Ridgewood board approves multiple contracts and amends maintenance reserve after extensive facilities debate

The Ridgewood Board of Education on June 15 approved a slate of routine and capital contracts, accepted a finance committee amendment to increase a proposed maintenance-reserve transfer and asked administration for clearer contract language on a large grounds-management agreement.

The board moved to amend a year‑end finance recommendation so that a transfer to the district’s maintenance reserve is “not to exceed $1 million,” a change Dr. Schwartz read into the record and the board adopted by roll call. The amendment was presented as a way to reduce next year’s projected maintenance shortfall while preserving flexibility.

Board members then considered multiple procurement items separately rather than by consent. The board approved awards and increases tied to construction and facilities work, including bids for window replacements at Glenn School and Ridge Elementary, change orders for furnace-room renovations and several district maintenance contracts. The meeting record shows separate roll-call approvals for those items; abstentions were recorded where conflicts or absences were noted.

One of the meeting’s lengthier exchanges focused on an increase in the district’s grounds-management contract with Manello Landscaping. Facilities staff and board members reviewed a history of unusually high snow‑related costs this year and explained that the revised contract bundles routine grounds work, expanded field services, and a structured schedule of snow-removal overage rates (tiered amounts for higher snowfall totals). Several board members pressed for (and the administration agreed to provide) copies of the revised contract language, clarity on minimum guaranteed payments if there is no snow, and explicit locations where snow would be dumped to avoid later hauling charges. The board paused final action pending those clarifications; at the meeting the administration said staff would follow up and provide the contract and related figures for review.

A separate discussion covered purchase of four replacement district vehicles. Facilities staff said the purchases use state-contract pricing and that the district would identify which existing vehicles would be retired when the new vehicles arrive. One board member asked that the district provide a follow-up list specifying which vehicles will be replaced.

The board also voted to reject RFP 01‑27 for before‑and‑after‑care services. The rejection followed staff analysis and committee discussion and was approved with one recorded abstention for an online participant.

In addition, the board approved several vendor renewals and routine procurement items that administration described as necessary under New Jersey procurement rules (for example, HVAC and elevator maintenance) and authorized staff to finalize agreements under those awards.

The meeting record shows the board discussed funding and budget mechanics throughout the finance items, including concerns over vendor listings, position-control rosters (job descriptions vs. funded positions), and how to present special‑education vendor information in the agenda packet. Administration said it would provide clearer documentation on vendor lists and position control prior to future votes.

The board ended its business by adopting a nonbinding resolution urging state relief for rising public‑school employee health‑care costs.

Votes at a glance - Maintenance-reserve amendment (finance item 15): amended on the record to read “not to exceed $1,000,000” — adopted by roll call. (Roll‑call tallies recorded in minutes.) - Window-replacement contracts (Glenn and Ridge Elementary): approved; one abstention noted. - Vehicle replacements (district fleet): approved; one board member requested a follow-up specifying which vehicles would be retired. - Manello Landscaping contract increase (grounds/snow removal): discussed at length; administration agreed to provide contract language and clarifications before finalizing outstanding items. - RFP 01‑27 (before/aftercare services): rejection approved; one abstention recorded. - Resolution urging relief from rising school employee health‑care costs: adopted by roll call.

What’s next Administration will supply the board with the revised grounds-management contract, detailed cost analyses for custodial and grounds work under the new arrangement, and an itemized list of vehicles slated for replacement. Board members asked staff to clarify vendor attachments and the position‑control roster for the coming fiscal cycle.

Attribution Board discussions, motions and votes quoted in this article are taken from the public meeting transcript of June 15, 2026. Key administrative explanations were given by Mr. Matthews and facilities staff; the amendment to the maintenance reserve was read into the record by Dr. Schwartz.