Glen Ridge Board Confirms a Bullying Case, Mourns Nashville Victims and Longtime Resident

Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg opened the March 28, 2023 meeting with a moment of silence for the victims of the Nashville school shooting and their families, and offered condolences on the recent death of Judy Hartop, a Glen Ridge resident and former Linden Avenue School paraprofessional survived by her husband, David, and children James and Nora, both Glen Ridge High School graduates.

Of five Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigations the board acted on, one -- GRHS Report #17 -- was found substantiated, breaking a run of unsubstantiated findings at recent meetings. Director of Student Services Jack DeWitt, presenting the district's mid-year Student Safety Data System report, said the confirmed case involved intentional verbal and physical bullying rooted in the victim's gender identity and expression. The board found HIB was not substantiated in the other four cases reviewed, covering the high school, Ridgewood Avenue School and Central School. DeWitt's report, covering July through December 2022, also showed no incidents of physical or mechanical restraint or seclusion of students with disabilities at any of the district's five schools, a category the state began requiring districts to track this year.

The board accepted the resignations of five staff members: assistant spring track coach Paul Kartanowicz and spring site coordinator Victoria Ramirez, both at Glen Ridge High School; permanent substitute Michael Iradi at Ridgewood Avenue School; paraprofessional Stephanie Schramm at Glen Ridge High School; and SEL counselor Amelia Gonzales, who splits time between Ridgewood Avenue and Central schools.

The high school's new restroom procedures -- adopted after a rise in vandalism and loitering, and requiring students to sign in, limiting stall capacity and stationing staff to monitor hallway bathrooms -- drew scrutiny at both public comment periods. Resident Cynthia Garcia asked the board to clarify the actual rules, noting some students with anxiety or 504 plans had been affected, though Superintendent Dirk Phillips and student representative Colin Pennington said hallway traffic during class time has dropped since a rocky first day, and pointed to the nurse's office and a "Zen room" as available options for students needing more privacy or support. Resident Alex Meyer used public comment to press the board on why a track coach can remain frequently absent from practice and still be repeatedly reappointed, tying it to what he described as a long decline in the size and competitiveness of the district's running programs; Phillips said personnel matters can't be discussed publicly but that coaching positions are posted annually and staff absences are supposed to be coordinated through the athletics director.

Phillips recognized several student honors: senior Carmen Seda was named Glen Ridge's Unsung Hero by the Essex County School Boards Association; senior Colin Pennington was named a National Merit Scholarship recipient, one of 2,500 nationally; and freshman Claire Liotta won the regional Shakespeare Recitation Competition and advances to the national competition in New York City in April. The Glen Ridge Marching Band was named Best Musical Entry at the 2023 Killarney St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland, beating out groups from across Ireland and Europe, and also performed at the Limerick International Band Festival.

The board accepted an $811,170 state grant toward the high school's HVAC upgrade project, to be paid out once the work is complete, and approved a revised 2022-2023 school calendar: schools will be closed April 10 and May 30 using previously unused emergency days, and the last day of school moves to June 15 as an early-dismissal day, with graduation remaining June 16. The board also accepted an $806.81 donation from the Linden Avenue Home & School Association for a laser printer, and approved bills and claims of $733,648.62 for the month. The Glen Ridge Educational Foundation's annual gala is scheduled for April 15 at the Montclair Art Museum.

Action items

• Found HIB substantiated in one case at Glen Ridge High School (Report #17), involving bullying based on gender identity and expression; found not substantiated in four other cases at the high school, Ridgewood Avenue School and Central School
• Accepted resignations of Paul Kartanowicz, Victoria Ramirez, Michael Iradi, Stephanie Schramm and Amelia Gonzales
• Accepted an $811,170 grant for Glen Ridge High School HVAC upgrades
• Approved a revised school calendar moving the last day of school to June 15 (early dismissal), with graduation on June 16
• Accepted an $806.81 donation from the Linden Avenue Home & School Association for a laser printer

Watch key moments

• 18:39 — District's safety report reveals a confirmed bullying case rooted in gender identity and expression
• 27:59 — Glen Ridge Marching Band named Best Musical Entry at Ireland's Killarney St. Patrick's Day Parade
• 38:56 — Resident presses the board on a track coach's repeated absences and reappointment despite them