Glen Ridge Schools Address Rumors Over Teacher's Resignation as Parents Press for More Transparency

Superintendent Kyle Arlington used part of his report at the May 13 Board of Education meeting to address what he called "really horrible rumors" circulating in the community about a teacher's resignation, one of three resignations the board accepted that night under agenda item P-3. Without naming the employee or the underlying incident, Arlington said New Jersey law bars the district from discussing confidential student and personnel matters publicly, but he walked through the district's general protocol for handling a student-safety concern: notifying law enforcement, including the Glen Ridge Police Department and, in some cases, the state Department of Children and Families' Institutional Abuse Investigation Unit; placing a staff member on administrative leave and cutting off access to students and buildings while an investigation proceeds; and conducting the district's own internal review once law enforcement finishes its work. He said the district was speaking now because an initial, narrower communication to directly affected families has given way to a public resolution on the agenda, and he encouraged anyone with a specific concern to contact him or his team directly.

Two residents pushed back that the statement didn't go far enough. Yerina Mugica said she appreciated the update but wanted to know specifically what students themselves are being told by teachers and administrators about their safety and support. Carol Park, of 18 Hamilton Road, echoed her, saying her own two children have been hearing the same rumors and that the family would "really like some more transparency as to how it's being handled." Board members said they were taking note of the questions and would follow up individually after the meeting.

The board voted to accept, with regret, the resignations of Gretchen Davidian, a leave replacement at Glen Ridge High School, effective April 22; Krithika Raghavan, a payroll employee in the district office, effective June 30; and Gerald White, a teacher at Ridgewood Avenue School, effective June 18.

The board also found that two separate Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying complaints were not substantiated after investigation: one at Glen Ridge High School (Report #290080) and one at Ridgewood Avenue School (Report #290998).

On brighter notes, Arlington and Director of Student Services Jack DeWitt recognized four staff members — Victoria Fiore, Lara Boss, Katherine Brody, and Jody Sewell — for completing the district's two-year Orton-Gillingham reading certification through a partnership with Fairleigh Dickinson University, funded by the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation. The district now has 18 staff members fully certified in the program, which has provided more than 2,000 hours of one-on-one reading instruction to struggling readers since it began. Supervisor of Interventions Gabrielle Marks also presented on the district's shift from the old Intervention and Referral Services model to a Multi-Tiered System of Supports, which she said has coincided with a drop in both classroom referrals and special-education classification rates. Arlington also recognized the girls' lacrosse team for defeating Montclair Kimberley Academy, 6-5, to win the 2025 Essex County Championship.

On the financial side, the board authorized advertising for bids on a chiller replacement at Central School, approved April financial reports including $767,291.38 in bills and claims and $1,219,782.69 in payroll and related disbursements, and accepted donations of $844.72 from the Central School Home and School Association toward a second-grade promotion tent and $7,428 from the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation for fall 2024 mini-grants.

Action items

• Accepted resignations of Gretchen Davidian (GRHS, effective 4/22/25), Krithika Raghavan (district payroll, effective 6/30/25), and Gerald White (Ridgewood Avenue School teacher, effective 6/18/25)
• Found two Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying complaints (GRHS Report #290080 and Ridgewood Avenue Report #290998) not substantiated
• Authorized advertising for bids on the Central School chiller installation
• Approved April financial reports, including $767,291.38 in bills and claims and $1,219,782.69 in payroll and related disbursements
• Accepted donations of $844.72 from the Central School Home and School Association and $7,428 from the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation

Watch key moments

• 49:19 — Superintendent Arlington makes a "hard pivot" to address community rumors tied to a teacher's resignation, laying out the district's safety-incident protocol without naming names
• 56:38 — Resident Yerina Mugica presses the board on what students themselves are being told about their safety
• 1:14:00 — Resident Carol Park, citing her own children's exposure to "really horrible rumors," asks the board for more transparency