Glen Ridge School Board Approves HVAC Changes, Rezoning at Central School, as Residents Press on Playground Safety and Public Comment Rules
Listen
At its meeting on September 23, 2019, the Glen Ridge Board of Education approved six construction change orders tied to electrical and heating/ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) work at Forest Avenue, Linden Avenue, and Ridgewood Avenue schools, adding roughly $32,611.87 in costs. The change orders, from contractors H&S Construction & Mechanical and GDS Mechanical, included a $5,080 credit at Linden Avenue that partly offset added costs of $22,091.82, $7,504.49, $302.82, $2,700, and $5,092.74 at the other schools.
The Board also approved revised tuition placements for two students attending out-of-district programs for the 2019-2020 school year: $62,473.32 for the Bergen Center for Child Development and $31,122.00 for Cedar Grove Public School District. Separately, the Board approved $533,631.98 in bills and claims plus $62,396.78 in payroll-related bills for August 2019. Other approvals included a $14,810 "Conquer Mathematics Workshop" for staff, home instruction services from LearnWell for a student at $43.00 an hour for about 10 hours a week, and a settlement agreement for another student, both for the 2019-2020 school year.
In a significant policy move, the Board unanimously approved Superintendent Phillips' recommendation to rezone the district's three elementary schools, affecting Central School. Superintendent Phillips also presented Tradition of Excellence Awards to certificated staff member Jody Hackmeyer and support staff member Rose Cancelliere, and Ms. Ginsburg publicly thanked the Glen Ridge Education Foundation and Ms. Wong for a $2,500 donation sponsoring the Robotics Team.
Public comment covered several concerns. Resident Ruth Manna asked for an update on fencing and landscaping at the Central School playground, while Sara Scott asked about security measures for construction workers in the schools; Superintendent Phillips responded by describing plans for an iron fence, landscaping, concrete bollards, and worker security rules. Resident Greta Sawa asked about classroom unit ventilators and air particulates, prompting Mr. Romano to explain how the ventilation systems work, and also commented on a presentation from the Mallory's Army Foundation. Resident Harris Teran questioned class size figures in the Superintendent's report and separately asked about accounting software, contract negotiations, and sixth-period stipends; Superintendent Phillips explained the stipends, and Mr. de Leeuw said contract negotiations were ongoing with "a lot of positives." Ms. St. Auburn reported that the Glen Ridge Association for Special Education would host a Meet and Greet open house at the train station.
Both Teran and Sawa also raised concerns about the Board's public comment protocol, with Sawa asking whether the Board would change the rules and making comments about board members and board counsel.
What to watch
- A presentation from the Society for the Prevention of Teenage Suicide is planned for the Board's next meeting.
- Whether the Board will revise its public comment protocol remains an open question raised by residents.
- Contract negotiations described as having "a lot of positives" are still ongoing, with no resolution date given.