantly talking about the wellness of our kids and we're spending
all of our HSA money to get special speakers in to to help our kids. Physical education and health classes are not just about exercise. They are outlets. They are safe spaces. There are opportunities for students to reset, build confidence, learn resilience, and
develop habits that can carry with them throughout their lives. Reducing staffing in these areas is to reduce access to those supports. Recently, the elementary school physical education programs were asked to change.
There was more pupil contact time without the increase of equipment, budget, or safety concerns. As a result, the curriculum had to be adjusted. Did the PEV did the PE teachers pivot? Yeah. Um, did they do that? Do they do the
best that they can? Yes. Do they have to be creative and get the children give the children what they need? Yes. That's what teachers do. Um, health and fizzed is one of, if not the most important part of these kids day. There has to be
a better answer than to cut health and PE teachers. I would like to highlight one teacher in particular, Bobby Franklin. Bobby consistently goes above and beyond what is asked of him. He builds relationships. He shows up for his students, not just as a teacher, but as a mentor and a role model. He
represents the very best of what education should be. He connects with the kids. He cares. And he's committed. Whenever I'm a part of their wellness days, their turkey trots, their career days, he's always there making making sure it all runs smoothly. a track coach needed. Yes, Bobby stepped in not only
to be the track coach, but he to be he started the practices earlier. He wanted as many BF kids involved. He wanted them to achieve their goals and make it fun in an appropriate comp appropriately competitive way while representing their school. Individuals like Bobby are not
interchangeable and they can their impact can't be measured by numbers on a spreadsheet. When we lose educators like him, we lose more than a position. We lose a a connection and a meaningful part of our
kids' lives. I urge you guys to take a step back, check out the budget, and see what you can do and make sure that we're making a child center child centered decision. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening, Bridgewood Board of Ed.
Alyssa Mgavo. I have two children at Somerville, six and seven. The decision to lay off Coach Bobby Franklin is not a minor staffing adjustment. This is the removal of an educator whose presence fundamentally
changes the trajectory of our youth, including that of my son. We all understand that budget cuts are ongoing and a difficult reality. There are cuts that streamline operations and then there are cuts that sever something essential. This decision
decision falls squarely into the latter. The cost of losing Coach Bobby at BF and within the RJW program will never appear on one of your spreadsheets. Instead, it'll surface in the students who struggled to find their footing, in the
child who needed a mentor and advocate, and in the lives that could have been redirected but weren't. These are outcomes that no budget line is measuring. Ridgewood has long prided itself on investing in its children and in the programs that promote leadership,
character, and long-term success. Coach Bobby embodies each of these values. He's gone above and beyond the expectation of his role, consistently raising the bar, showing students what it means to truly believe in themselves. His influence extends well beyond the
gym and the wrestling mat. Just look around this room. He's changing lives and entire families. Removing him removes a vital part, a vital lifeline for our children. Our students deserve educators who inspire them, challenge
them, support them. We deeply urge you to reconsider. Continue this legacy that Rididgewood has built by keeping leaders like Coach Bobby where they where they belong with our children. Thank you. >> Thank you. Good evening. Keith Bukallo, Bridgewood
resident. I have two sons in the high school. Um, Bobby Franklin. You're going to be well versed on him tonight. As you as you know, you'll be go home and dream about Bobby Franklin tonight. He came I came across Bobby Franklin one Saturday afternoon. I was at a junior wrestling
practice with my son. And I've know all the coaches there. I I sat at all the practices and watched and it's great. We have fathers who coach, you know, other coaches come in. Bobby came in. I never saw him before. Wasn't sure what he brought to the table. All of a sudden, as the last one of the last gentleman
spoke said, Bobby had everyone's attention. All the kids were focused. Now, if you've ever gone to a Ridgewood Junior wrestling practice, getting those kids to focus from five years old to 13 years old is very difficult. Bobby had them all sitting, taking a knee,
watching, teaching, instructed, instructing. So again, a lot of us here have talked about him as a coach, but what is a coach really? Coach is a teacher. Everyone up here, I don't know any of you guys, but I bet you've all played some sort of sport or you've had a child who's played a sport and you've
sat or you've coached or you've seen others coach and you say, "Not sure about that coach or what's that guy doing or that girl doing?" Or, "Wow, that's a really good coach." When you see Bobby Franklin, you know he's a good coach and that makes him a good teacher. So
again, it's live. He's not using powerpoints. He's not using all the latest technology. He's using his voice, his demeanor. And again, to get five to 12, 13 year olds to focus and learn the moves. I was intrigued. I didn't know who he was. I didn't know he was a
teacher. I just the way he walks, the way he moves, you know, he's a wrestler. But to watch him handle those students, those children, and make them learn on a Saturday afternoon when he didn't need to be there. He was was a 30-year-old guy. He probably could have been doing a million other things, right? But he was
there for them, and they were focused on him. And I I was just always been impressed. And when I learned from my son, oh, he's a phys teacher in my school, like I knew that guy was a teacher. There was something different between the parents who volunteer and coach and do a great job and him. he
could get his point across with with minimal effort, you know, and he kept their attention. And I think we're not worried about Bobby's future as a teacher. He'll be fine. He will be a teacher somewhere. Some other district will get him. He will be retiring in 30
years from another district if we don't keep him here, right? And they'll sing his praises. But the students were the one are the ones who are really going to be affected by this. Again, I teenage boys. you know how teenage boys are if you have them right and it's nice to have another younger male role model for
them to look at and talk to and he listens and he listens to me. My son wasn't eating right for matches and I just talked to him. He went to my son and talked to him about eating. You know how you do this stuff wrestling? I'm not a wrestler so I didn't know but he sat there and he spoke to me. He gives
individual attention to all these kids. They've all said it. all these guys and girls who haven't spoken, they think the world of him or they wouldn't be here on a Monday night. They could be doing something else. So again, I know budgets are tough. Busing is very scary for these kids, losing little programs and
other teachers. I just hope that money can be found that maybe some senior teachers will decide in the next couple weeks that they're going to retire and there'll be some spots for valuable members. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Good evening, members of the board. My name is Alisa Quinn, and I'm here
tonight to speak in strong support of Mr. Franklin and to respectfully urge you to do everything possible to retain him as a teacher in our district. Mr. Franklin is a truly wonderful example of what an educator should be. He is caring, knowledgeable, and deeply
committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his students. He consistently goes above and beyond taking extra time to build students confidence and instill values like kindness, perseverance, and respect.
Most importantly, he has a remarkable ability to connect with students so they feel seen, supported, and encouraged every single day. On a personal level, Mr. Franklin teaches my son at Ben Franklin and I have seen him firsthand.
I have seen the firsthand impact he has had. My son has also had the opportunity to work with him on track and as a volunteer coach in Ridgewood Junior Wrestling and at the YMCA. Seeing him in both settings has only reinforced what many families already
know. His influence on children is positive, consistent, and deeply meaningful both inside the classroom and outside. As a coach, he builds teamwork, resilience, and a true can do attitude. He makes sure every child, especially
those who are struggling, feels valued and capable of success. But while his work in athletics is appreciated, it is it is his daily work in the classroom that has the most profound and lasting effect on students. That is where he truly shines and that
is where he is needed. Educators like Mr. Franklin are rare. His dedication does not stop when the school day ends. He volunteers his time, stays involved in the community, and continues to invest in students growth in every way
he can. The outpouring of support you've seen through petitions and letters is not limited to the wrestling community. It reflects the broader school community and the wide reach of his influence as a teacher. While it is appreciated that he may have the option to remain involved as an
assistant coach, the reality is that his profession and livelihood are rooted in teaching, a role which he excel excels at. It is this position that enables him to both support himself and generously dedicate his time to coaching, enriching
students experiences both academically and athletically. Losing Mr. Franklin would be a significant loss for our district, for our community, and especially for the many students whose live lives he has already positively shaped. So, I respectfully urge you to
take a broader this broader perspective into consideration and find a way to retain him. His contributions are truly invaluable and he represents the very best of what our schools strive to provide. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.
I'm going to go to the U remote. We've got speakers here. Peter M. Yes, you're on with the board, Mr. Maltton. >> Hi, Peter Molton, Rididgewood resident.
Um two items uh for this evening. Um one is in regards to uh physical education in general. Uh there was a presentation to the board I believe about two years ago now in regards to
physical education and uh the disparity between um uh the uh elementary, middle and high school in regards to the programs and um there were some fixes that were deemed to be uh appropriate and
necessary at that time as we're I thought it would be timely for the board and the administration to just reflect back on that to make sure that our children are receiving the appropriate amount of physical education. Um I unfortunately could say at an elementary
level the conversations now with my youngest child versus my oldest child have not changed um in any significance and the elementary was actually where the um physical education was uh well under the minimum uh by the state.
