High School Stays Closed Through Winter Break as COVID Cases Climb; Elementary Schools Reopen in Glen Ridge

Glen Ridge's elementary schools reopened Dec. 14 for the first time since before Thanksgiving, even as Superintendent Dirk Phillips told the Board of Education that Glen Ridge High School would remain closed for the rest of the month because of a persistent spread of COVID-19 among students. Phillips said the district saw only a handful of positive cases early in the school year but that November brought a sharp jump, with 83 people quarantined and 26 confirmed positive districtwide; townwide case counts rose from 59 on Nov. 1 to 98 by Dec. 1 and to 137 in the two weeks since. The high school had already closed before Thanksgiving after multiple athletic teams reported cases, then stayed closed a second week after break once infections turned up in buildings beyond the high school. Elementary buildings, by contrast, had no new cases in that stretch and were cleared to reopen Monday.

Mary Lynn Savio, president of the Glen Ridge Education Association, used the public comment period to argue that reopening any buildings for the final eight days before winter break was "unsafe and not educationally advantageous," saying teachers and students would be safer continuing remote instruction until conditions improve. Resident John Boyle and staff members Megan Connolly and Lisa Petruzzi pressed Phillips for an early, firm decision on whether schools would return in person on Jan. 4; Connolly said a quick call would let teachers "enjoy our vacations" instead of scrambling to prepare virtual lessons at the last minute. Phillips said he hoped to announce a decision by the end of that week based on recommendations from the county health director and the district's school physician, and noted that if another closure is needed, the calendar could allow for roughly a 10-day shutdown after New Year's Day.

The meeting, the board's last regular session before its January reorganization, doubled as a farewell to two long-serving members. Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg and her colleagues thanked Ali Lang, a board member since 2014, and Paul Romano, a board member since 2013, calling both essential to steering the district through its bond referendum, new-school construction and the pandemic response. One board member likened Romano to a line from "The Big Lebowski" — "a man for his time and place" — while others credited Lang's communications work and her willingness to "ask the tough questions." The board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Ridgewood Avenue School teacher Christin Spagnuolo, effective Nov. 24.

The district's outside auditor, Kathi Mantell of Nisivoccia LLP, reported that Glen Ridge ended the fiscal year on June 30 with an $865,000 net increase in fund balance and no formal audit recommendations. She said the district saved roughly $2.25 million net (about $2.6 million before encumbrances) compared with a typical year, because pandemic-driven closures cut costs even as payroll and transportation expenses continued. Mantell flagged two minor administrative items — new accounting rules for fiduciary funds and financial controls adapted for remote operations during COVID-19 — but said neither posed a problem. The board separately approved an emergency food-service arrangement with vendor Pomptonian necessitated by the pandemic, and heard that the district had drawn $675,000 from capital reserve and capital outlay funds for roof and roof-unit replacements at Ridgewood Avenue School.

The board recognized eight Glen Ridge High School athletes named to All-State teams: Sydney Mansfield and Ania Prussak (1st team) and Olivia Hoover (3rd team) in girls' soccer; Drew Hiner and Travis Burnett (1st team) and Lucas Costa (2nd team) in boys' soccer; and James McCarren and Dean Geraci (3rd team, Group 1) in football. It also named this year's Governor's Educator of the Year nominees: Lisa Jacobsen and Daria Zawisa at Linden Avenue School, Megan Connolly at Central School, Andrew Kanasky and Michelle Klein at Forest Avenue School, Scott Terpin at Ridgewood Avenue School, and Jennifer O'Connor and Alyssa Angelo at Glen Ridge High School.

Director of Student Services Jack DeWitt presented the district's twice-yearly School Safety Data Report, showing 14 total harassment, intimidation or bullying-related incidents districtwide for the full school year, including nine allegations that investigations did not confirm and one confirmed bullying incident at Ridgewood Avenue School, which was found unintentional and related to race. The high school had four confirmed HIB incidents tied to verbal or electronic communication, touching on sexual orientation, religion, ancestry, national origin and disability. DeWitt said electronic communication, including apps like TikTok, remains the most common source of complaints. Resident Jocelyn Gottlieb asked whether the state had classified educators as essential workers eligible for earlier COVID-19 vaccine access; Phillips said he had reached out to the county health director and the district's insurance broker but had not received any official word. Resident Tricia Akinwande asked whether diversity remained one of the board's goals for the coming year; Ginsburg confirmed it does, both as a district-wide goal and under the personnel section of the board's own goals. The board also gave final approval to 13 revised or new district policies covering topics including remote-instruction planning, athletic emergency procedures, school security and procurement.

Action items

• Accepted, with regret, the resignation of Ridgewood Avenue School teacher Christin Spagnuolo, effective Nov. 24, 2020.
• Approved bills and claims of $1,012,998.61 and ratified payroll of $1,076,786.21 for November, along with an open purchase order report of $124,197.86.
• Approved an emergency procurement letter of understanding with food-service vendor Pomptonian due to COVID-19.
• Approved submission of a CARES Act ESSER grant amendment adding $6,579, for a total award of $127,025.
• Adopted second readings of 13 revised or new district policies, including a full-time remote instruction restart plan, athletic emergency procedures and school security regulations.

Watch key moments

• 9:24 — A board colleague sends off retiring member Paul Romano with a "Big Lebowski" quote: "a man for his time and place."
• 56:17 — GREA President Mary Lynn Savio tells the board reopening schools for eight days before break is "unsafe and not educationally advantageous."
• 1:05:36 — Teacher Megan Connolly pleads for a quick decision on staying closed after break so teachers can plan and "enjoy our vacations."