Marching Band's National Title, Sobering Bias Accounts Mark Glen Ridge School Board Meeting

The Glen Ridge Board of Education's Nov. 15 meeting mixed a celebratory recognition with pointed testimony about bias in the schools. Jack Dewitt presented the district's twice-yearly School Safety Data System report, covering Jan. 1 through June 30, 2021, which logged three incidents at Glen Ridge High School — vandalism, a substance-abuse case, and one confirmed episode of harassment, intimidation or bullying stemming from an intentional electronic communication. Separately, the board voted to accept a finding that a harassment, intimidation and bullying investigation (Report 21-22 HS#2) was not substantiated. During public comment, several parents described incidents the data didn't capture: Quyen Wong of Essex Avenue said her kindergartner came home upset after classmates mimicked "Chinese people" by pulling their eyes to the side, and Greta Sawa said she'd heard of at least three separate incidents of Asian children being "ridiculed," pressing Superintendent Dirk Phillips on what would be done; Phillips said he would follow up with the affected families and the principals in the buildings where the incidents occurred. High school student Billie Jo Rivera told the board she'd heard "a shocking amount" of seventh-graders using slurs, and said transgender students and even teachers at the school are misgendered daily by students and staff alike, calling for better instruction on LGBTQ+ topics in health class.

The board also accepted, with regret, the resignations or retirements of five staff members. The most notable was longtime World Language teacher Lillian Serghides, who has taught in the district since 1987 and holds a rare dual certification in French and Spanish, splitting her career between Ridgewood Avenue School and the high school; she will retire at the end of the current school year. Also departing are social worker Caitlin Holden, leave-replacement teacher Jessica Saraiva, paraprofessional Kim White and teacher Cristina Rodriguez. Board President Elisabeth Ginsburg also remembered former board member James O'Brien, a substance-abuse counselor and longtime community volunteer who died Nov. 4, leaving behind his wife Sherry and three children.

On the financial side, the board approved bills and claims totaling $957,464.06 and ratified $2,288,516.59 in payroll for the period, along with $156,475.17 in open purchase orders for the 2021-22 school year. It also approved a $3,649 change order with Laumar Roofing Co. to repair 300 square feet of damaged metal decking on the penthouse roof over the mechanical room at Ridgewood Avenue School.

On a lighter note, Superintendent Phillips opened the meeting by honoring the Glen Ridge High School Marching Band, which won the Group 1 National Championship at the U.S. Bands National Championships at MetLife Stadium on Nov. 6 — the school's first championship banner from the Meadowlands since 2000 and only the sixth in school history. Drum majors Eryka Duckett and Anna Sullivan introduced the band's show, "Caravan, A Journey through Big Band Jazz." Phillips also recognized Ridgewood Avenue School's Upstanders of the Month, third-grader Sebastian Jerolimic (September) and sixth-grader Wyeth Fertig (October).

Much of the nearly two-hour meeting was devoted to the district's DEI initiatives and the outside "Olive Branch" equity audit. Board President Ginsburg reported written communications from dozens of residents, most in support of the DEI initiatives and COVID protocols; among them, Mark Robertson asked that public commenters be asked whether they have children in the schools. Close to two dozen residents spoke in person, nearly all voicing support for the audit's recommendations and the district's diversity efforts, several referencing racist and homophobic comments they said were made by other residents at the October meeting. Resident Phil Johnson directly rebutted one of those earlier remarks — a written statement asking "doesn't anyone question that it was only done by women" about the all-female audit team — comparing the argument to "the first half of the movie Hidden Figures" and noting that more than 90 percent of teachers and students, and more than 70 percent of parents, support continued DEI efforts. Resident Wendy Shepps also raised concerns about a shortened lunch period leaving students unmasked in large groups; Phillips said he would meet with the high school principal to review the new bell schedule.

Action items

• Accepted a finding that a Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying investigation (Report 21-22 HS#2) was not substantiated.
• Approved, with regret, the retirement of World Language teacher Lillian Serghides (effective June 30, 2022) along with four other staff resignations.
• Approved bills and claims of $957,464.06 and ratified $2,288,516.59 in payroll for the period.
• Approved a $3,649 change order for roof repairs at Ridgewood Avenue School.

Watch key moments

• 11:40 — Superintendent Dirk Phillips announces the marching band's Group 1 national championship at MetLife Stadium, the school's first title banner since 2000.
• 1:02:03 — Resident Quyen Wong describes her kindergartner coming home upset after classmates mocked "Chinese people" by pulling their eyes to the side.
• 1:22:22 — Resident Phil Johnson pushes back on an anonymous statement from the prior meeting questioning an all-female team's equity audit, comparing it to "the first half of the movie Hidden Figures."