Uh the second is uh from when we had the preliminary budget presentation uh my comment because I've been here having the conversations and uh reviewing presentations for many years now is that the yeah the issues that the board and
the administration face in regards to uh tax raising andor budget cuts is is not surprising especially when some of the um funds that we knew were going to go away did. Um and healthcare is likely the trajectory has been and generally
inflation has been um much higher than the 2% uh uh from the state although obviously you know certain things we can get we get certain other dollars. Um I I think that I want to go at a very high level here is that this is you we hear the the conversations in regards to the
items with all the parents and students today uh and I'm sure you've had many other conversations in regards to busing and infant toddler um that it really becomes a question of directionality. This is going to be one of the first
times that you're likely going to have to go to the stakeholders and ask for um an increase uh above the 2% the first that I I'm aware of in quite some time. And the question becomes should we be
generally either asking for more money if there aren't other places to cut to keep teachers like yeah the ones we're hearing about today or keep programs. And this is going to be a directionality as you inflation and other things might
go up at a faster pace than the 2%. You know, what is going to be the direction of the district and and is there a consideration for possibly more uh surveying uh as an example? You know, I I I brought up, you know, h having more
um recreational sports and intramurals. I mean, it seems like it again, that's probably never going to happen um if we can't in these types of conversations. So, we're just going to keep reducing programs, reducing things over time and is is that the direction we want to go
in? Are these the conversations that we want to keep having? Um versus possibly asking what are willing what are the what is the town willing to pay for busing? What is the town willing to pay for Mr. Fisher?
Oh, sorry, Franklin. And what what are we willing to pay for it now? We have that now that the town has to be asked. And so I think having more surveys and having some of these discussions to get stakeholders input, I think would be something that may be worthwhile. Um,
but there is a directionality conversation that the town has to consider. And so, um, thank you for your time. >> Thank you. Um, you're on with the board. I'm I'm sorry. I just can't see your name.
>> Okay. Hello, >> Nico. Thank you. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, I honestly wasn't going to speak on this subject, but after hearing all the amazing things that people were
saying and how devoted people really were to keeping teachers on the board, it honestly really inspired me and kind of like it was very heartwarming to me to see this. And I think the main thing I want to talk about is Mr. Zakowski. Um, I had Mr.
Zakowski last year and as a student growing up, I have always like hated history. History is one of my least favorite subjects. If I could choose not to take history, I would not take it. And what Mr. Sakowski has done for me is
he truly has grown my interest in history. Last year, I went from almost not wanting to go to class until I met Mr. Z. And I love that class. It became one of my favorite classes. And that just goes to show how great of a teacher
that Mr. Zakowski is. And I feel like to get rid of him would just be doing nothing but harm for this school because Mr. Zakowski has is one of the greatest teachers that I've ever had. And whenever people ask me, I get this question a lot. Who's your favorite
teacher? And I will always bring up my third grade teacher and my fourth grade teacher, but honestly, Mr. Zakowski, I would have to say, is almost up there with being one of my favorite teachers. and he takes the time to get to know his students. I went from hating history to
him making me love it. I would go home to my parents and tell my parents new facts about history. He would make me very interested on a topic. He would have interactive lessons. He would answer questions thoroughly and he'd make students understand and love the class.
So, I don't have too much more to say, but I just want to say Mr. Zakowski is an amazing teacher and I know he's new and getting rid of him would do nothing but harm for this school because honestly the things that he has done for
me and the for the things that he's done for other students is honestly just amazing and it means so much to me. He's he's grown a relationship with me. I unfortunately do not have him this year but every time he sees me in the hallway we always have a short conversation. We
always say hi. He always tells me to like have a great day. He always boosts my mood and not having him in the school would honestly just be horrible for me and for everybody else. So that I just wanted to bring it up. Thank you. >> Thank you,
>> Elena. Is it Elena? >> Yes. Hello. Can you hear me? >> Oh, yeah. Thank you. Okay, thank you. Uh, my name is Elena Croy and I have two children at Willard. Um, this has been an extremely distressing day and not our
first in Rididgewood by any means. Uh, there's a glaring omission of an incredibly valuable person from the staff renewal list in attachment C of tonight's agenda. Her name is Valerie Lupo, a certified special education teacher, and she's been my daughter's lifeline this year at Willard. My
daughter's linked to her education the past two summers through a modified ESY program. This time last year, my daughter was only attending second grade until 1 p.m. She didn't have Miss Lupo, who had been reassigned to Somerville. On paper, my daughter was included, but in practice, she picked up on every
signal that she did not belong. She developed school refusal, and we held our breaths for third grade, hoping beyond hope that Ridgewood Public Schools could serve our daughter. when we discovered Miss Lupa was returning to Willard for my daughter's third grade year, this current year, and
that she would be our in-class resource teacher. Um, for those who don't know what that is, uh, sometimes it's referred to as a push-in teacher or the special education teacher in a co-t talk classroom. We knew that there was some hope for third grade, and this year has been phenomenal. My daughter has made meaningful progress through some
incredibly challenging IEP goals. The materials that Miss Lubel modifies aren't just downloaded from Teachers Pay Teachers, which has been a serious problem in prior years, but are created thoughtfully to meet my daughter's unique learning profile. And the pair that Miss Lupo and our general education classroom teacher, Mr.
Fel, have become is irreplicable. My daughter doesn't fit in a lot of places, but one thing that she's unapologetic of is her love of music. She's had it all her life. And now every Wednesday, Miss Loopo accompanies Hope to the Willard after school choir, the Warblers. Last week when I picked her
up, there was an ill-timed jackhammer on our basketball court near the pickup door. My daughter has sensory sensitivities and was shaken by the noise. She ran back inside and was crying. Miss Lupo had already returned to her classroom by this time, perhaps to pack up for the day, but when she heard my daughter's cry, she ran right
out to check on her, and she stayed with us until she had recovered. Ridgewood isn't renewing this loop's contract. We are losing a competent, dedicated, passionate, in-class resource teacher that Rididgewood isn't exactly in great supply of right now.
Deprioritizing inclusion is nothing new. It's more affordable to segregate students based on disability into self-contained classrooms. And here we are finally having hired a great educator, and this is how we treat her. There are parents listening tonight who send their children to school every day
without batting an eye. You can access drop off lines, ask your children how their day went, whether or not they provide a clear answer, enroll them in after school activities without seeking permission and requesting staff support to get them there. We don't have these luxuries, but we're okay because of
teachers like Miss Lup. And it's these parents, it's you who I'm begging to listen right now because administration clearly does not hear us. Special education parents know what we're fighting for day in and day out. It's our children's civil right to be educated among their peers in the least
restrictive environment. We can't place our children in inclusive classrooms if they don't exist and if they are not properly staffed. When a child like my daughter who has Down syndrome and who requires physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, augmentative
and alternative communication support, behavioral support, and a one-toone paraprofessional to access her education. can succeed in a general education classroom more than 80% of the time. It's clear that staff are who can make this happen or who can hinder the
experience. Valerie Lupo is one of the good ones. We've only been in the district since 2019, but the lack of respect and care shown to our youngest special education students continues to stun me, particularly in light of the reputation that precedes our district. Thank you
for your time. >> Thank you. You're on with the board. >> Good evening. My name is Ashley Manetti. I have been a Ridgwood resident for 20 years. I apologize that I cannot be there in person tonight, but thank you for the time and effort that goes into
putting together the budget and keeping the community informed. I know these decisions are difficult and I appreciate the work of everyone involved. As I review the budget, especially in light of the 4% tax increase and the loss of seven teaching profession positions at the high school alone, I am trying to
better understand the district's priorities and how the administrative spending has changed over time. We have not heard how many positions are being eliminated across the district as a whole. And I think that information would be helpful for the community to understand. From the outside, it seems
the cuts have been felt more heavily at the school level, especially among teachers and staff who work directly with students every day than within the administration. Could you share what reductions or consolidations have been made within the central administration and whether there are still opportunities there before additional
classroom positions are impacted? I also noticed on the cost drivers chart that the community school cost total costs total approximately $1.4 million. Could you provide more detail about what is included in that figure? I understand the district also spent approximately
$19,000 on outsourcing a rebranding and marketing campaign. Could you explain the reasoning behind that expense and whether there are additional costs anticipated for updating buildings, signage, uniforms, printed materials, websites, and other documents? I would also appreciate understanding the
purpose and cost of the recently posted RPS video. It is very well done, but at a time when taxes are increasing and classroom positions are being reduced, I think many families are wondering how those kinds of expenditures are being prioritized. My daughter has two of the teachers at the high school who are
being let go. And as you have heard tonight, they are wonderful educators who have made a real difference for the students. As you have also heard, my son's grade is losing an incredible PE teacher who has mentored him personally as a wrestling coach and had a meaningful impact on him beyond the classroom. These are the kinds of
relationships that directly affect students every day. Like many families in Ridgewood, we are making adjustments in our own household budget after receiving our exorbitant tax bill this year. The district estimates the 4% tax increase for the schools will cost the
average family in town approximately $527 more next year. I think many of us are simply looking for reassurance that the district is spending is focused first on the things that most directly impact the students in the classroom. Thank you for your time and please continue to keep
the students and the classroom experience at the center of these decisions. >> Thank you. >> You're on with the board. Hello. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can. >> Hi, my name is Susan Madison. I'm a
resident of Ridgewood. Um I you know, having listened to this, I think the general theme is there needs to be a lot more information sharing and um you know, a lot a lot more details need to be explained to people. um you have two
weeks before the final budget and I and I hope that that an effort will be made to do this. I was calling today specifically because I had questions on the busing the proposed ending of courtesy busing and I know you're going
to discuss it today. So, I have specific questions that I'm hoping the board will ask and get answers to before they move to take away courtesy busing because I think we can all agree that while there
are many important things about a school, getting kids to and from school is probably one of the most important. So, here are my questions. I want to know how many students are impacted by this decision. Um I was looking and it
looks like we only we have less than 400 children who are bust who are not special needs. So if we're talking about you know a hundred students or 50 students then the money raised from this fee is in the low $100,000 range and I
think as the last caller asserted there might be other ways we could offset this cost. So my question is how many students are losing courtesy busing if these changes go through? My second question is does eliminating courtesy
busing what savings does it generate? Are you able to eliminate bus routes? Are you able to use special buses? So can you please quantify the savings that you're getting by eliminating courtesy busing?
