Marching Band's National Finish, Boys Soccer's Sectional Run Highlight Glen Ridge BOE Meeting
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The board accepted the resignation of Ridgewood Avenue School teacher Cristina Jerolimic, effective December 23.
The board accepted donations totaling more than $29,000, including $4,454.19 from the Glen Ridge High School Home and School Association for a renovation of the athletic trainer's office, $14,000 from the same group for new cafeteria tables, two separate $300 gifts for water cooler replacements, and $10,150 from the Flippen Group, the parent organization behind the district's "Capturing Kids Hearts" program. The board also approved a $9,362.50 agreement with the New Jersey Institute of Technology allowing the high school swim team to use university facilities for practices and home meets this season.
Acting Superintendent Winnie Kievit spent much of her report celebrating recent honors. The Glen Ridge Chorus performed a pre-show set at Radio City Music Hall before a Rockettes performance, and the marching band capped its season with a Quincy Jones-themed field show, finishing seventh out of 33 programs from six states at the U.S. Bands national championships in Allentown, Pennsylvania, its highest national score since its 2021 championship season. Kievit also announced that the boys soccer team defeated Waldwick 5-0 to advance to the Group 1 state sectional championship game, and formally congratulated Ridgewood Avenue School's staff and students on being named a state Blue Ribbon School, a recognition Kievit and Principal Dr. Keisha Harris accepted in Trenton.
The board formally approved its 2025-26 board and district goals and began the budget calendar process for the 2026-2027 school year. Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg reported the superintendent search drew 52 applications by the November 10 deadline, with the personnel committee now narrowing the field for first-round interviews and expecting to share an updated timeline. Ginsburg also offered condolences to district finance office staffer Louise Cox on the unexpected death of her mother, Beverly Cuccinelli, and thanked Home and School Associations, the Glen Ridge Community Association, and borough officials for coordinating food and cash donations for families affected by the lapse in SNAP benefits during the federal shutdown.
Home and School Association liaisons reported a busy fall across the district, including Ridgewood Avenue School's upcoming 125th-anniversary open house, a Central School fence donation, Forest Avenue's "Neighbors in Need" Thanksgiving food drive, and cold-weather accessory drives at Linden, Forest, and Central benefiting Tony's Kitchen. The Linden Avenue Home and School Association also approved donating a new laminator and a portable basketball hoop to the school.
Action items
- Accepted the resignation of RAS teacher Cristina Jerolimic, effective 12/23/25
- Approved a $9,362.50 facilities agreement with NJIT for the high school swim team
- Accepted donations totaling more than $29,000 from the GRHS Home and School Association and the Flippen Group
- Formally adopted the board and district goals for 2025-2026