It has been reported by Patch.com that Gerry Clark, one of the challenges in the Board of Education election to be held on April 27, has withdrawn from the race. Click here for the full story.
In the meantime, the remaining candidates will be at the RHS Home & School meeting tonight to introduce ourselves and answer questions. Dr. Fishbein will also be there to present the 2011-12 budget which is up for vote.
The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and takes place in the RHS Library (Media Center) on the 2nd floor.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
34 comments:
Glad to hear it. I was leery of Mr. Clark's obsession with the sports issues and wondered if he was prepared for the real work for three years that BOE must deal with.
Good luck Laurie! :)
No need to be leery of Mr. Clark. He freely admitted that he did not have the time necessary to invest to do a worthy job for Ridgewood. I admire him for his desire to serve and his honesty to the public.
I am disheartened to see these important seats on the board will have so little competition. That hurts everyone. Choice is always better, particularly in this case.
While i am looking forward to thurdays "debate" at the BOE, I am sorry I didn't know earlier candidates would be at HSA tonite, or i would have gone.
do you mean the BF HSA? I know they sent out an email a few days ago...they changed the date of their meeting after parents raised concern that it was scheduled originally for Passover.
The attendance was pretty slim tonight!
The Debate will include time for questions from the audience, so if you don't get the info you'd like you can ask us.
Speaking of Passover Laurie, could you explain why year after year, this significant Jewish holiday is overlooked? We always get time off from school right around Passover (this year, the week before), so why not on Passover instead so we can have our Seder nights in peace without homework to do, tests to study for (yes, teachers do chronically do this in spite of the fact that they shouldn't), and the necessity to cut a family holiday observance short because it's a school night. Not to mention the challenges presented at lunch time for a week with dietary restrictions that include bread and various snacks. I mean, we're getting the time off anyway so why the slap in the face of doing it the week before the holiday. If Jack Lorenz can close the high school early to accommodate a football game during school hours, why can't we get any consideration?
The district Calendar Committee is made up of administrators, teachers, parents and students, and they meet every year to create the calendar. (The membership may change, but those groups are always represented.) I am not part of the Committee, so I don't know what conversation has ever occurred regarding Passover. I will see what I can find out.
Yes , please let me know and while you're at it, please let me know how people are chosen to serve on this committee. Who or what entity is in charge of forming the calendar committee? Thanks.
Laurie, 8:56 said "Not to mention the challenges presented at lunch time for a week with dietary restrictions that include bread and various snacks" - challenges -really?
It is a religous holiday and calls for abstaining from certain food products. Do the schools have to close for the whole week? Respectfully, make a sacrifice and bring food and snacks from home, just as you will at a job in the future.
Regarding the homework and tests, I think the teachers should be instructed, STRONGLY, to accomodate Passover and Ramadan. If planned in advance, teachers should be able to.
6:28, obviously you are not Jewish. And yet you don't seem to let your ignorance of our holidays stop you from spouting off about them.
Passover, a significant holiday for Jews, is observed with special evenings of religious practice and family meals called Seders which occur on the first two nights of the holiday. For many of us this involves traveling to be with family. Most teachers choose to ignore this in spite of rules that say otherwise and assign homework and tests to study for. They are not supposed to, but the rules are never enforced in spite of complaints.
And as far as the dietary restrictions are concerned, students that are religious shouldn't even be in the presence of the foods that are not allowed during Passover. These foods are removed from the home during the holiday.
Yet all that was suggested was that since we are already given a week off from school around the same time as Passover (this year the week before), why not make that week during the holiday so that we may observe in peace.
Too much for you to fathom 6:28? I'd like to see how you would react if you had to deal with homework and school the next day interfering with your Christmas celebration or perhaps your employer telling you that you have to work that day. Should you be asked to just accept that as you suggest we should?
You know, we also get a week off from school around Christmas time, but not a single night of Hanukah on most years. My child was sent on a two day overnight school trip during my holiday which is observed each evening with prayers and candle lighting. How would you feel if you had to make those kinds of choices because of someone like you who is selfish and indifferent to others who do not share their religious heritage making the schedule?
Please, don't talk to me about making sacrifices until you've made some of your own. In fact, since you're so big on sacrifices, why don't you suggest that it be your turn next school year to give up time off for your holiday observances in favor of someone else's?
Here’s what I can tell you about the Calendar Committee and how breaks and holidays are decided:
First, I don’t think it’s accurate to say that Passover is “overlooked”. I'm told that Passover has been considered by the Calendar Committee every year. The creation of the District calendar is more complicated than most people realize.