Uh third, I do think it's very very concerning the issue that the parents brought up from the section on Undercliff Avenue. I'd like to understand along with them how you decided this was not a dangerous route to school. Um I'd like to know if the
board members have reviewed every route themselves. That's if if a route is being eliminated, have you reviewed it? And do you concur with the idea that it's safe for children to walk to school? Personally, I do not think it would be safe to have to cross Glenn
Avenue or Maple Avenue um or a train track, but I'd like to know what the board thinks about that. And finally, my last question is, has the late start committee reviewed this decision to eliminate courtesy busing or weighed in?
Um I remember when you know late I'm sorry when the late start committee I remember when late start was implemented in our schools one of the big concerns that was raised was what is the impact on working parents who may not be able
to get their children to school at the later start time. I believe that the routes were not changed. So, a lot of these students at the high school sit in the cafeteria waiting for school to begin, but to charge them almost $1,600
for that would be just ludicrous. So, I want to know, has the late start committee examined the impact of taking away courtesy busing specifically for um working parents? And um also I it would
be interested we have a DEI committee. have they weighed in on this? Um, so thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing these questions answered during your discussion later today. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Next, you're on with the board.
Hi, can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> Hi, thank you. Um, my name is Kaylin Thomaseski. I'm a Ridgewood resident. My son uh attended ITDC. He then went to Glenn School and now is
a first grader in kindergarten. I've had uh limited inter interaction with coach Franklin um through the wrestling program when he was in kindergarten and in that short time he helped my son feel safe and comfortable in what can be
a very intimidating sport and sitting here tonight I also want to say wow uh hearing about Miss Lupo we were really fortunate to have her last year as our pushin teacher at Somerville she was incredibly valuable for my son
who was also on an IEP. Um, he is neurode divergent and with her support and care, she really helped him shape his first year of school in such a meaningful way. I haven't personally met all the other teachers impacted, but I felt really
compelled to speak tonight. Uh, we're here tonight because of budget constraints, because there isn't enough money and these difficult decisions have to be made. I understand that. I want to echo I, you know, I came from I come
from corporate America and I work in food service. So, one of the hardest times in my industry um was six years ago during the pandemic and we faced that same reality. Uh restaurants were being shut down everywhere. Costs were skyrocketing.
Survival depended on making the hardest financial decisions. But what mattered most wasn't just the cuts. that were made. It was how they were made. The companies that survived had the strongest leadership that made disciplined decisions. They did not hire
more administrative support or expand corporate office to make their jobs easier. We cut from the top. We reduced overhead and we protected the people on the ground, the workers who were essential to delivering the service for
keeping the business alive. So when the resources got limited, we invested in what actually created the value. That's why what's happening here feels so misaligned. At the exact moment we are talking about
cuts, we have added and are maintaining administrative support. While the teachers, the coaches, the mentors, the people that are directly impacting these students, they're the ones being reduced. And at the same time,
you have students, children coming here tonight. I'm watching these ninth graders standing in front of you and advocating for their teachers. I mean, that should carry some weight. That is real time feedback about where the value is.
These are the adults who keep students engaged, who give them the reason to show up, to show up to school, that make them feel safe. And that's meaningful. The goal should be to support the students by investing in the people who
are shaping their experiences every single day. Not adding layers of of administrative administration. Not while removing these individuals who make school work. Closing IT ITDC, a program that is
serving families and generates revenue. We've heard it. This raises so many more questions about priorities and decision- makingaking. I didn't fully prepare a speech tonight. I put this I patched it together because I felt so strongly to stand up because I
remember having a teacher who changed the trajectory of my life who was also a coach. These relationships matter. They stay with kids. So, I urge you not just to listen, but to take a hard look at your
decisions. Look at all of your decisions and ask yourselves honestly, are your choices serving you and making your roles, your jobs easier, or are they truly serving the children in the community? Thank you.
>> Thank you. Okay, at this point at um thank you very much for whoever decided to stay for a while. Thank you very much for staying. I know some people will probably just turn turn on this uh live stream. Um I'll close public comment now. Um I
don't know, Dr. Schwarz, would you really thank you to the students who've come here to to speak on behalf of their um coach and teacher and uh to the parents also. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I would like to say a few things.
Thank you so much. Um first of all, thank you everybody again for coming and I'm so impressed with our students who came up and spoke and how well they spoke, how well prepared they were. This is not an easy night for anybody. It's not been an easy season for anybody. Um, we heard what you said. I can't
speak exactly for every board member, but I know that I took copious notes and I I'm very impressed with everything that I heard. All the decisions that we've made up to this far uh have been made in consultation with the board through some long and rep and uh iterative conversations over and over
again to try to figure out what the best thing to do in a bad situation might actually be. So, I'd like to speak to a few things uh that were mentioned here uh just out of respect for the people who spoke um and then I'd like to share just a couple of disambiguations and also give an idea of what to expect
moving forward. So, for starters um I just want to say uh really appreciate uh the strength and the solidarity of our wrestling community and I'm grateful for Mr. Mr. Franklin's contributions to the district and to the school community to the wrestling community and also to Benjamin
Franklin school. um his his his uh his quality of his leadership and his uh his um his teaching and his influence has not been in question but I would given us a lot to think about. So thank you for that. Uh Mr. Zakowski as well he is on a he is not with us as on a permanent
basis but we're very grateful for him grateful to hear about him. We're grateful to hear about Mr. Leer and we're grateful to hear about Mrs. Lup as well. We'll take all that into consideration. Um a couple other things I wanted to comment on. There's some commentary about the ITDC here today. Um I'm gonna
I'm gonna comment on ITDC in a second, but first I just want to say in the context just to provide a little bit of context. Um we faced an unprecedented budget season this year. Uh unlike any I've been a superintendent for 11 years, this is the worst one I've ever seen.
Particularly because health benefit costs just absolutely skyrocketed over this last year. In fact, I want to commend our business office uh and our human resources team uh and really all of everyone who was involved in the process, including some of our local labor leaders in scrambling when we
realized that this was going to be happening last year to work over the summer to start the process to consider actually changing our health benefits provider. We were actually able to ch through a very large effort change the service for every single staff member in our district. I'm grateful for all of
our employees because we ended up saving in total between our dental and our medical plans changing everybody's plans over. We saved about a million and a half dollars. That's a million and a half more cuts that we'd be having to deal with right now if if you all didn't do that work. So, I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for the board for your due diligence, especially our finance
committee, Miss McCalli, Mr. Mimmude, who'd spent a lot of time uh evaluating that decision. Uh so, and there's there's more challenges yet to come. Uh as I've said before, there are certain there because of the timelines that we
have. There are certain uh there's a certain way we have to roll this information out. We are under a crunch with the budget deadlines. In fact, we started sharing this information early. If you if you listen to our meetings earlier this year, actually in January when we were setting our calendar for the year, the board was very clear that
they wanted to have some sort of a preliminary budget conversation with the public. even if it and if you go back and listen to that conversation, you'll hear me talk about how I just want to be clear though that it's very hard to give information early because early in the process we don't have we don't have
things figured out as clearly as we possibly can. Nevertheless, I agree people need an opportunity to speak. So, if it seems like some of these things have come out suddenly and that they're not that we don't have all the answers yet, it's because we made a decision back in January as a board of education
that we were going to endeavor to share information as soon as we possibly could. Along the way, we did made we did made our best effort to try to be as clear and coherent about that as we possibly can. If you listen to the presentation that I gave presentations I gave in March about the budget, there's
slides specifically mentioning the people who are being impacted and that was intended out of uh out of um out of uh compassion for the fact that this is not going to be a process that is painless and it is going to impact people. Um there was a misstep and a miscommunication along the way. You've
heard that some of our ITDC staff, our valued ITDC staff heard through parents about what happened. That was an oversight on our part and I've apologized and I apologize again. We have some folks here with us from ITDC and I am sorry that that you got blindsided by that. That was not right.
