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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Ridgefield Park Public School District. We found 9 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Federal Title I Funds Used for ‘Emotional Regulation’ Program
The district is using federal Title I funds to run a “Brain Builders” program for 4th-6th graders. The program is explicitly designed to teach “emotional regulation,” a core component of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), rather than focusing on core academic remediation.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Superintendent (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 9.07, Title I funds should be for academic catch-up, not SEL experiments like ‘Brain Builders.’ I demand to see the full curriculum and opt-out forms for this program before it begins.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Federal Strings Attached
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Approves SEL-Focused Field Trip
The board is approving a field trip for Jr./Sr. High School students to a “More Than a Mirror” event. The trip’s stated purpose is not academic, but focuses on SEL concepts like “self-discovery,” “leadership development,” and exploring how “societal pressures impact their confidence, decision-making, and well-being.”
Recommended Action Plan
Email the Board of Education (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding the ‘More Than a Mirror’ field trip in Item 9.02, I am concerned about the use of instructional time for non-academic, SEL-focused events. Please provide details on the specific content and speakers at this event.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: SEL Instead of Academics
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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District Partners with ‘Self-Advocacy’ and ‘Transition’ Vendor
The board is approving a Memorandum of Understanding (Item 9.01) with Advanced Disability Management Services, LLC. This vendor will provide “Pre Employment Transition Services” to students with disabilities, including training in “self-advocacy” and sharing sensitive student data like IEPs and health information.
Recommended Action Plan
Email the Board of Education (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 9.01, what specific content is taught in the ‘self-advocacy’ portion of the ADMS program? Parents must be able to review all materials before their children’s sensitive data is shared with this vendor.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Student Data Sharing
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Staff Sent to Trainings Hosted by SEL/Whole Child Promoters
Item 9.05 approves sending district administrators to conferences hosted by NJASCD and the Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA). These organizations are major state and national proponents of embedding Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and “Whole Child” ideology into all aspects of schooling.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE QUESTION: Email the Board of Education (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding the conferences in Item 9.05, how will the district ensure that the training received from ideological groups like NJASCD does not result in a shift away from academic priorities in our classrooms?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Ideological Teacher Training
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Unknown ELA Consultant Hired for K-6 Coaching
The board is awarding a contract for K-6 ELA Coaching to an unknown vendor, “Educational Leadership and Learning Center, LLC” (Item 11.08). Without vetting this vendor, parents cannot know if their approach is based on proven phonics and reading instruction or on embedding political ideologies into literacy.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email the Superintendent (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 11.08, I demand this item be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate vote. The Board must publicly discuss the vendor ‘Educational Leadership and Learning Center’ and their specific approach to ELA instruction before a contract is awarded.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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New Policy Mandates ‘Digital Citizenship’ Instruction
Under the guise of a new policy (P&R 5516) to restrict student cell phone use, the district is also mandating instruction in “Digital Citizenship.” While banning phones during class is a win for focus, this new curriculum requirement could be a Trojan horse for teaching contested social and ethical ideas.
Recommended Action Plan
Email the Board of Education (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 8.01, I support restricting phone use but oppose mandating ‘Digital Citizenship’ curriculum. What specific curriculum will be used, and how can parents review it before it enters the classroom?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Mandated Social Instruction
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Outside Health Provider to Conduct Preschool Dental Checks
Item 9.08 approves Zufall Health to provide on-site dental checks for preschool students. While seemingly benign, this allows an external health provider access to young children, potentially without parents present. The agenda does not specify the parental consent process.
Recommended Action Plan
OPT-IN REQUIRED: Email the Board of Education (contact info on district website): ‘Regarding Item 9.08, all school-based health services, including dental checks, must be strictly opt-in with explicit, written parental consent for each instance. Please confirm this is the district’s policy.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Parental Consent Unclear
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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Activist-Sounding Student Clubs Approved
The board is approving a list of student clubs (Item 9.04) that includes a “Women’s Studies Club” and a “Lives4Change Club.” These types of clubs can often become vectors for political activism and gender ideology, operating under the supervision of a staff advisor.
Recommended Action Plan
MONITOR: Parents should be aware of these clubs. Ask the school principal for the name of the faculty advisor for the ‘Women’s Studies Club’ and ‘Lives4Change Club’ and ask to review any materials or planned activities.
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Activist Club Vector
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| ALERT (LEVEL 2) |
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Vague Transportation Agreements Require Manual Review
Items 11.10, 11.11, and 11.12 approve joint transportation agreements with other districts. The attachments detailing these agreements were not included in the agenda packet, preventing public review of the terms and costs.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Open the files attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) for Items 11.10, 11.11, and 11.12 to confirm the details of these financial agreements.
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed Terms
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