Glen Ridge Parents Pack Board Meeting to Demand Smartphone-Free Schools as Board Clears Four Bullying Investigations

The Glen Ridge Board of Education found none of four recent Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigations at Glen Ridge High School substantiated, voting to accept the superintendent's findings on reports #268655, #268350, #268520 and #268047. All four votes were unanimous among members present except the last, on which Ms. Gottlieb abstained.

Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg opened the meeting by remembering two members of the school community who died since the last meeting: Stephen Fitzpatrick, husband of longtime Forest Avenue School principal Deb Fitzpatrick, and Robert Reilly, husband of longtime Forest Avenue nurse Charlene Reilly and father of high school teacher Caitlyn Reilly.

The board approved bills and claims of $1,046,403.60 and ratified $1,701,979.35 in payroll and related expenses, along with several donations: a piano and its installation, valued at roughly $1,350 combined, from residents Van and Liz Taylor to the Ridgewood Avenue Home and School Association; 30 binders worth $400 from Richard Gaul; and a $4,700 gift from the Glen Ridge High School Home and School Association for two new cafeteria tables.

Superintendent Kyle Arlington and elementary principal Dr. Donovan shared last year's state testing results, highlighting that 90% of Ridgewood Avenue's sixth graders met or exceeded the state standard in language arts — a number Donovan said he had never seen in 22 years in the building. All of the district's juniors passed the NJGPA graduation assessment, and Middle/High School officials reported that Glen Ridge ranked 11th among New Jersey high schools in U.S. News rankings, the top-ranked non-admissions-based school in the state. Ginsburg also reported on the success of the recent Kitchen Tour fundraiser and the district's first townwide Diwali celebration, and noted the state Senate had passed the "Freedom to Read Act," now awaiting the governor's signature.

Much of the meeting centered on cell phones. Arlington presented a "Future Ready Learners" plan built around a spring survey of 551 families in which 61% supported a district policy keeping phones out of students' possession during the school day; current rules keep phones away all day at Ridgewood Avenue and the middle school but only during instructional time at the high school. He announced a community screening of the documentary "Screenagers" on November 21, moderated by licensed psychotherapist Laurel Morello, with a follow-up event on social media planned for January.

Seven residents spoke during public comment, all pressing the board to adopt a stricter, districtwide smartphone ban. Lori Davis, of 209 Ridgewood Avenue, said that since her daughter transferred to a school with a strictly enforced phone policy, "I never hear from her until that bell at the end of the day," and argued Glen Ridge's current policy puts too much enforcement burden on individual teachers. Jess Filipovich cited a UNESCO report calling for a worldwide school phone ban and said the school system was the reason her family moved to Glen Ridge. Deirdre Carlough said outreach to other parents had found overwhelming support for a change. Jennifer Anderson, of 77 Midland Avenue, described her eighth grader watching movies on her phone during PE and study hall before the family took the phone away. Kavita Kumar, of 244 Ridgewood Avenue, raised similar concerns about smartwatches among elementary students. James Cordon, of 42 Hillside Avenue, described a recent lockdown triggered by an incident in Bloomfield, during which he and other parents got phone calls from panicked children that could not get through, arguing the moment showed phones make emergencies harder to manage rather than safer. Kim Engel, of 326 Washington Street, and Matt Doyle, of 90 Baldwin Street, also voiced support for a stricter policy.

Board members also heard from student representative Maggie de la Fuente, who reported the homecoming dance raised $1,880 with about 70% of the student body attending, and that the football, marching band and girls tennis teams were headed into postseason competition.

Action items

• Accepted findings that four HIB investigations (Reports #268655, #268350, #268520, #268047) at Glen Ridge High School were not substantiated.
• Approved bills and claims of $1,046,403.60 and payroll/related expenses of $1,701,979.35.
• Accepted donations of a piano and installation from Van and Liz Taylor, 30 binders from Richard Gaul, and $4,700 from the GRHS Home and School Association for cafeteria tables.
• Approved second reading of revised Policy R5200 (Attendance); tabled Policy P8454 (Management of Pediculosis) pending further policy committee discussion.
• Tabled a personnel item (P2) to give the administration more time to explain how the district secures coaches.

Watch key moments

• 34:10 — Principal Donovan reveals 90% of Ridgewood Avenue sixth graders met or exceeded the state language arts standard, a number he says he's never seen in 22 years.
• 1:17:35 — Resident Lori Davis says that since her daughter moved to a school with a strict phone policy, "I never hear from her until that bell at the end of the day."
• 1:27:59 — James Cordon recounts a Bloomfield-triggered lockdown when panicked kids' calls to parents couldn't get through, arguing it undercuts the case for phones in emergencies.