So, so in terms of how we're proceeding with respect to this budget and what we're going to actually be able to do, um we are finalizing what information we possibly can with respect to the people who are impacted. Um, we are continuing
to try to find opportunities for open positions for folks who are being whose folks whose positions um are in jeopardy for next year. And again, we're sharing with people in fair warning that they're not that we don't have a position for them next year at
this time. However, if we are able to find a position, if we're able to find another efficiency, we will do that. If we were able to find an opportunity to not have to consolidate the ITDC program, we would do that. We will be sharing financial information about why
uh regarding all this in the final budget presentation. Often it's in the the final budget presentation that most of this information is provided, but we and myself included want to give people an opportunity to do exactly what we did tonight, which is come forward and give clear and give and and tell us what you think about these different changes.
There was references to administrative positions. I want to be clear, we added one administrative assistant position here to the human resources department based on feedback that we got working with our local association leadership and surveys that people feel like they need a quicker turnaround time from human resources. However, that was done
last year for this year and we've already eliminated and you won't hear people come to this meeting and advocate for these people because the people who work in this office, they don't because they don't have an opportunity to work with kids. They don't have they don't have folks in the community necessarily to advocate for them. But we had two
folks uh who've been serving this district for a little while. Some one individual for a very long time who found out that their positions were being eliminated here at the education center. And there may very well be more positions coming. Administr administrative positions play supporting roles for all of our teachers and
there's a very important um sharing of responsibilities that happens within our administrative team. And so we have to make sure that we plan those transitions very carefully. I've had detailed conversations with our administrative team over the last couple months about the fact that we will be consolidating our administrative team and that we need
to be look at reevaluating all positions and all open positions accordingly. So that will be forthcoming as well. But I want to end uh I want to just say a couple other things just along the way here. Uh and I'm just going to review my notes so forgive me if if I take an extra minute. That's okay. I know it's a
late night, but you know, we we heard a lot from people, and there's a couple things that I wanted to just make sure that I took some time to acknowledge. Um, I think I said, I've just I'm so impressed with how all of our students presented themselves, uh, and how you advocate for your staff, for our staff.
I mean, that speaks volumes to us. I do want to indicate again that most of what we're talking about here are based off of trying to come up with fair efficiencies in a very difficult time. Um, nevertheless, the impact your staff, your our your your teachers make on you and your f and your coaches make on you
matter to us. So, thank you for that. Uh, we heard from a gentleman tonight. Uh, if I heard his name correctly, it was Mr. Wall, uh, who served in the Marine Corps and took the time to speak. I want to thank him for his service and for being out here tonight. Um, there were a variety of requests for
information. Um, and I wanted to just remind everybody that on May 4th, we are going to have our final budget presentation. Uh, our intention is to be very clear at that time regarding all these information requests. So, please mark May 4th on your calendar. Mrs.
Beerley came and was concerned about that we were postponing our ELA program. We had spoken about that for a little while, but as I as as we have on record, we are not postponing our ELA program. Is that correct, Mr. Ross? >> Correct. We are not postponing. We are running 2627.
>> Thank you very much. And I also just want to just point out the fact that we had some folks come here tonight to talk about um our cost-saving measure through eliminating courtesy busing. Uh the district uh by policy had granted busing to a variety of folks. Hazardous routes
have a official definition, but the reality is that there are are are some routes that are more hazardous than others. Um we basically we evaluate the routes. I evaluated them myself, all the walking paths around the community and there are many routes that are
I think it's it's there could be some some hearty debates I'm sure as to the extent to which they're hazardous but they are not convenient at least and there are a lot of folks who have very inconvenient routes to school who will not no longer be receiving busing services. We've talked about this for a while and how painful and what an
imposition this is for families. family that had busing services but are you know almost two miles away from a school especially at the K to8 level that is not that that's a significant inconvenience and I that I want to acknowledge that we've been saying that this whole time
what I do want to say is that uh we have cut I think there were some comments about looking at non-essential costs and figuring out where we can cut from uh everything's on the table so we and we you you don't see it here in this meeting but we had multiple rounds with
all the different budget managers, I mean the principles and the and department heads to try to try to shave this budget as tight as possible. I remain concerned at how tight this budget is. Uh the board also we talked about what's a responsible way to raise the tax levy and even doing these cuts, we still had to raise the tax levy above
2%. So um we will continue to communicate. We will do our best to communicate clearly. I do want to say again when we talk about personnel, we're not going to be able to speak very specifically about individual person uh individual personnel ma personnel matters. We are hopeful that more will open up. We still have a few months
before the year is out. Um and uh and again I just want to encourage everybody come out to the May 4th meeting and and we'll have more information at that time. And of course we welcome your feedback. I think probably what's most valuable is to hear what your experience is in response to
these difficulties. Uh that really helps us to understand the human element to the changes that are made as we weigh things. Um the reality is that part of the challenge that we have here is to present all of these things without turning, you know, one one group or
against another. And uh for for as many folks as are here to support a staff member uh who has been cut um there are many many other positions that uh that we were able to not cut as well. So making those choices has been really challenging. We've tried to make them as
objective as possible. Uh and we're hopeful that um that more opportunities for efficiencies will come up between now and the end of the year. We might be able to pull back on some of these folks and tell them that we have a spot for them next year. So there's a lot more to say. uh that's grossly insufficient for
all the concerns that people have I am sure but uh I hope that uh that at least in acknowledging a lot of those concerns I paid some small level of respect. >> Thank you Dr. Schwarz. Right. With that, we'll go to um Did you
Did you have a another report or are you um >> No, I think I you know, one last thing. My my key thing I always comment on my report is that there's a superintendent coffee on Thursday night. Again, that's more of a dialogue. Um you've already put a lot of time in. I don't want to put pressure on people to feel like they need to come out for the coffee, but
we'll be there and we're happy to discuss and talk. Students are welcome as well. Um really happy to to to dialogue with anybody a little bit more directly there. So, please feel free to join us. That's a virtual it's at 7 o'clock and we we have a the link will be on the website at the time of the uh the coffee. You can check the website. I
think we also do a push notice of the link as well. >> Great. Thank you. >> Uh for the budget on May 4th, the the board does vote on on May 4th on the budget. Yes. Okay. Um, we'll go to um consent items.
Uh, regular and Oh, no. I'm sorry. Board committee reports. Um, um, I don't know if there's anything uh on finance that, um, you want to report out on. Um, >> yeah,
we reviewed the bid which is on this um agenda for the uh haw AC but other than that there's nothing really >> okay >> did you receive the money for the other AC's state >> say that one more time for me please
>> have we received any reimbursements for the um yeah ros >> um I don't it wasn't specifically discussed I don't think rich have we received anything from the state for the rod grants yet I know there's things pending.
>> We're working on >> Okay. >> So, on the Roth grants, once that money comes back to us, does it go to capital or does it go to this year's budget as a revenue item? >> That goes back to the general budget.
>> So, are we considering that as a line item for revenue for this year? Should we be >> I I I thought usually the rob grants went back to the capital to re uh to replenish it so that you can then
replenish what you took out. But >> let me >> it doesn't I don't I don't know whether there is that flexibility. I don't know. >> Let me let me just double check that and get back to you. I apologize. >> Okay. Yeah, because capital you you allocate from the at the end of the year
from the surplus. >> So that would not automatically go to surplus. >> So if when we are making the budget numbers and we are considering how much money we are taking out from reserves um should we be considering that as
>> I don't I don't know the answer to that. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Um on uh on curriculum, you you saw the minutes um you know the new new um
textbooks um proposed changes to uh the middle school curriculum, particularly uh middle school 101. uh a a um a focus on executive functioning uh
which I think is really important for for everyone to to learn about that. Um and um the new textbooks some of which are open source is that what it's called which are not um they come without a
cost to the district. Um, and you saw our school counseling programs. We've got a lot. I've got some announcements to make. And I know that I had asked um
Mr. Ross, can you just do like a little brief on the grant funding for the supporting effective instructional program? Thanks. >> Absolutely. Thank you, Mrs. Bett. So, the the the focus grant is actually um
it's a two-year grant. We're looking for the extension as well, and I believe it's the extension that is on the u the extension application that is on tonight's board meeting uh agenda, and that's for about 11,000 or so. We are looking to extend our focus on the U
MTSS process. So, essentially, this is assessing our youngest readers through universal screenings and then using that data to drive instruction. So that's training our staff looking at the data. We've worked with consultants to help us process that data. Um as we look forward
to the extension, we have about 3,000 left for this year, which we're still working to spend down. And then we have about another 11 that we're hoping to secure for next year. And we're looking at different avenues that might even go beyond consultant training. And if we uh are able to maybe even some some technology that that we might be able to
use some technology applications that would help us just you know uh glean the data faster and then uh you know be able to execute you know action plans uh you know in a more rapid fashion. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> So do you >> yeah just going back to textbooks are we
purchasing any physical textbooks in this cycle and do do we still use textbooks? I know in my experience not very few teachers still directly rely on textbooks and even fewer rely on physical textbooks. So it depends on the
course. Uh we do have some of our materials that are accessible online but even when they are accessible online we know that we do have some students who need a physical copy of a textbook and there can be various reasons for that. lab. So in certain instances like our sixth grade science, we are ordering
physical copies of the textbook but not a onetoone ratio of those textbooks. So there will be some on hand in classrooms. That's just one example of how we're handling textbooks. >> Sorry, I I actually had a question on the universal screening, Mr. Ross, just
because I wanted to understand it. So universal screening is a a concept, right? that you're screening every child for any particular uh need for additional supports and um we're making sure that happens through
our professional development um as well as potentially looking at technology. Is that correct? >> That it that that is correct. >> Not sure if it was like a literally a machine or something. >> No, no, no. So universal screening is essentially uh so there's a there's a K
K through three mandate in the state of New Jersey that we must screen our earliest learners uh and then have a second tier of screening for those who raise red flags as it were and you know their their early reading skills. Uh we actually are doing universal screenings
up through sixth grade because we believe it's very important especially as they our kids then transition into the middle school. So we're actually continuing it um you know through the middle school. It's giving us another snapshot of where our kids are and the services that we might need to provide for them. Thank you.
