Glen Ridge board announces climate-and-culture audit and outside legal review for Ridgewood Avenue School; interim principals recommended

At a recent Glen Ridge Public School District Board of Education meeting, district leaders recommended commissioning a climate-and-culture audit and an outside legal investigation focused on Ridgewood Avenue School and proposed interim principal appointments effective July 1.

The measures, presented by Superintendent Arlington and senior staff, were described as distinct but complementary: the audit is meant to gather broad input on school climate and culture, and the legal review is an outside counsel'led investigation into internal protocols and operational processes. "While some aspects may always remain confidential due to legal and personnel considerations, we are, I am, committed to sharing what we can, when we can, and keeping the community informed throughout the process," Superintendent Arlington said.

District staff identified the contractor for the climate-and-culture work as the school culture and climate assessment lab at Saint Elizabeth University. A district speaker summarized the lab's approach, saying it treats "its approach as a process, not a program, designed for sustainable growth over multiple years" and that the engagement includes anonymous surveys for staff, parents and students in grades 3 and up, bundled data analysis, detailed summary reports, and multi-year consultant support. The staff member said surveys are typically administered in early fall and that the lab helps districts map existing programs, revisit core values and plan next steps. The speaker noted references in other districts including Sparta, Tenafly, White Plains and Paramus, and said the lab has recently been contracted for a subsection of the Chicago Public Schools.

Superintendent Arlington also recommended administrative changes to support the work: appointing Dr. Harris as acting principal of Ridgewood Avenue School effective July 1 and assigning Mr. DeWitt as director of support services and acting principal of Central School. Arlington said responsibilities across the leadership team would be adjusted to manage workloads and to provide families opportunities to meet the acting principals.

District officials repeatedly cautioned that some details will remain confidential because of personnel and legal constraints. The superintendent said the two efforts "share a common goal to help us reflect, learn, and move forward with clarity and accountability," and indicated both efforts would continue into the next school year. The transcript does not record a board vote on the recommendations during the portion provided.

The board packet and the superintendent's remarks placed the audit and investigation in the context of the district's year-end transitions: the fiscal year ends June 30 and many vendor contracts under consideration are for the 2025-26 school year. The district said it will provide a public update later in the week with additional details about the engagement and next steps, to the extent permitted by law.