Ridgewood board approves four‑year teacher agreement, appoints new GW principal; hears students and residents on teacher moves and turf

The Ridgewood Board of Education voted on May 20 to approve a four‑year memorandum of agreement with the Ridgewood Education Association, appointed David (Dave) Bailey to be principal of George Washington Middle School for the 2024–25 school year and heard sustained public comment from students and residents about a proposed teacher reassignment and the health implications of artificial turf.

Board action and what was approved

The board approved a memorandum of agreement between the district and the Ridgewood Education Association that the administration described as a four‑year settlement with a 2.95% base salary increase and additional salary‑guide enhancements that administration said combine to roughly 3.25% when viewed together. The agreement also includes benefit changes described in the administration’s remarks; the board discussed, then amended, the draft language to remove a projection sentence about reductions in services and to make explicit that state and federal revenue remains uncertain. Trustees completed the vote after a protracted discussion and amendment process…