>> Okay. And finally, policy. Is there anything you want to report on that? >> Well, um, we have some items under new business about busing policy and a regulation on subscription busing and looking at the other busing policy that
we had not updated in some time. So that's coming later. But um Dr. Schwarz, are we mentioning or is it I'm not sure the protocol is the sports changes is that already decided from our
last meeting >> the fields policy. >> Fields policy. >> Fields policy. Um so yeah, we did discuss the fields policy again. Uh there is no significant changes from our last conversation. Um the policy itself is completely revamped from before, but we've been this is more or less the same
policy we've been talking about for quite some time. There was a slight change in one of the percentage percentages of requirements of local residents for one of the groups. Um but there but there's a completely different process for getting recognized and uh I think we had some conversation about um
about facilities fees. There's still a separate board policy about facilities fees. Um, so I think for now I think this is an improvement >> set to be implemented to have this implemented. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. The village has already voted on it and approved it. So
>> do we need to vote on it or is it >> on the agenda for approval >> for the vote at the end? Okay. That's the main things that we covered in policy. It's under administration. >> Yes. And and Dr. Shores on the on the field utilization fee. I had one
question and you may not have the answer now. But uh maybe at the next policy meeting or at the next public meeting. Um so I had asked um about the fee. Uh do we have the details of what fee is being
collected or not? And I think one of the residents um reached out to me that they submitted an OPAR request and the only thing they received back was um custodial fee related to that not the >> fee uh that we are charging as a rent.
um in their response and on custodial fee also they said there were three different um classification one was the fee charge or uh fee did not was not charged. So where can we find that
custodial fee separation that which groups are supposed to pay custodial fee which groups are not supposed to pay custodial fee and what is that fee uh schedule right so where can we get that
information >> Mr. Matthew, you want to share? >> Yeah, we we shared it on our in our sheet. We put it into the uh the minutes of the U finance committee. We gave the total receipts for the entire year based on what was uh billable and what was
non- billillable. So the non billillable was a lot of the categories that are um public school organizations that we don't charge for. So that sheet was basically break it down the total billables based on who we charge and those who we don't charge. It wasn't broken up by organization,
>> right? But that's what I'm trying to figure out that what there's a huge amount of nonbillable there, right? So is that non-billable where we have this field policy and we have the uh groups uh that are non not high school athletic
group but the community groups are they do they also fall under non-billable? So there's there's recognized groups and there's non-recognized groups >> and recogni even the custodial fee is not charged to them because my understanding from the policy committee meeting was that we don't charge the fee
the field fee but we do charge custodial fee and the other services like when we are providing um those uh portable parties and porta porta parties and those things during summer months or any other times. So I'm I'm just looking
for some clarification that what is billable and what is not billable. So whe whether custodial fee is not billable or billable and if custodial fee is nonbillable for those the biggest question there would be how
how and who is tracking from the master library that whether the field was actually utilized or not when custodial fee is being built because there may be times when the groups are putting um on
master library that they are going to utilize it but there are things come up they may not go there or if there's a weather related issue and the field is not utilized are custodials charging us based on what's what was on the master
library or are they charging us based on so >> actual utilization >> so we have we have a meeting every Thursday at 1:00 to go through what's being booked for the weekend for uh for overtime and depending on your organization some of it is Okay.
Billable and we track we're tracking their hours they're put they're putting in the master library the amount of hours they want for the service and we allocate resources based on the amount of hours the person is asking for and the number of resources based on the number of people who are scheduled to be in attendance. So that is we meet every
Thursday to make sure that we're properly allocating a proper amount of resources and then we also are handing that information after the after the event over to the facilities person to do the billing. The thing is most of the work that is done on the weekends for overtime and for nighttime is for uh
organizations that are that are non-billable which are ridgewood public school organizations and the ones that are outside the organ outside they get charged. >> Right. So you are saying that it you are planning in advance for a week bas on a Thursday based on master library
schedule. >> It's based on the request for the upcoming weekend. Yes. But we have heard that not that master library schedule is not always followed that sometimes that those fields are not utilized during that time. So are we checking that
whether the field was utilized or not and based on that are we charging? So like do we do did we was there a utilization or if there's a weather impact related event that it was raining a lot and then there nobody actually
played that day. So, these are measures that have just been put in place, >> but that's still in advance, right? You're you're planning in advance, but we are not cross-checking it whether that actually happened or not. >> We we are we are cross-checking it now. We are cross-checking.
>> Okay. So, that >> we're cross-checking what's in master library versus what actually happened the prior week. >> Okay. And then >> so and then >> so that's a question, right? So, you can you can if you are doing that that that's great. The the other part of that
question was um custodial charges. Where is the schedule for custodial charges defined for different groups? And for example, Jambbury is one of the similar organizations I would say as the
community sports organization. Jambbori is at par with them or because they are raising money for the schools but we do charge custodial money from from them. So how are we deciding whe that for field we don't need to
charge but for um theater program we need to charge how how was that distinction made >> right >> questions um could we ask the finance to put it on the finance uh committee
agenda and take a look at that and then come back >> yeah that's why I said these We may not have the answer for that but but these are coming from >> but I think that when I feel when a group uses a field that would be similar to rent
>> and if we don't you know and I don't think we charge jamboree for rent of the stage but we would charge if the c I assume that you're referring to that if custodians need to be on site because the heat has to be on and when the heat's on you have you have to have a
masterial >> um c you know person their MAC black seal operator. So I think that's different from a field because >> we have custodial charges on the field. >> I'm sorry. >> We have custodial charges on the field that have not custodian. >> No, it's it's it's for facility.
Custodian charges are for the facilities the schools >> right not. >> Okay. So that's what I'm trying to clarify that in that report that you presented there is a large number of custodial charges that is non-billable. Is that for field? Is that for That's
for recognized organizations that use our facilities, our schools, our gyms. Those are recognized organizations that do not do not pay for custodians. It's always been that way. This is the first time that report had been presented to the committee to show the amount of non-
billillables for recognized organizations, but it's really kind of like it's a benefit to our to our constituents, to our stakeholders that they have access to the facilities and they don't pay for custodians. Are they direct school specific or are they community specific
>> for school specific events? They don't they're not being charged like say >> so can we can we just get some details of those >> on like what >> the criteria >> for instance if an HSA is is having a a bingo night I'm just using that they
don't pay custodial fees for for having this being there at night. I don't know that >> we we had this discussion of facilities as well. >> If they come on a Saturday, they're going to pay for a custodian fee >> if they're and building on a Friday night when we already have people in the building. They don't pay custodian fees.
