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Ridgefield school board approves broad consent agenda, sets Pre-K rates and renews health benefits
Summary
At its Dec. 19 meeting the Ridgefield Board of Education unanimously approved a large consent agenda covering finance, personnel, curriculum and operations; it set 2025–26 Pre-K tuition rates, authorized health-plan renewals with stated premium increases, and approved capital and program actions including a retaining-wall application for RMHS.
The Ridgefield Board of Education voted unanimously on Dec. 19 to approve a large consent agenda that included budget and personnel approvals, program funding and several operational measures.
The board approved 2025–26 Pre-K tuition at $5,072 for half-day and $8,623 for full-day programs and authorized the submission of a project application to the New Jersey Department of Education for a retaining-wall replacement at Ridgefield Memorial High School; the board noted it is not seeking state funding for that capital work. The board also approved budget transfers totaling $152,168.98.
Kelvin Hiciano, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, presented financial certifications and advised the board on audits and budget transfers. The board approved amendments to the district’s ESEA application and an Advanced Placement African American Studies grant amendment, accepted federal, state and local grants, and approved a slate of payroll and bill lists for late 2024.
On employee benefits, the board renewed participation in the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, with the resolution noting renewal-rate increases of 18.77% for the NJ Direct 10 and NJ Direct 15 plans and 5.63% for the New Jersey Health Educators (NJEHP) and Garden State (NJGSHP) plans; the resolution named Kelvin Hiciano as the district’s certifying supervisor.
Program and personnel approvals included a Title I After School Program at three schools (Jan. 7–May 2, 2025) funded by Title I, the appointment of a Title I After School Program coordinator (Dawn Galbraith-Mazzola) at a $5,500 stipend paid by Title I funds, approval of various substitute and extra-service staff, and multiple curriculum- and mentoring-related personnel actions.
The board adopted a new bid threshold of $44,000 (authorizing the Qualified Purchasing Agent, Kelvin Hiciano, to award contracts below that amount), approved continued membership in the Bergen County Region V Council for Special Education (designating Dr. Alexander Anemone as district representative), and approved a Clinical Affiliation Agreement with Kean University to host occupational therapy fieldwork students.
Other operational items approved included renewal of the district’s prescription drug plan contract for calendar year 2025, disposal of a 2006 Isuzu NPR lunch truck, updates to the district Standard Operating Procedure manual, and a revised single-session school day on Jan. 29, 2025. The board also approved revised pay for a RMHS sound-and-lighting technician and stipends for Title I teachers ($3,500 each).
Board members moved and seconded the consent agenda (motion by Lori Hoffman, second by Claudia Narvaez); the roll-call vote was recorded as: Andrew Grippa, Lori Hoffman, Michael Jacobs and Claudia Narvaez voting yea.
Resolution item M.2 was pulled from the agenda for minor revisions and attorney review and is expected to be returned to the board for approval in January 2025, Mr. Kelvin Hiciano said. The board adjourned at 6:19 p.m.