Generally speaking, each year’s school calendar has to account for statutory holidays first, and then account for recess periods that the community has come to expect (e.g., in Ridgewood we are used to a full week in December, a full week in February and a full week in April)…all while ensuring the calendar starts out with 182 school days scheduled for students and 187 work days scheduled for teachers.
The challenge with Passover is that its dates typically vary from late March to mid- to late April. The Calendar Committee tries to avoid scheduling the “Spring Recess” week too close to, or too far away from, the “Winter Recess” week in February. Generally it looks to schedule the Spring Recess as close to eight weeks after the Winter Recess as possible to provide the best balance of rest and instructional continuity for the students. The challenges they face doing that are: 1) not closing school on dates around this time when state tests are typically administered (normally sometime in April) and not closing school the weeks before testing so that students have the best opportunities to be prepared; and 2) trying to make sure that schools are open on the annual school election date so that Village residents who can only take vacations during the school recess week are not forced to miss the election or vote with absentee ballots.
Days off for Passover might also be scheduled outside of Spring Recess, but that would add additional length to the overall school year. Depending on who you talk to, the important Passover celebration days may be the first day, the first two days, or the first two and last two days. Using this year as an example, that could have pushed the students’ last day of school to Friday, 6/24 (which creates conflicts for many families of graduating seniors who want to leave for vacations), to Monday, 6/27 or to Tuesday, 6/28. The later in June schools must be open: 1) the more “hot summer days” we may have to deal with in classrooms; 2) the more we will interfere with families’ vacation plans and students’ summer job and/or summer school plans; and 3) the smaller our “cushion” will be in the event we have a large number of inclement weather closures during the year and we need to stay open longer at the end of the year.
Some people feel that scheduling Good Friday off and not scheduling Passover off is unfair. Whether it’s “right” or “wrong”, Good Friday is a statutory holiday in New Jersey.
If we had fewer educational challenges, and more flexibility, to schedule our Spring Recess where we wanted to, I believe Passover would be a priority for scheduling Spring Recess in Ridgewood. The district has a history of scheduling school closures for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur when they fall on school days, even when it results in single days off in the middle of the week.
Finally, Regulation No. 8810 (Religious Holidays) in the Board Policy Manual (on the District website) specifically addresses the rules for homework and tests/quizzes around religious holidays. If a parent feels that teachers are not following the Regulation, they should bring it to the Principals’ attention.
I forgot to address your question as to how people get involved with the Calendar Committee. The parent volunteers are usually sourced through the HSAs. I am not sure how the staff and students are chosen...I'll find out.
Please note that the calendar is always discussed in public at BOE meetings, and is on the agenda. Members of the public can offer their input. We just approved the calendar for 2012-13 at last Monday's meeting. It is not posted yet in the Calendar section of the website, but it is part of the agenda that was posted, which you can see by clicking here:
http://board-of-education.ridgewood.schoolfusion.us/modules/locker/files/get_group_file.phtml?gid=944840&fid=11124066&sessionid=7fb98d03e3ef6c836d3d04f78a2d251e
to 2:25 am;
Actually I am Jewish. Reread my post. YOU said "Not to mention the challenges presented at lunch time for a week with dietary restrictions that include bread and various snacks" ..... At school and job, I have brought my food.
You call that a "challenge", I call that a minor inconvenience to follow my religion.
Then you went on and on and on.....I won't take offense because I will assume that at 2:25 am, you weren't at your best.
6:18, I must admit that after reading your post the first time, I was surprised to find out that you are indeed Jewish. I re-read your comment as you suggested, but I still don't see anything in there that would change my original take on it.
Frankly, if you are indeed Jewish, I am surprised that you would key in on that particular point rather than the actual point I was trying to make. Yes, the dietary issue is a pain in the butt since sandwiches are a lunch time staple for most children (but not as much for adults). However, as a Jew, I'm surprised you didn't come off more positive about the rest of my comment.
The week we often have off from school in April is the week ending in Good Friday. This year, that week happened to fall during Passover, including the Seder nights (Monday and Tuesday) which most every Jewish family observes as both a time of religious observance and ritual and social gathering of family and friends. Since we rarely, if ever, get these days off from school, it seems ironic and insulting that the rare year that these days actually fall during the week we typically get off from school, they would change the week off to the week before. Even if there were some issues this year that made that necessary (although Laurie didn't mention anything specific to this year), I doubt that they wouldn't have been able to move that time off by a couple of days at least to accommodate the Seder nights. As a Jew, I can't imagine why you wouldn't be supportive of that unless you just don't practice your faith, in which case your religious background would have no merit in this discussion.
