Board Approves $562,000 High School Roof Project, Bids Farewell to 12-Year Member David Campbell

The board approved a $562,000 contract, including a $30,000 contingency, to resurface the Glen Ridge High School cafeteria roof and repair its insulation, funded through a state ROD grant, along with a separate $19,585.23 upgrade to the high school's fire alarm panel. Board members also approved the district's state-mandated bus evacuation drill reports and its annual anti-bullying self-assessment, in which each school scored itself 76 or 77 out of a possible 78 points; the assessment noted four incidents at the high school last year were determined not to require formal investigation, with none at the district's other schools. In personnel action, the board approved the termination of an employee, identified only by personnel number 7174, effective January 5.

Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg and Superintendent Kyle Arlington paid tribute to David Campbell, who is leaving the board after 12 years of service spanning three superintendents, including work on the finance, communications and personnel committees and his leadership of last year's superintendent search. The board's next meeting, on January 7, will be its reorganization meeting, welcoming newly elected member Ray DeLorenzi.

Ginsburg reported that the governor signed the "Freedom to Read Act" the day before the meeting, a law requiring school and library boards to adopt policies for evaluating and handling challenges to library materials while protecting librarians from prosecution for doing their jobs in good faith.

The board accepted several donations, including $12,900 from the Ridgewood Avenue Home and School Association for auditorium risers for the chorus and performing arts programs, $6,600 from the Glen Ridge High School Volleyball Booster Club for sleeves, nets and installation, $750 from the Glen Ridge Public Library for a 3D printer and spools for CAD and engineering classes, and $8,000 from the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation for VHS Learning virtual classes. The Linden Avenue Home and School Association also added $6,000 toward the school's playground project, bringing its total contribution to $46,000. Business Administrator Barbara Murphy told the board the project came in about $16,000 over budget, a gap covered by $10,000 in savings from another completed project and the HSA's added $6,000, allowing all three new play structures and fresh mulch to be installed the day after the school year ends.

The marching band performed live for the board following a season that included another Group I state championship and a bronze medal finish at Nationals at MetLife Stadium; band director Darren Gage also recognized five students — Elanor Rei (flute), Emma (clarinet), Levi Wolford (trumpet), Daphne Wallace (trombone) and Jude Rothman (euphonium) — for earning spots in the Essex County honor ensemble at Caldwell University. The high school's new honors darkroom photography course, taught by second-year teacher Alyssa Herrera, was also showcased, with students Ava, Addison, Kira, Mary Claire and Jace presenting black-and-white film projects and demonstrating the darkroom process.

Glen Ridge Educational Foundation board chair Fran Wong thanked the more than 200 volunteers, many of them high school students, who ran the Ashenfelter 8K and Tom Fleming 2K on Thanksgiving morning despite cold, rainy conditions; proceeds from the race fund foundation grants to the district. Ginsburg also thanked Tara Arnett and Elizabeth Nuttycombe for organizing a successful high school Holiday Market.

Action items

• Approved a $562,000 contract (including a $30,000 contingency) for cafeteria roof resurfacing and insulation repairs at Glen Ridge High School.
• Approved a $19,585.23 upgrade to the fire alarm panel at Glen Ridge High School.
• Approved the termination of an employee (personnel #7174), effective 1/5/25.
• Approved bills and claims of $549,999.15 and payroll of $1,223,023.85.
• Accepted donations including $12,900 for auditorium risers, $6,600 from the volleyball booster club, $750 for a 3D printer, $8,000 for virtual learning classes, and an additional $6,000 toward the Linden Avenue playground project (total: $46,000).
• Approved submission of the district's anti-bullying school self-assessment.

Watch key moments

• 29:46 — Darkroom photography students race to load film onto reels inside a lightproof bag, competing for a cookie as the winner.
• 47:26 — Foundation chair Fran Wong recalls how a robot-baby project the foundation funded years ago once became the subject of an episode of "This American Life."
• 1:04:18 — Business Administrator Barbara Murphy explains how the district closed a $16,000 budget gap on the Linden Avenue playground project after parents raised transparency concerns last month.