Ridgewood Avenue Principal Michael Donovan Announces Retirement as Two Bullying Complaints Are Substantiated
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The board accepted the retirement of Ridgewood Avenue School Principal Michael Donovan, effective September 30, 2026, along with the retirements of Glen Ridge High School teachers Laura Zepp and Stephanie Pollak, both effective June 30, 2026, and the resignation of head track coach Ira Ford, effective immediately. Separately, the board found two Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying complaints at the high school substantiated, while four other HIB investigations, at Ridgewood Avenue School and the high school, were not substantiated. Director of Student Services Jack DeWitt told the board that of 19 alleged HIB cases logged districtwide last school year, two were ultimately confirmed; both involved intentional verbal bullying, one targeting race, color, ancestry, or origin and the other targeting a mental, physical, or sensory disability. DeWitt also reported the district recorded only four physical-restraint incidents involving special education students all year, three at Linden Avenue School and one at Ridgewood Avenue School, with no seclusions or mechanical restraints used.
The board awarded a $437,855 contract to Iron Mountain Mechanical, LLC for the Central School chiller replacement, the lowest of ten bids received that ranged as high as $1,146,000.
Principals John Lawlor and Dr. Keisha Harris presented the district's 2025 testing report, highlighting a 99% graduation rate, a record 336 students set to take 956 AP exams in May 2026, and high schoolers continuing to outperform state averages in language arts and math, though administrators flagged a persistent dip in eighth-grade science proficiency and an English language arts drop between eighth and ninth grade as areas for further study. The high school begins piloting a new state-mandated adaptive testing platform this week.
The board accepted a $408.94 donation from the Central School Home and School Association for books supporting social-emotional learning and the "Capturing Kids Hearts" program, and approved September financial reports totaling $627,178.70 in bills and claims and $1,908,970.07 in payroll.
Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg updated the community on the superintendent search timeline and noted that, because of the federal government shutdown, the district and Home and School Associations are coordinating on food drives and a resource list for affected families, and that the borough has announced possible property tax relief for residents who lost work due to the shutdown.
Action items
- Accepted the retirement of Ridgewood Avenue School Principal Michael Donovan, effective 9/30/26
- Accepted retirements of teachers Laura Zepp and Stephanie Pollak (GRHS, effective 6/30/26) and the resignation of head track coach Ira Ford
- Found two HIB complaints at the high school substantiated and four others (RAS and GRHS) not substantiated
- Awarded a $437,855 contract to Iron Mountain Mechanical, LLC for the Central School chiller replacement