Glen Ridge School Board Confirms Bullying Complaint, Faces Pushback Over New Public Comment Rules

At its September 9, 2019 meeting, the Glen Ridge Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the Superintendent's finding that a harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) complaint against district staff and a student, identified as HIB Report #18-19 RAS#7, was substantiated. A separate complaint, RAS#8, was found not substantiated.

The meeting also saw friction over changes to how the public can speak at board meetings. Board member Ms. Ginsburg announced new procedures for the board's two public comment periods, and Glen Ridge resident Greta Sawa told the Board she was unhappy with the changes. Separately, a vote to approve minutes from the July 22, 2019 executive and regular sessions was not unanimous, with Mr. Campbell, Ms. Lang, and Dr. Yaros-Ramos all abstaining.

On personnel matters, the board approved new part-time custodian positions at Central School for John Price and Vincent Bottazzi, hired George Kilgen as a full-time custodian replacing O. Morales, and brought on Patricia Enright as a per-diem middle school math leave replacement. The board also accepted, with regret, resignations from twelve staff members, including Business Club Advisor Sean McClearie, and approved a $10,000 principal stipend for Joseph Caravela at Central School. Separately, the board approved a list of pay rates for athletic event workers for the remainder of the school year.

The district formally joined the Sustainable Jersey for Schools certification program, naming Superintendent Dirk Phillips as liaison and committing all four schools to forming "Green Teams." The board also adopted a new Food Service Biosecurity Management Plan and thanked the Forest Home and School Association and the High School Home and School Association for donations that funded upgrades to a faculty room and a Large Group Instruction room.

Superintendent Phillips reviewed the district's recent results under the state's Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) review process. On facilities, the board approved 19 change orders totaling costs from $520.84 to $27,571.96 across Central, Ridgewood Avenue, Linden Avenue and Forest Avenue Schools, covering issues like a gas leak repair and asbestos removal, and approved a $39,000 settlement over relocating the Urology Group of NJ. The board also approved air quality testing at four elementary schools. At public comment, resident Stephanie Lee raised concerns that construction dust in ductwork could blow into classrooms once the new ventilation system is activated; Mr. Romano responded that classrooms draw filtered fresh air from outside and that a commissioning agent has been hired to oversee the system's safety.

On special education, the board approved out-of-district placements for six students at costs including $89,460.00, $64,473.32 plus $10,297.80 for extended school year services, and three placements at $40,349.00 each, along with a new placement at Cedar Grove Public School District for $27,051.00 and the termination of a placement at the ECLC School. The board also approved various outside professional services, including neurological evaluations, social work services, a visual assessment, nursing staff, and a revised rate for Teacher of the Deaf services, plus a parent transportation contract to Pompton Lakes.

Financially, the board approved bills and claims totaling $3,017,807.90 and payroll/materials bills of $3,663,995.35, with Ms. Ginsburg abstaining from one item while all other members voted yes; approved Open Purchase Order Reports totaling $4,057,990.56; and approved a Chinese-language student trip to China scheduled for April 9-18, 2020. The board approved conference attendance for several staff and members at the 2019 New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Convention, with Ms. Ginsburg abstaining from the vote on her own attendance, and approved Learning Consultant Lisa Jacobsen to attend HIB investigation training.

What to watch

• The rezoning plan for Central School is set to be reviewed at the board's next meeting.