The things I "went on and on and on" about in my comment actually have meaning to other Jewish families who were affected by this. Apparently you are not one of them, but you do not speak for the majority who are tired of seeing that regulation that Laurie mentioned ignored over and over again and the lack of simple consideration for our holidays. We are tired of the snippy, insensitive responses from teachers and principals when this is brought to their attention, and the complete lack of response from the superintendent when this has been brought to his attention.
As far as your comment on the lateness of the hour that I posted is concerned, that was at best a cheap shot and speaks directly to your lack of a viable point. Although it is highly unusual for me to be awake at that hour, on that particular day I had good reason to be awake and alert at that time. I guess when I went to shut down my computer, I couldn't resist unwinding from the day with a little blogging. So sue me.
to 2:05 pm;
I think that it is important when making requests to the larger community that strong presentations be made and arguments that are bound to fail should not be made.
Strong argument - The passover seders are vital to the religion, and as such Board Policy R 8810 for individual students should come into effect. Teachers and Administration are not strict enough with themselves concerning these policies. It is terrible that parents should have to complain to a Prinicipal or Superintendent - this shows something is wrong with the carrying out of Board Policy by teachers.
Weaker argument - the calendar should be changed to accomodate Passover. Realistically, since it changes every year, by as much as a month or so, no one is going to be thinking about this in the larger community, UNLESS there is representation on the committees.
I applaud your wanting to get involved.
Weak argument - in your earlier blog, thinking I didn"t know, you informed me that religous students shouldn"t even be in the presence of non-passover foods. Not a good argument to make, since the larger community will note that Jewish students don't stay home during Passover, therefore it is not an argument that the Jewish Community in Ridgewood takes seriously.
Please note that a subtle (or not subtle) act of religous faith such as bringing Passover food to school will do a lot to convince the larger community of the importance and sincerity of Jewish Holidays.
Weak Argument - in your earlier blog, you complained about school overnight during Chanukah. Religously, Chanukah has always been a minor holiday. Its proximity to Christmas has caused it to be magnified culturally. It should not be equated with Rosh Hoshanah, Yom Kippur, or Passover.
I am sympathetic that your child missed family time at Chanukah, but that is not the same as having it seen as an important religous holiday.
Weak argument - in earlier blog you assumed I was not Jewish, in this latest blog you assume I am not a practicing Jew and therefore my background has no merit. In any case, my background has no merit in this. In speaking to the larger community let your ideas speak loudly, don't worry about whether you are speaking to a Jew or not.
I wish you the best in getting better adherence and sensitivity to existing Board Policy, and on getting representation on calendar committee.
6:12, I think you're confusing the original issue I presented and my response to your rude comments about it. Some of the items you are seeking to correct here were specific responses to you, not a part of my original point.
And for what it's worth, my point was that the school calendar should be sensitive to the various Jewish holidays, and any others that it can accommodate where a significant population of the community is effected, WHEN POSSIBLE.
This year, clearly all we had to do was stay with the norm to accommodate those Seder nights. And as far as Chanukah is concerned, it is certainly not meant to be the gift giving bonanza that Christmas is, but it is a holiday that has it's own traditions of gathering as a family to light the candles, say the prayers and perhaps sing a couple of traditional songs. It is a religious time and a time for family to join together daily. It does have significance and should not be compared in any way to Christmas to determine that. But don't take my word for that, do your homework. If you'd like, I could offer you a link that might help explain it better for you. My point, again, was when accommodations CAN be made for this, they should be. The sad reality is that they NEVER are.
This all started with my question for Laurie and when she mentioned the Calendar Committee, I immediately asked for more information hoping to be able to become directly involved. You have added nothing of value to that discussion. If anything, you detracted from it. Although I do appreciate the change in your tone, you really should think twice before you hit "publish your comment".
6:12, I have to agree with 10:37. Although I commend you for your ability to take a second look at the way you commented earlier, your initial responses are what muddied the issues this poster originally raised which I find to be valid and do support. It is commendable to be able to admit you're wrong, but unfortunate that you chose to again muddy the issue with your condescending suggestions, none of which would have even entered into the issue if you hadn't interfered in the manner you did in the first place. If you're going to take the high road, why not do it whole heartedly, briefly and then bow out gracefully.
to 1:24 pm; I have given my opinions, I didn't mean them to be condescending, but I hoped practical. That of course is in the eye of the beholder. With that, I shall take your suggestion and bow out.
