Glen Ridge Board Confirms Bullying Finding at High School, Tables Second Case

The Glen Ridge Board of Education voted unanimously on October 28, 2019, to accept the Superintendent's recommendation confirming that a case of harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) was substantiated at the high school, under HIB Report #19-20 HS#2. A second bullying case, HIB Report #18-19 HS#17, which would have found the claim not substantiated, was not voted on and was instead tabled for later consideration.

In financial business, the board approved bills and claims of $861,935.58, payroll and related bills of $1,624,358.19, and open purchase orders of $1,660,191.57 as part of its October financial reports. The board also approved four construction change orders with H&S Construction & Mechanical for work at Linden Avenue and Forest Avenue schools totaling $14,264.17, and unanimously approved submission of the state's Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) District Performance Review, a required district performance evaluation. Members also approved the district's Comprehensive Maintenance Plan and related M-1 form.

Superintendent Dirk Phillips recognized crossing guard Valentine Jackson, who is retiring after serving the district since 1998, presenting her with a plaque for 21 years of service. The board also accepted, with regret, the resignation of Theresa Bahr from her position as an aide at Central School, effective November 20, 2019. Phillips also updated the board on ongoing HVAC construction at Linden, Forest, Ridgewood and Central schools, including installation of unit ventilators, radiator demolition, window replacement and heating upgrades; Linden and Forest are currently relying on radiant heat during the work.

The board accepted several donations, including a microwave oven from the Linden/Central Home & School Association, a Smart TV from the Ridgewood Avenue Home & School Association, a digital piano from Donorschoose.org, $10,000 from the Confucius Institute at Rutgers University for the Chinese language program, and $6,350 from the Municipal Alliance Commission to fund the "Heroes & Cool Kids" anti-bullying program. Board member Elisabeth Ginsburg continued her standing abstention from votes involving the board's law firm, Sciarrillo, Cornell, Merlino, McKeever & Osborne, LLC. In approving minutes from three prior meetings, Mr. de Leeuw abstained specifically from the October 7, 2019 minutes, and Dr. Yaros-Ramos abstained specifically from the September 23, 2019 minutes.

Several staff development trips and trainings were approved, including teachers Kyle Concha, Mia Palma and Kostas Barkouras attending the New Jersey Science Convention in Princeton, yearbook advisor Kate Pritchard's training in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Superintendent Phillips's multi-session Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) training in Trenton. Assistant Principal Jon Heitmann was approved to attend training on supporting transgender and non-binary students. A previously planned literacy training trip for teacher Paula Horton was cancelled.

During public comment, resident Greta Sawa raised concerns about the semi-annual HIB report, unit ventilators at Forest Avenue School, state test scores, diversity in hiring and public comment protocol. Resident Harris Teran raised concerns about special education funding in relation to the board's draft goals. Resident Jen Anderson asked about the number of students opting out of state testing, and resident Sara Scott asked for an update on Central School's playground barriers, landscaping and construction progress. Co-presidents of the Glen Ridge Education Association, MaryLynn Savio and Alice Roberts, read a statement on the status of ongoing contract negotiations.

What to watch

• The tabled HIB case (Report #18-19 HS#17) has not yet been voted on and remains pending before the board.
• Contract negotiations between the district and the Glen Ridge Education Association remain ongoing, with no resolution announced.