PARK RIDGE—The Park Ridge Board of Education honored the district’s fall 2021 sports standouts at its Feb. 28 meeting.
Presented by Chris Brown, honors went to:
- Girls Cross Country – NJIC Patriot Division Champions, NJIC Conference Champions, Bergen County Small School Champions, North 1 Group 1 Champions, and BCWCA Small School Team of the Year;
- Michael Farrell – NJIC Patriot Division Coach of the Year and Bergen County Coach of the Year;
- Girls Tennis – NJIC Patriot Division Champions; and
- Bergen Record Athlete of the Week (female), Christine Richiez, tennis, for the week of Oct. 7.
Summer camps and clinics
At the same meeting, the board approved camps/clinics and coaches for the summer:
- Youth co-ed basketball camp, grades 2–9, Ryan Dennis and William Allen; $225.
- Boys basketball camp; grades 3–8, Brian Koch; $200.
- Girls basketball camp, grades 2–9; Ryan Dennis and William Allen; $225.
- Baseball camp, grades 1–8, Dylan Evans; $175.
- Softball camp, grades 1–9, William Allen and Richard Eichenlaub; $195.
- Volleyball camp, grades 1–9, William Allen; $200.
(Check with the district for dates, locations, and more information.)
Retirements
The board accepted the resignation of Sharon Smith-Raska, high school English teacher, due to retirement, and Teresa Greenberg, East Brook LDT-C, due to retirement, both effective July 1.
Scholarship funds accepted; legal bills swamp line item
As well, the board accepted a $10,000 monetary donation from the Teddy Gunther Memorial Scholarship Fund to be used during the 2021–2022 school year.
It also recognized that the district’s actual legal costs for the 2021–22 fiscal year exceeded 130% of the statewide per pupil average.
It said it “has undertaken steps to reduce these costs by restricting access to the board attorney to only authorized personnel and having the superintendent and business administrator review every legal bill before payment.”
The board said the excess legal costs incurred are the result of “a litigation, grievances, protracted negotiations, and/or due process hearings initiated against the district, which the district has been compelled to defend and over which the district has no control.”
Minutes of the meeting say the board resolved that it “will look for more ways to reduce these costs should the opportunity present itself.”
Buildings and Grounds
Under Buildings and Grounds Resolutions, the board approved the use of facilities applications by Soccer Shots, for use of West Ridge Fields, and the Harlem Wizards, for use of high school gyms, both April 2–June 11.
Tennis court replacement; nurse’s suite and restroom renovation
Upon the recommendation of the superintendent, the Park Ridge School District Board of Education authorized Parette Somjen Architects to submit all necessary plans and paperwork to the Department of Education concerning tennis court replacement at Park Ridge High School to serve as an application to the office of school facilities and an amendment to the District’s Long-Range Facility Plan.
This project shall be a capital reserve project and the board is not seeking state funding but will fund the project through the district’s reserve account.
The board also authorized Parette Somjen Architects to submit all necessary plans and paperwork to the Department of Education concerning the nurse’s suite and restroom renovations at Park Ridge High School to serve as an application to the office of School Facilities and an amendment to the District’s Long-Range Facility Plan.
This project, too, shall be a capital reserve project and the board is not seeking state funding but will fund the project through the district’s reserve account.
The district similarly approved Parette Somjen Architects concerning restroom renovations at East Brook and West Ridge elementary schools.
Candidates for school board sought
On March 14, the district announced that it is seeking a qualified candidate to join the board due to a recently created vacancy.
Nicholas Triano, who joined the board in 2000, left due to a change in his work schedule.
The member will serve until the board reorganizes in January 2023. The position will be placed on the ballot at the annual election in November for a three year term.
The deadline for submission is Friday, April 1 at 4 p.m. For more information on qualifications and how to apply, visit parkridgeschools.org.