8:03, I don't think you know the difference between real issues and remarks made in the heat of an unpleasant exchange. You provoked the comments you now judge. Your argument detracts from some well made, valid points.
Laurie,
Regulation 8810 should be ammended in that students, particularly the older ones, should be able to inform their teachers of upcoming holidays. Most high school students do not want their parents doing for them what they can do themselves. Also, why does notice have to be in writing? It would be more appropriate and make more sense for the teachers to be provided with a list of the holidays included in the regulation. They should address the holiday issue with the class to see where accomodations need to be made. Students who observe these holidays should be accomodated in a way that causes the least disruption for them as well as the class. That helps teach our students tolerance and sensitivity to others while taking the awkwardness out of these issues for students.
Also, you have not yet addressed what specific circumstances this year prompted a change from the typical week off leading into Good Friday to this week. Had we stuck with the norm, this would have been a rare opportunity for Jewish students to have Passover, particularly the two Seder nights, off. How do you justify this?
As I mentioned last week, the person who could give me more info on how this year’s calendar was created has been out of town. I spoke with him today and can share the following with you.
For the 2010-11 calendar (the one we’re currently in), when the calendar was created, the state of New Jersey had not yet released its dates for state testing. They were delayed and, in fact, the date that they release the testing dates is not consistent from year to year. So the calendar was created using the District’s best educated guess as to when state testing would take place – the assumption was that testing would be the last week of April (April 25-29). Because, as I explained last week, the District doesn’t want students to have a week off directly before testing (so that students can review and prepare), that is why the break was not scheduled for April 18-22 (which would have included Passover and Good Friday).
After the calendar was approved, the District received word that this year’s state testing would begin on May 3, which is very late and which was not predicted.
I can tell you the following about the next two school calendars, which have been approved:
In 2012, April Break includes both Passover and Easter:
Passover is April 6-14, Good Friday is April 6 and the School Break is April 6-15.
In 2013, April Break doesn’t include Passover or Easter:
Passover is Mar. 25-April 2, Good Friday is Mar. 29 and the School Break is April 8-12.
The members of the Calendar Committee include teachers (sourced through the REA leadership), parents (sourced through HSAs) and students (chosen by principals). The committee usually meets in the Fall.
I've tried to explain the fairly complicated process that tries to balance learning time, testing, mandated holidays and other holidays, and District customs. If you have concerns or issues with school calendars or the decisions that are made, you should direct your comments or suggestions to Superintendent Dr. Dan Fishbein at dfishbein@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
I will pass along to Dr. Fishbein the suggestions regarding the communication and enforcement of Regulation R8810 from the District's Policy.
(And since this comment applies to two simultaneous conversations -- both "Resident Gerry Clark..." and "Answering questions..." I'm going to post it under both.
Sorry Laurie, but your response to why our week off did not include Passover just doesn't pass muster. Even if testing wasn't scheduled yet, that does not explain why the week off couldn't have started two days later so that we could have had no school on the Seder nights this Monday and Tuesday. Frankly, if the teachers were doing what they're supposed to do all year long, they wouldn't have to cram with the students the week before a test. What kind of an example is that to set? The real answer to the question is that no one involved in this process cares about how these decisions effect others of different religions. The rare occasion we get any break on Passover is coincidence, same as Hanukah.
As far as what you're passing along to Dr Fishbein is concerned, as his employers, we will expect the board to monitor his treatment of these issues to insure that the appropriate actions are taken.
If I sound frustrated Laurie, it's because nothing significant has so far been done about this and it's been a long long time coming. There's just no excuse anymore.
(Laurie, like you, since this comment applies to two simultaneous conversations -- both "Resident Gerry Clark..." and "Answering questions..." I would like you to post it under both.)
Sorry Laurie, but your response to why our week off did not include Passover just doesn't pass muster. Even if testing wasn't scheduled yet, that does not explain why the week off couldn't have started two days later so that we could have had no school on the Seder nights this Monday and Tuesday. Frankly, if the teachers were doing what they're supposed to do all year long, they wouldn't have to cram with the students the week before a test. What kind of an example is that to set? The real answer to the question is that no one involved in this process cares about how these decisions effect others of different religions. The rare occasion we get any break on Passover is coincidence, same as Hanukah.
