Glen Ridge Board Confirms Bullying Complaint, Hears Suicide Prevention Presentation

The Glen Ridge Board of Education voted unanimously on October 7, 2019 to accept the Superintendent's recommendation finding that harassment, intimidation, and bullying was substantiated in a report involving a student, identified in board records as HIB Report #19-20 RAS #1. During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Greta Sawa spoke about bullying and suicide, following up on earlier correspondence she had sent to the board about events from previous meetings, which the board's attorney had responded to. Later in the meeting, Susan Tellone of the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide presented the "Lifelines" suicide prevention program to the Board and audience members, part of a broader community focus on the issue that has also included a presentation on the basics of harassment, intimidation, and bullying, and Week of Respect activities at the Forest Avenue School Home and School Association.

In personnel matters, the Board accepted, "with regret," the resignation of John Poff from his position as an aide at Glen Ridge High School, effective October 4, 2019, and approved Victoria Ramirez to fill an aide vacancy at the high school starting October 14, 2019. The Board also approved a new part-time nurse, Brienne Trignanao, for Central School, pending district and state approval, along with a maternity leave extension for Samantha O'Dell and two new co-advisors, Andrew Shohen and Jenelle Hamer, for the high school's Robotics club. On each of these personnel items, Mr. Bonnett abstained from voting. The Board separately approved out-of-district placements for two students to receive services at Essex County Vocational Technical School for the current school year, and signed off on staff training and conferences for several employees, including asbestos safety refresher training and reading evaluation instruction.

On finances and facilities, the Board approved combined bills, claims, and payroll totaling just over $2 million. Several construction-related change orders were also approved, including a $27,833.48 payment for temporary power work at Linden and Forest Avenue Schools, a $3,615.57 cost to bring the Central School elevator into code compliance, a $6,541.72 credit reducing flooring costs at Central School, and a smaller repair to recreate window sills at Forest Avenue School. The Superintendent also reported that the district made a $6,500 deposit to hold a temporary backup boiler, pumps, and hoses for Ridgewood Avenue School as a precaution in case the general contractor could not finish boiler room work on schedule. The Board approved an 8th grade overnight field trip to Washington, D.C. for June 15-16, 2020, and met in a closed executive session from 7:11 to 8:02 p.m. to discuss personnel, negotiations, and possible litigation, with those minutes to remain sealed until the matters are resolved.

What to watch

• The State Board of Education postponed a decision on new state assessment and graduation requirement proposals; a resolution is due by November 6.
• Whether the general contractor completes boiler room work at Ridgewood Avenue School on schedule, or whether the temporary backup boiler held under deposit will be needed.