Board Adopts Tentative $44.5 Million Budget With 3.5% Tax Levy Increase and Staff Reductions

The board found three Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigations not substantiated — two at Glen Ridge High School (Reports #286861 and #285615) and one at Ridgewood Avenue School (Report #285602) — and gave final approval to revised policies on HIB, student smoking, electronic surveillance in school buildings and grounds, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.

The board accepted the resignation of Jennifer Powers, a paraprofessional at Ridgewood Avenue School, effective the day of the meeting. The tentative budget for next year includes roughly $199,644 in staff reductions, along with cuts to sixth-period stipends and curriculum resources, even as the district adds a new full-time nurse position to enhance student support.

Business Administrator Barbara Murphy presented a tentative $44,477,047 budget for 2025-2026 that would raise the local tax levy by 3.5%, or about $1.25 million, to $36,943,996 — an estimated $42.42 increase per year on an average assessed home. Murphy said the increase is driven largely by a 14% rise in health insurance premiums and rising salary costs amid ongoing negotiations with the Glen Ridge Education Association; the district is using a state exception that allows districts to exceed the standard 2% tax cap for health-benefit increases, adding $521,561 to the levy for that purpose. The budget also draws $811,235 from the district's capital reserve for high school projects — HVAC upgrades, a partial roof replacement between the two gyms, office flooring and abatement, and gym bleacher replacement — plus a $400,000 maintenance reserve withdrawal to repair cracked pavement and walkways at Linden Avenue, Central and Ridgewood Avenue schools. A public hearing and final budget vote are scheduled for April 29. The board also accepted a $1,345 donation from the Central School Home and School Association for a "Dinosaurs Rock" fossil assembly, and approved bills and claims of $445,315.08 and payroll of $1,235,453.94.

Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg thanked the administration for completing the state's QSAC accountability review alongside the budget process, and noted media reports that the president intends to sign an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. She said only Congress can formally dissolve the department, that Glen Ridge receives relatively little federal funding, and that the district is following the state Attorney General's guidance to avoid reacting to news reports before any action actually takes effect.

The Communications Committee reported that a group of high school seniors and juniors, meeting with the student representative and district officials, urged the board to weigh students' age and maturity level when crafting cell phone and social media policy, arguing that expectations appropriate for a twelfth grader are not necessarily right for an eighth grader.

Action items

• Found three HIB investigations (Reports #286861, #285615, #285602) not substantiated.
• Adopted final revised policies on HIB, student smoking, electronic surveillance, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
• Accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Jennifer Powers.
• Adopted a tentative $44,477,047 budget for 2025-2026 with a 3.5% tax levy increase; public hearing and final vote set for April 29.
• Approved an $811,235 capital reserve withdrawal for high school HVAC, roof, office flooring/abatement and gym bleacher projects, and a $400,000 maintenance reserve withdrawal for paving repairs at three schools.
• Accepted a $1,345 donation from the Central School Home and School Association.

Watch key moments

• 8:02 — Board President Ginsburg addresses news that the president intends to sign an order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, and how the district plans to respond.
• 25:39 — The budget presentation reveals the average Glen Ridge homeowner will pay about $42.42 more per year in school taxes.
• 33:44 — High school students tell the board's Communications Committee that cell phone policy should account for the age and maturity gap between eighth graders and seniors.