As far as what you're passing along to Dr Fishbein is concerned, as his employers, we will expect the board to monitor his treatment of these issues to insure that the appropriate actions are taken.
If I sound frustrated Laurie, it's because nothing significant has so far been done about this and it's been a long long time coming. There's just no excuse anymore.
Amazing with all the back and forth how Laurie managed to avoid answering the question about getting the two Seder nights off. It's a gift.
With all due respect, you must have missed the explanation, the three or four times that I gave it:
A committee of 10-15 parents, staff and students made the recommendation for this year's calendar approx. 1-1/2 years ago. I wasn't there, I don't know what the exact conversation was. The administrator who was there said that the NJ testing was a concern. He did not recall anyone on the committee making the suggestion that you are making now. He does recall conversations in the committee regarding Ridgewood parents generally preferring a solid week off in April for vacations, etc. If you keep asking me why this year's calendar is the way it is, that is all I can tell you.
As to the likelihood of days off for Passover in the future, as I've also explained, BOE members are not allowed to speak for the board or predict what the Board will do, nor am I permitted to micromanage administrative decisions. I can promise to take all these comments into consideration and share them with the Board. And I will do that. I also invite you, when the calendar for 2013-14 is on the BOE agenda, to come share your feelings directly with the Board in a public meeting, or send a letter or email if you do not wish to speak in public.
Laurie, why do you keep defending these actions when you know full well that these issues are hardly new. They have been brought up by many with principals, teachers HSA's, and yes, even at BOE meetings. Offering to make a few remarks to your fellow board members or the superintendent is hardly a line of action that inspires confidence. It's just part of the buck passing I've seen before which insures that some issues will never be resolved. But hey Laurie, if I'm wrong this time, I'll be the first to give credit where it's due. Please feel free to prove me wrong.
Oh and getting back to that calendar committee, I can't say that I can recall an HSA president ever soliciting for volunteers for the calendar committee, including you when you served. I don't remember seeing it on the list of volunteering opportunities that gets passed out to parents either. When is this usually done?
The calendar committee usually meets in February or March, and the calendar is brought to the Board for approval in April. So, the 2013-14 calendar will be addressed in February/March next year. What usually happens is the administration reaches out to the Federated HSA for 3-4 parent volunteers. Sometimes the HSA presidents do it themselves, other times they get a parent from their school to do it. I have seen HSA presidents, during HSA meetings, ask parents if they have any calendar comments or suggestions to pass along to the committee. Not sure if they all do this. One idea would be to let next year's HSA president at your school know that you'd like to be on the committee next spring.
Laurie, perhaps the calendar does not reflect the needs of the whole community because of how it is handled. Very few people are aware of this process and from what you're saying, the process of choosing who participates is rather subjective. An effort should be made to seek out members for this committee that will offer a more well balanced view of the needs of the school community. Am I correct in assuming that such a change in the calendar committe process would originate with the BOE?
Oh, good grief. If this is what we are worried about then we are in real trouble. Our math program in k-8 is in tatters and people are getting their panties in a knot over food and time off for a holiday.
Oh good grief 8:30. Just what the world needs, another empty, judgemental blow-hard. If you're so infuriated about the math program, then do something about it without judging others for standing up for what they feel is important. I guess some people are so self absorbed that they believe their opinions are the only ones that matter. Some might argue that respect for one's religion is more important than math, but why argue at all? If all you can contribute are complaints about someone else's cause, you are worthless here.
Get a grip Charlie Brown (8:30) and stop being such a buttinsky. "Math program in tatters"? And you're doing what about it? If you're not interested in the topic at hand, then spare us from your inane diatribe.
Laurie, does the BOE decide how the Calendar Committee is selected. I don't think subjective appointments or self appointments of HSA presidents is the way to serve the varying needs of the community. Who decides how this committee is formed?
It is my understanding that the administration is tasked with creating a proposed calendar and bringing it to the Board for approval. Board policy 8210 says, "The Calendar Committee shall propose the school calendar for Board consideration." It doesn't specify who creates the make-up of the Committee. I will check into it.
Hey Laurie, just checking in and wondering if you have been able to get an answer about who decides how the calendar committee is formed.
Yes, I have confirmed that the superintendent decides how the committee is formed. He chooses to solicit parents to participate via the Federated HSA. Parents who wish to participate should let their HSA president know that they want to do it next year.
Post a Comment