>> Okay. So just just why don't we um just have that and and just define it in >> that's what I'm trying to clarify that is it a so >> for example something happening at the little theater from a school high school club >> is is a school event right so that is a
nonbel clearly but that that is not a recognized organization that is a school organization that is not recognized organization recognizes to me is Jambbury or HSA So are we differentiating between Jamborei and HSA and why? So what's the criteria? Where
is it spelled out? That's all I'm trying to understand. >> Yeah, I understand what you're saying. I I don't know the answer, but let's have finance take a look at it and get the answers. Okay, great. Thank you for that. All right. Um, >> another one on policy. While we talking
about policy, the duck shorts, one thing I heard today was that this um Hokus neighborhood which is our Rwood Hocus corner from there if we are saying those students
will have to walk first on North Maple south to Glenn and then Glenn to upper Award and then Upper Award to Villard. That route may be 1.9 miles or 1.8 miles, but
do we consider the shortest route or some alternative route that is also available as uh a possibility, right? Because if it's
a shortest route, then it will be very difficult to tell a child that a a shortest route exists by the train track. But don't take that and you have to take the longer route. Because if a shortest route exists and
that route is hazardous, maybe that's why that was classified as hazardous route because that shorter path exists but it goes via train track and to discourage students from taking that shorter route that is where you have to cross the train track
it was classified as a bus route because if that route exists where they have to cross the train track then they would not go to Upper and then Glenn and then Maple. people and take that 1.78 m uh mile route because the kids are always most of the time running late trying to
get to school on time they will take whatever the shortest route is. So if that route exists and if that route is hazardous then I think we just have to how are we defining that hazardous route and and what was we have
to answer that question that what changed in that route that it became from hazardous to non especially where there's a trade rout so that's a great question in the policy I recommend you read the policies are for discussion so definitely read them
closely and I can go go back I think you have a copy in your notes in the policy agenda, you have a copy. Actually, I think the copy that's in there for discussion has the strikethroughs from the original version. So, you can see how the language was written. It's a little confusing how the original
policy was listing some routes as hazardous and some routes as courtesy. So, not taking anything away from contributions that were made here, but some of the routes that people were alleging were designated hazardous. I I I don't know that they were necessarily designated hazardous as they might have been designated courtesy or maybe they
were courtesy, but they meant to be hazardous. Generally speaking, the rule about a hazardous route, the legal definition is that if it's above 40 miles an hour on the road, it's got to have a sidewalk. The reality is that
there are plenty of roadways that are lower than 40 miles an hour where there's no practical way to walk, right? And that's your point. And we saw that a little bit in a couple with the Willard neighborhood. So, we're in the process of evaluating that at this point. We are considering the fact that if
there is a slightly more roundabout way to go, like meaning like I'm not I'm not going to say slightly. If there is a way to go that is within two miles, let's say it's K8. If there's a way to go that is within two miles and involves sidewalks and crosswalks,
then we're considering that right now. That's the criteria you're using to determine that it is safe. >> Right. And that's where my question was that if a shorter route exists but that is hazardous then how >> so you're so you're taking the position that if that exists then we should call that hazardous >> or at least you're asking the question
>> I'm asking a question especially for a open train track and and I say >> well what what so okay go ahead finish I'm sorry >> and and the way and I I'm saying from a variant perspective and I'm not saying from what is the criteria because I'm asking your help to determine the
criteria but when I was looking for homes One of the reasons between Glenrock and Ridgwood was Rididgewood when I saw that two of the train tracks there was underpass I thought okay if I I find a house somewhere here the kids will be walking under the train tracks not over
the train track and Glenrock both of those were over the train track so that was one of my selection criteria that okay they can they will be walking under the train track >> right so um that there's only one open trade track there uh by Hokas >> and Um uh if
can we all and again it's it's a open question um can we give a parents an option that if another elementary school is closer from their house than what is currently assigned to them then because especially for this area the whole one
um then traval may be closer to them and less hazardous because they're then they are not crossing maple if they live on the other side of the maple then they are not crossing Maple, they can go internally or on the by the firehouse and then from there they can walk Glenn. >> Mhm. >> Right. So they are there if
>> they do have to cross Maple, but >> but if they live on that side of the maple then No. >> I I so so to that Yeah. >> Yeah. To to that qu I mean we're we are always open to requests for parents to attend a different elementary school for their kids. We get those requests pretty
frequently and as long as enrollment uh we can accommodate them via enrollment um we're we're we're okay. >> We don't want to force them because then that changes their school but if they want to volunteer if they say hey now if I have to walk I'd rather go to >> and they they are at a state where their
child is okay to change the school or they are just starting their school then maybe we can consider that. Yeah, our kindergarten traval is pretty big. So that might inhibit some families. And I mean if if if it's and just a just a point of numbers, if if if that if that
skews sections to such an extent that we have to hire a teacher, then we might as well have just provided the route. So that's that's something we have to consider here. I I would definitely though encourage, you know, as we as we're going to hear from our constituents, you're all pretty familiar with these routes, but if you're not uh super familiar with some
of the some of the challenging routes that that crossing up by Hocus by the Hocus Station that we're describing where there's open tracks, there is a crosswalk. There's, you know, there's the there's the there's the gates that come down and the lights, but you are actually physically walking across train tracks. So, there's a certain whereas
that's not necessarily unsafe, there's certainly a level of discomfort associated with it. And I have personally witnessed on that train track where the train wed it when the gate was knocked down. Really? Yes. I have I have
personally noticed that >> reported it. >> Yeah, I did because two days after that I went to uh the new committee that I'm assigned to and that is all about that. So I talked to the cops and I reported it.
>> That's frightening. Okay, we're going to go to consent items, regular and routine. Attendance at conferences. I move attendance at conferences. I have a second. >> Sorry.
>> Second by Miss Andy. Uh, Mr. Donnie, >> what are we voting on? >> The conferences. >> Yes. >> Miss Andy, >> yes. >> Calli, >> yes. Mr. McNood, >> yes. >> Mr. Rogan, >> yes. >> Five affirmative. >> Okay. On to administration. And here we
have the agreement with the village of Ridgewood for the athletic fields and facilities policy, which I understand the village has um agreed to and voted on. We will this is a joint policy between the two of us. So um we will
vote on that tonight. I move administration. Would somebody like to second that? Second by Miss. Okay. We'll call Mr. Donnie. >> Yes. >> Miss Andy? >> Yes. >> M. McCalli? >> Yes. >> Mr. McMood? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sprogan? >> Yes.
>> I have affirmative. >> Okay. Curriculum instruction. Would someone like to move that? >> I'll move curriculum and instruction. We have a second. >> Second by Miss McCauley. Roll call. Miss Donnie.
>> Yes. >> Miss Handy. >> Yes. Miss McCalli McMoo. >> Yes. >> M. Broen. >> Yes. >> I have affirmative. >> Human resources.
I move human resources. Um, someone like to second that. >> Second. Second by Mr. McMoo. Roll call. Mr. Donnie. Yes. Yes. You know, I'll just Oh, before we do the roll call, I just want to um on June 7 16 7 o'clock
at BAP, we'll be recognizing our teacher honores for this year. Um gone through a process where their peers sometimes students, parents have um written beautiful um statements for them and
nominated them for their uh this honor. So, um, as listed in the, um, as listed on the agenda. So, they will hopefully all be there and celebrated uh, for their teaching.
We have, um, Cindy Laura, the from the educational services professional, Cheryl Fox from Haw, Kathleen Fiser from Orchard, Michelle Kylie from Ridge, uh, Alexandra
Um, Mahia, thank you. Um, from Somerville, uh, Amy Briggs from Traal, Lind, uh, Lydia McCoy from Willard Will Willard, Lucille Shagalini from BF, Laura Graaso
from GW, and Sean Casease from Rididgewood High School. So, we congratulate them and look forward to celebrating more with those teachers. Um, other than that, um,
are there any questions on HR? If not, we'll go to a roll call. >> Mr. Donnie, >> yes. >> Miss Haney, >> yes. >> Miss Malli, >> yes. >> Mr. McMoo, >> yes. >> Miss Groy, >> yes.
>> Five. Affirmative. >> Okay. Finance. Would someone from finance like to move that? for finance. >> Second by Miss McCalli. >> I'll just read into the record um our
restricted donations. RHS TV Club $833 a gift in kind of a teleprompter and trips dollies for the Rididgewood High School TV Club. Carol Waldman $14,600 to be used to purchase audio equipment
for the Little Theater at RHS. GW Middle School National Junior Honor Society for $500 to be used to purchase National Junior Honor Society materials. Uh Ridgewood Education Foundation,
$8,000 to be used to pay for a painted mural for the uh Pazudo Legacy Project at Rididgewood High School. Um that's a change from u the donation that we had accepted on March 23rd.
uh Travel Home and School Association for $1,27.50. A gift in kind of a field trip to the Maritime Aquarium for the Travel Third Grade class. Travel Home and School Association, $1,26. A gift in kind of a field trip to the
Sterling Hill Mining Museum for the fourth grade class. Haw dad's night for $3,000. a gift in kind of a week-long expert and residence program with the Tennifly National Nature Center for the third grade class at Hall Elementary
School. And we are grateful to the 19 parents who have given donations that are listed here to be used to pay for the JV boys volleyball team expenses, including the coach's stipen, officials, and busing.
Are there any questions on finance? You >> hear none? >> No. >> Mr. Donnie? >> Yes. >> Miss Handy? >> Yes. >> Some Mr. McMood? >> Yes. >> Miss Rogan? >> Yes. >> I have affirmative.
>> So, uh, resolutions and motions not included in consent agenda. We have the opening of bids and award of contract for the gymnasium at uh HVAC upgrade at Haw Elementary School. Um and uh Reiner Group is to be awarded the contract
based upon the lowest responsible bid price and it's um all the other biders are listed. Um would somebody like to move that >> second second Mr. Mu question
that Mr. Sonni >> yes >> Sandy >> yes >> Mr. Kelly Mr. Mcmood >> yes >> Mr. abstain. >> Okay. Four affirmative, one abstension. >> Approval of bills. Um Mary, did you do
the bills again or did you No, >> no, I didn't. >> Oh, Mary Lou. >> Okay. I I knew that you had No, I knew that you'd switched. I wasn't sure. >> Yeah. >> Yes. I'm um Yes, I reviewed the bills and they are as stated and I found no irregularities. So, I move that we
approve the um approval of bills as listed here. >> Second. >> Um you're moving them. Second. >> Okay. >> Can I make it just make a they need to be recommended based on the business administrator's recommendation as well.
