Board Honors Late Linden Avenue Teacher Jennifer Gonzaga, Urges State Action on Health Costs
Listen
The Board of Education opened its May 13 meeting by observing a moment of silence for Jennifer Gonzaga, a longtime second-grade teacher at Linden Avenue School who died the previous Sunday. Superintendent Winnie Kievit described how the school community rallied together in the aftermath, noting that the Linden Avenue Home and School Association brought staff sandwiches and that colleagues covered classrooms across buildings to support students and each other. A service was scheduled for Saturday in Rutherford, with details posted to the district website.
The board accepted, with regret, the resignations of permanent substitute Karen Feenaghty at Central School and custodians Nicholas Persaud and Robert Thomas, both at Ridgewood Avenue School.
Board members approved a resolution urging Governor Sherrill and state legislative leaders to provide relief from rising public school health-care costs, citing a 31.9% premium increase in the School Employees' Health Benefits Program that took effect in January 2026 and a nearly 74% cumulative increase over the past five years, with double-digit increases projected again for 2027. Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg explained that Glen Ridge avoided the worst of this year's spike by moving to a private insurance plan, but said many other districts have not been as fortunate, facing layoffs and program cuts. The resolution will be forwarded to Governor Sherrill, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, the district's legislative delegation, and the New Jersey School Boards Association; Ginsburg noted the Borough Council plans to pass a similar resolution.
Superintendent Kievit recognized the Glen Ridge High School History Club for a standout year, including hosting the Glen Ridge Regional Championships of History in February, which drew nearly 150 students from four states, with 14 Glen Ridge students advancing through the competition. Club president Nate Yasso told the board 23 members went on to compete at nationals in Arlington, Virginia in April, with more headed to nationals in Orlando, and thanked advisor Mr. Majewski along with administrators Kievit, Lawler, O'Donnell and Hill for their support.
The Home and School Association Executive Council reported two substantial new scholarship funds established through donations from longtime resident Lois Shank, adding to existing funds that provide individual scholarships worth thousands of dollars. The board also accepted a $478.87 donation from the Forest Avenue Home and School Association for bike racks at the school playground and a $2,000 donation from the Ridgewood Avenue Home and School Association toward a sixth-grade field trip to Fountain Springs. Fran Wong, president of the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation, told the board the foundation is funding the district's new business curriculum and engineering program.
The board accepted the superintendent's recommendation that a Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation involving a Ridgewood Avenue School student was not substantiated, approved bills and claims of $328,443.02, and ratified April payroll and other payments totaling $1,255,292.39.
Action items
- Accepted the resignations of Karen Feenaghty, Nicholas Persaud, and Robert Thomas
- Passed a resolution urging the Governor and Legislature to address rising school health-care premiums
- Accepted donations of $478.87 for Forest Avenue bike racks and $2,000 for a Ridgewood Avenue sixth-grade field trip
Watch key moments
- 9:00 — Board observes a moment of silence for longtime Linden Avenue teacher Jennifer Gonzaga, who died days before the meeting
- 14:11 — History Club president Nate Yasso describes the club's regional championship and national qualifiers
- 36:22 — GREF President Fran Wong announces the foundation is funding both a new business curriculum and an engineering program