Ridgewood Board of Education approves restricted gifts for schools
The unanimous finance vote accepted $7,447.07 in chimes and $6,240 for student therapy sessions, with each gift assigned a specific use.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — approval of finance items including acceptance, board renews superintendent contract through june, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The Ridgewood Board of Education read the donation list aloud and thanked donors before voting unanimously to accept the restricted gifts.
New chimes, classroom chairs and a memorial bench made the finance agenda. The Ridgewood Board of Education unanimously approved a group of restricted donations and gifts-in-kind for school programs and facilities. A high school parent association gave $7,447.07 in chimes to enhance the building. The Ridgewood Education Foundation provided $6,240 for middle school students’ sessions with Pony Power Therapies and $1,100 for peer counseling professional development.
Other gifts will pay for a custom online curriculum platform, staff spirit wear and high school co-curricular clubs. The club donation was $10,000. Two gifts-in-kind, valued at $2,000 and $3,000, supported a September 11 memorial bench at a middle school. The Ridgewood Board of Education said it believed the second gift covered building materials and noted that the bench was finished.
The list included $1,000 for elementary school classroom chairs and $1,276.40 for buses for a soccer team-building trip and games. The Ridgewood Board of Education read the donations into the record and thanked the donors. Its approval accepts the gifts for their designated purposes, from student activities and counseling to equipment and transportation.
Board renews superintendent contract through June 2031
The Ridgewood Board of Education approved an amended five-year contract for the superintendent, running from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. At a public hearing, residents questioned why the renewal came early, how to find the proposed contract and evaluation information, and how performance affects compensation. Board members discussed those concerns before the formal approval later in the meeting.
Members of the Ridgewood Board of Education described an annual review in which the superintendent sets goals, reports on progress and receives a written evaluation around June 30. In supporting the extension, they cited the district’s Vision 2030 strategic plan, changes to reading and math instruction, expanded student programs and facilities work. They said those efforts depended on district staff as well as the superintendent.
Board members acknowledged concerns about flooded fields and pressure from rising health care costs. One member argued that renewing early would help retain the superintendent; another said the contract increases reflected the district’s financial situation. The Ridgewood Board of Education discussed making contract information easier to find. The superintendent thanked the Board of Education and district staff.
Parent asks for shorter school board meetings
A parent told the Ridgewood Board of Education that its meetings run so late that staying involved is difficult, including for people joining by phone. The parent, who has a second grader, asked the Board of Education to consider meeting length. No action followed the comment.
Late meetings can keep parents from hearing the full discussion or taking part in public comment.
School board weighs turf replacement and drainage
The Ridgewood Board of Education discussed replacing two turf fields in spring 2027 while examining how to limit repeat flood damage. A resident urged the district to seek water and stream engineering advice and consider grass; board members pressed for funding and drainage details. No replacement was approved.
A replacement plan must account for flooding if the fields are to remain usable for sports.
Residents question public posts of student photos
Residents asked the Ridgewood Board of Education how parents can keep their children’s photos off publicly accessible district social media pages. They urged the district to reconsider posting student pictures; the Board of Education and administration said they would review the concern and follow up. No action was taken.
Parents need to know whether their preferences are honored before student photos appear on public accounts.
School facilities report flags cracked boiler
The Ridgewood Board of Education’s facilities committee reported that an internally cracked boiler needs replacement and discussed a cast iron steam option. Its report covered HVAC controls, windows, bathrooms, elevators and other projects, as well as a requested study of school solar panels. No vote was taken.
The boiler needs replacement, while the project updates show which building repairs remain unfinished.
- Ridgewood Board of Education. A resident reiterated concerns about student safety and public posting of student photos, suggested restricting district social media access or stopping public posting without permission, and criticized moderation and proofreading. The resident recommended ending public posting of children’s pictures on publicly accessible platforms.
- Ridgewood Board of Education. A parent of a second grader stated Board meetings run very late and said this makes it difficult for parents to stay engaged and participate, including by phone. The parent requested consideration of meeting length to improve parent involvement.
- Ridgewood Board of Education. A resident urged the district to consult qualified water/stream engineering expertise rather than relying on general architects, provided calculations about water volume on a 120,000 sq. ft. field, and argued grass fields absorb and drain water better than turf while concrete-lined streams increase flooding impacts.
- Ridgewood Board of Education. A resident stated they agreed with prior concerns, said they still could not find the proposed contract despite requesting it, and reiterated questions about why renewal was occurring early and what performance evaluations and goals supported the decision and compensation changes.
- Ridgewood Board of Education. A resident criticized the district website as difficult to navigate and said it was hard to find meeting background and contract information. The speaker questioned whether the superintendent evaluation was available and argued raises should be contingent on performance rather than guaranteed.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Ridgewood had 32 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEStudent Representative Report (Ridgewood High School). Student representatives reported on RHS activities including yearbook ad sales, a 9/11 memorial service, college fair participation, Back-to-School Night, Latin program mentoring and preparation, National Merit recognition, club updates, and multiple athletics results and facility updates.
- GOVERNANCEDistrict Goals Draft for the Year (Preliminary Discussion; Finalization Planned for October Meeting). Dr. Schwarz presented a draft set of district goals aligned to Vision 2030 and department/school goals, organized into five goal areas led by specific administrators. Board members asked questions about K–5 inclusion, calendar committee challenges, pathways transparency, AI committee structure, and tracking carryover items from last year.
- GOVERNANCEAuthorization to Increase Vendor Contract/PO for Boiler Repairs (BF Boiler). The Board approved an authorization to increase a vendor contract/PO for boiler repairs, with discussion clarifying that the original amount was 205,000 and the increase was 119,000, resulting in a revised total of 324,205 for boiler repairs across district buildings, including BF.
- GOVERNANCEBoard reviews policy changes, including career education and student devices. The Board reviewed policy updates, including career education and work-based learning policy 2411, graduation-rate reporting and student use of internet-enabled devices. Members also discussed meeting notices and noted that policy 2411 still contained unselected template alternatives.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Member Announcements: Board Self-Evaluation and CPAG Informational Meeting. The Board announced the annual board self-evaluation process through NJSBA with a completion target of November 1. The Board also announced a CPAG informational meeting on Thursday, October 8 at 9:30 a.m., available via Zoom and in person at the Education Center.
- GOVERNANCEBoard delays bond counsel decision for further review. The finance committee described an RFP process involving two law firms and a recommendation based on scoring and rates. Board members questioned apparent rate-entry errors and requested more supporting information, so the award is set for further review at the October 5 special meeting.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Questions: AP Self-Study Policy Email Correction and Program of Studies Update Timeline. A Board member asked about a corrected email to parents regarding AP self-study registration after a board vote to revise the policy. Administration stated the program of studies was updated and a final draft was expected to be sent within about a week, with registration planned by November 1.
- GOVERNANCEAward Contract for Field Remediation Services (Stadium Completed; Stevens Ongoing; Insurance Coverage Noted). The Board approved awarding a contract for field remediation services. Administration stated the stadium work was already completed and Stevens field work was ongoing, and that the work was primarily covered by insurance.
- GOVERNANCEAdministration Block Approval (including policy list and authorization to hire aftercare employees with two-board-member signature requirement). The Board approved the administration block, including a list of revised/abolished policies and an authorization for the superintendent to hire aftercare employees between board meetings. The Board verbally amended the hiring authorization to require approval/signature by two board members.
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