>> Okay. So, we change that to recommendation on the business administration. >> Okay. And I need to abstain from uh bill number uh 12-968 and 121073.
Got it. Roll call. Mr. Donnie. >> Yes. >> Miss Handy. >> Yes. >> Mr. McCroen. >> Yes. With those two bills. Uh >> yes. 12968 and 121073.
>> Yes. Thank you. >> I'm sorry. I had a question. I just looked at it now. A parent talked about route W9 that I So, not the and it's here for
approval. So, the entire route isn't considered courtesy. a part of that route would be considered courtesy because he mentioned that his family lived where was served by W9 and he was losing blessing.
>> So first of all, nothing's up for approval tonight. This is for discussion on the the uh the policies and regulations. So we're not about >> No, no, no, no. There's going to have to be a reconfiguration of rebels. >> Okay. This is just what the bid was and we have to re
>> Yes. We we've indicated to the to the we've indicated to the transportation companies that there's going to be we're going to need some changes for next year. They advised us to just work with them and and move forward. >> Okay. So that's why we would be approving something that I'm just thinking if the parent is watching and
sees W9 here as being approved. We he might be those families could be confused because it was mentioned that they are losing busing and here we had it in our >> we're approving the routes as are and we're going to give everyone who and
those are going to be the routes that are the with subscription seats as well. Okay. So if they're losing it, I mean there is a there is a there is a there's a plausible scenario where sufficient people on the existing routes pay for subscription and the routes stay the same. Um I'm say plausible. Yeah, it's
plausible. I don't know that that is likely to to occur. We'll see what what families want to do with respect to the subscription option. It is a steep option. So we'll see. >> I'm sorry. I just happened to see it when we turned the page and it caught my eye remembering what one of the people
had said about that particular route and I didn't want to cause any confusion that we're approving it when it's really just there. Okay. >> I know it's like Can I just ask a quick clarifying question? The agreement with the MWA schools, is that something we do every year? Is that something new? Just
can you elaborate a little bit on that? >> The Mawa that's that's a transportation route. Yeah, they they have a they have a busing fleet and they help us with our routes. >> Thank you. >> Okay, board member announcements. >> Oh, I'm sorry. And to be to be clear,
that's right, Mr. Reading. They actually MAWA facilitates the region one services, which is what Bergen County breaks itself up into these different regions, and MAWA is the host of region one, and there's a region one busing consortium that they manage.
I I have an announcement. >> Oh, sure. >> Okay. I wanted to announce that the daffodil festival and Earth Day Fair is this Sunday in Vaness Park from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30. It's um something that
students at the high school, the Green Team Club there, and other elementary schools will be also coming to present. to know will be posters that our students in the elementary schools have made to support this event. And um this
year's um uh focus is sustainable yards. So that um that we in Ridgewood we appreciate the trees and excuse me and the slow-mo may and all of those events and they're
having raffles for if you answer the questions correctly to win a battery operated lawn mower and leaf blower. >> Oh wow. >> These are sustainable items and there's going to be a dog parade and many many events. You can find this um if you look
up if you just search daffodil festival. It's um I haven't been in a few years. I'm going to be there and it sounds very fun for the whole family and I think the weather's going to cooperate. >> So it's this Sunday. >> It would be nice if the weather
cooperates. Last year it was freezing. >> I want to just add something that got missed in the student report and I apologize. On Friday we had sustainability day at the high school. I know Dr. You were there for a little bit. It was great to see you engaging with the
students and the community. I know the green club and Mr. Blue worked really hard to put that together. All throughout the day, there were students down in the campus center presenting on that. So, I apologize it didn't make it in originally, but we're adding in now. >> Great.
>> Mrs. Bergen, if I might just to share one last thing. Very exciting. And we had our first ever district elementary academic bowl this afternoon that ran at Willard. Started at 3:30. Uh it was still going on as we were getting started here. So I don't know who won. Well, so so that that's you know just to
kind of tease an outcome, but uh but it was was it Hos? Haw did win. Yeah, Hos Haw had the most points racked up before the final. So uh so there was a consolation round and then a final round. U so thank you Miss Corass. >> Um so uh very exciting. We had 99
students from the six elementary schools. Uh and so it was a really great first time with this. We had parent readers. We had high school students who came down and volunteered to read. So just a really successful event. So we're really proud of our teachers and our students. >> Great.
>> Yeah. I just um I wanna I know that it was mentioned with a student but um the new players fabulous Annie um you know you go there and you know they're they're it's sort of like city center in uh New
York City. It's wonderful. Uh they were great. So um thank you to everybody involved. Uh Kelly Vanzyle was directed this and really it was outstanding. our student voices, the orchestra, everything just wonderful. It is
amazing. >> I believe tickets for McBTH are on sale now. I don't know if they've sold out yet, but that's in a few weeks. >> Right. Right. Um a spring concert at Westside Presbyterian
um the RHS band program. Again, um outstanding. and our teachers and our student performers um couldn't be better. So, um the Holocaust Remembrance
Service, uh thank you, uh Dr. Schwarz, I told him after it, um he represents our district so well. so proud of u our the work that the district is doing it uh for Holocaust uh studies to uh make
students aware and the importance of being an upstander rather than a bystander. So thank you for those uh words and the guidance counsel guidance is just you know there's a plethora of um of programs. So on April 22nd, which
is this week, there'll be a Zoom presentation, a college speaker series. University of Pittsburgh, Sacred Heart University, the College of New Jersey, Syracuse, and Lehi University will be participating. It will be guided questions and answers with admissions
counselors. Um I think that's will be of interest to to many um parents and students probably. uh Richwood High School Counseling together with Minding Your Mind will be hosting Kind Minds, interactive presentations teaching
children how to identify emotions. Um and the presentation will address ways to engage in kind acts, how to build empathy, increase understanding of how emotions impact thoughts and behaviors, identify and practice strategies for
emotional regulation. Um, this is Thursday, April 23rd. That's this uh this week at GW. There's a pizza dinner to begin at 5:30. The presentation is from 6:00 to 7:00. So, they can be home
to go to the coffee uh after pizza. So, perfect. Um, and this is for parents, guardians, and students in grades four through six. Uh there is mental health and a well mental health and wellness fair at the high
school. Uh mental health provides providers and wellness practitioners connecting with students in celebration of mental health awareness month. That's next Thursday, a week from Thursday, April 30th at the campus center. and um
executive brain. Um this is again through our school counseling tools for confidence and independence as your child transitions to middle school uh and is a presentation uh from Timewise Executive Functioning Coaches. that will
be on May 11th, a Zoom presentation um and it is supported by the uh home of school associations K5 in both middle schools. And finally um essays that kicked apps uh this is from the
Princeton Review uh for families for students and families at Rididgewood High School. um and in more in a more competitive than ever admissions landscape. College application essays are a great way to stand out from other applicants. In this presentation, we
will discuss ways these essays are important, go over some editing basics, and learn how to make your essay memorable in the minds of the admissions committee. And that will be on May 6 um at 7 o'clock. Again, it's an
online activity. So, there's lots happening out of the um guidance department and so I'm grateful for that. >> Can I add one more thing? >> Oh, please. >> Just as far as guidance, I also want to just thank the um Ridgewood Alumni Association. They have partnered with the district guidance office. We've had
a series of alumni speakers that have been coming to the high school as well as sponsoring pizza lunches for the students attending that. And I think it's that's all of the feedback I've heard uh through Miss Perry and the counselors that have been organizing this and I think Eli can probably talk
because I think he's probably attended or heard from fellow students that this has been a great opportunity to connect um with students that are doing some really outstanding interesting things out there that are careers that our student
>> Yeah, it's an amazing program. One of the great parts about the Ridgewood district is how many people then come back, right? How many people go to these schools and then come back and give back to the district. So, this is just another example of them doing that. I believe there was also a financial aid
meeting virtually last week to the guidance. >> Oh, last week. Yeah. I was trying to move the the forward ones. >> They're doing a lot in the schools to help the students and it's it's really appreciated. >> Yeah. >> Good. All right. Uh discussion items. We had some policies um that you know we
sort of discussed a little bit that you were we have them on uh on the agenda for discussion. Is there any are there any other questions about those um that are on Okay. Well, so um I think they're ready
to go for first reading um at the next at the next meeting. >> We'll discuss them again at our next policy meeting. Okay. In light of all the conversation here. >> Great. Great. Um, and then I did u for just discussion, but I I um as we move
forward with the budget, we we heard a lot tonight. So I if I'm listening to it, our task um over the next uh before May 4th as we finalize uh the budget and have that final, it is to again review and assess
all of the all of the recommendations that the administration has made. um and to make sure that you know that a as firm as we can be these will be the
reductions or not in the budget. Um the second is um really reaching out to the infant toddler development center. Um we talked about this at the last meeting. Bless you. um to make sure that that
communication is clear and that we're getting answers to their questions. I I understand, you know, the FAQs are our perspective, but but they're coming back with additional questions or clarification
and and can we set up some u meetings at the school at a at a I don't know the convenient time. I you know because it is daycare so they're probably getting you off to work and picking up maybe picking up late but maybe you could have
an opportunity first thing in the morning less part of the day or or whatever something that where parents could actually come in and talk and and you could you know answer the questions and clarity because I you know we did a
misstep I think uh in and and I understand the reasons why um because of how this budget process works and how we are only together when we meet as a group or when you know two of us are at
a committee meeting. So, um I'm not faulting anyone, but you know, can we do a better job uh in the in the coming days and and then on the transportation, we tal Oh, sorry. on the IDTC just along those same lines and I apologize if it
if it's in >> one of the things I've reviewed but I know that there was kind of a standing request by the IDTC HSA or parent group to sit down and kind of discuss the whole process you know separate from anformational meeting with
parents um and you know to the extent that a solution that satisfies more people you know than are currently satisfied can be found and and identified. I think they wanted to have a dialogue on that and um was something
like that set up at some point? I know there was a a back and forth. Um if not, I I mean I think there might be a it might be worth a conversation. I mean along the same lines what we're hearing is that it
>> conversations more conversations need to be had, >> right? And if if your child is a a child who will go in um you know losing their at the three-year-old and the four-year-old class and they're going to be in reach, maybe you know more
information about what that will look like and and how that will work. Um you know, we all know we're parents. We all know how I was a working parent. I know how important having uh somebody there
who I can trust to take care of my kids. I know, you know, we've all been there. So, um if we can ease that transition, give them information, it might not be what they are hoping to hear, but at least we can lay out exactly what we can
offer and how that is. Could they observe the other classes, the reach program, meet some of the staff to give some confidence in this new ro place for their children to go to? >> Maybe there's like open I don't know
open house just >> something like that maybe. >> So you'll you'll you'll figure out the path forward on that. And then on transportation, we've all we heard this, but again, um, have the letters already gone out to the families that would be
impacted by courtesy busing or not? >> We're in the final phases of those discussions, what we just talked about, including the route that Mr. Donnie was talking about. So, >> so the letters have not gone out yet. >> They have not gone out. They we're hoping hopefully to get them out very soon, possibly this week, uh, because we
know people need need to know. need some window of time to respond and they need to uh they need to be able to plan as soon as possible. >> Okay. >> The problem is that we don't want to we don't want to send information in drips and drabs too much. We're trying to make sure that we have we have the we have we can give them all that they need to know
including what they need to do to sign up for subscription as well. >> Okay, great. So that's that's the other to-do. So a lot >> a lot. So thank you for that. I just wanted to recap >> and just on the on the subscription busing uh and I think I know the answer
to this question but reviewing the policy to the extent that someone has a financial need that's determined exclusively by whether or not they qualify for free or reduced lunch or or are there any other factors that um
would be considered in determining financial need for assistance with subscription bus? It's another final thing that we're considering on the bas of the fact that we have well I'm not sure what I'm not sure what our latitude is because free and reduced lunch is a very clear designation right the
>> problem is we we we >> I'm sure there are some families for whom like $4,500 busing fees is not necessarily a hardship but for most it is. So I so we'd have to be judicious about what our criteria is for considering people who don't qualify for
free and reduced lunch but for whom that would still be a hardship right >> trying we're trying to figure out how we have a specific case that with a parent who reached out who's just in a particularly difficult situation yet not necessarily free and reduced lunch but like can we to what extent can we make accommodations for that individual or or
or give some sort of a discount >> right I I was just wondering if we're like uh limited by what the legis you know is there legislation that kind of dictates what we can do and can't do or is it a judgment call that we make? Um
>> I think the base is that if you're free and reduced lunch then >> well yeah I mean that that's but you have latitude beyond that. >> That's exactly my question and we have latitude as a district to determine you know >> my my my understanding is that the mechanism by which we decide we're going to do that is not based on arbitrary
like assessment of need. based on hazardous routes or not and if we do it otherwise it might be considered courtesy and we've been advised by council to be careful about the extent to which we are breaking from our norms because of course this can become potentially latigious matters um and can get very very you know then by the time
we're litigating that we could have just been providing blessing so >> understood okay so yeah maybe in policy you guys can just flush that out a little bit more because it useful thank you >> okay >> oh sorry this wasn't something that was touched directly upon, but I think it
was something that was alluded to during the preliminary budget process. I think the board did a very good job holding a preliminary presentation, waiting a week, and then voting, right? We were able to change the number of the tax levy from 3.78 to 4% based on the
feedback that we received from the public. I know Dr. Schwarz, you mentioned that all of the answers to the questions people have will be provided at that May 4th meeting, but that meeting is also then when the budget is getting voted upon. >> Is there any interest in the board? Is there any mechanism? Is there any
ability to create some sort of meeting in the meantime so people can hear the answers to these questions and then have an opportunity to give feedback to the board before the board is forced to vote on the budget. Is that possible? Is that something we would be interest you would
be interested in trying to do because I think it would be helpful to the community. >> So in in theory definitely yes and I'll happy to hear from board members. The challenge is that we have we have we have to we have work to do to get this together and this meeting is actually coming up pretty quick and the numbers
really aren't going to change. Um so being that the numbers aren't going to change. Um we're going to give a full accounting in this meeting. we still technically have latitude even after the final budget meeting to to to change course in anything that we want to do. So the the reason why it's so important
to be so clear around the preliminary budget is that once we strike those numbers they really can't change but in terms of within those numbers these little things that we do we're not bound to the May May 4th meeting with those things. So like let's say for example we
decided that this route wasn't one of these routes was not was not hazardous and then we hear an uprising from the route and we're like you know what let's take a look at this again you know we forgot we didn't realize this detail we want to change it we would never point and say well we decided at May 4th that
that was it so we we we still can it's so so the feedback we get on May 4th we still could take action on after the fact >> okay uh let's move to acceptance of minutes. Um March 18th, executive session, March 16th, the special public
meeting. Uh March 23rd, regular meeting and executive session on March 23rd. Um I move acceptance of minutes. May I have a second? I second it. All in favor? I.
Other business. Okay. comments from the public. I do have a hand raised on the remote. Yes, >> it's the it's it's my glasses and >> I I can't see on this angle. >> Yeah, Michael, you're on with the board
better than we can. >> Good good evening everyone. Thank Thank you for the very long meeting. Uh, Michael Carolyn, Ridgewood resident. Um, one of the confused Route W9 parents. Um, I guess I'm I just want to say uh I
appreciate all the discussion. I do realize that there's a lot of very difficult decisions that have to be made. I'm looking at regulation 8600 right now, the proposed language. I'm having a hard time understanding um the difference between a hazardous route and
a courtesy route. The regulation says the board will approve a list of hazardous routes in the district requiring the courtesy busing of students and the criteria used in designating the hazardous routes. So, it sounds like you've got a hazardous
route, but you've got courtesy busing on a hazardous route. And I'm not sure um what the criteria were or are that are used in designating the hazardous routes. I think it would go a long way to sort of help clear up the confusion
if if that could be clarified at some point and just you know looking at the the history understanding why was busing whether it was a hazardous route or courtesy busing in the first place. Um
why was it started? What were the conditions that at that time the board felt it was justified to provide busing from North Maple, Undercliffe, Malbury, Barnett, etc. up to Willard. And what has changed other than the budget
situation? Um, you know, other folks have have emphasized that we can either walk up the Hocus route and cross the train tracks with our kids. Um, or we can walk up Glenn and we can cross Glenn multiple
times in addition to crossing North Maple. There aren't crossing guards. Um, if the justification is as long as there's sidewalks and uh crosswalks, it's not considered hazardous, then can we at least get crossing guards because
there are crosswalks everywhere that have crossing guards. I appreciate everyone's time. I realize it's after 11 o'clock. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. you know, I I believe um that
in uh 1986 when Glenn School was closed and all of the elementary schools were lined with um all the catchment areas for each
elementary school were changed. At that point, I believe that's when um that group of of undercliffe in that area were um redistricted, if you will, to Willard
and the Travel District went down past Pers Persing and Jeffer and Solless Court, which had been Glenn. And then there was a shift in the Somerville, shift in Haj, shift in
Orchard Ridge. So everything was redistricted. Um, and I think a lot of that Curtisine busing started at that point. So just just a little history. Don't know if it means anything, but it's 27, so I won't go on. Uh, so uh
that was the only comment from the public. I'll close comments from the public. Um, I make a motion uh to adjourn the meeting. May I have a second or would you like to stay longer? >> Oh, okay. All in favor?
>> I. >> Great. Thank you very much everyone and thank you for everyone who came out and listened to the meeting tonight.