At the forefront of the meeting, Amy McBride, a professional soccer trainer and former Marine, raised alarms about the potential contamination of Ridgewood High School’s main field and Stevens Field with “forever chemicals” linked to cancer. McBride emphasized that these substances persist in the environment and accumulate in the human body, posing a significant health risk. She detailed repeated flooding incidents on these fields, which she claimed allowed toxins to seep into local waterways, endangering students and the community. McBride criticized the lack of testing for contamination post-floods, describing the oversight as “borderline criminal.” Citing studies from Mount Sinai and Columbia University that link exposure to serious health risks, she urged the School Board to conduct comprehensive soil and water testing. Her plea underscored the community’s right to know what they are exposed to in their environment.

Following McBride’s comments, the board discussed a letter from Mount Sinai that expressed concerns about crumb rubber infill used in turf fields. The letter outlined potential health risks from harmful materials in the turf, prompting a board member to question how to address these claims. While the board recognized the environmental concerns associated with synthetic turf, they had not yet reached a consensus on the appropriate course of action. A call was made for a written opinion from the district physician to ascertain the potential harm to students and the necessity of installing such fields in the future. The board acknowledged receiving numerous requests for clarity on the issue.

In addition to field safety, the meeting spotlighted the budgetary challenges facing the district. The School Board discussed the need for transparency and public involvement in the upcoming budget process. Concerns were raised about the tight timeline between receiving state aid figures and the preliminary budget adoption, which limits the opportunity for community feedback. Board members emphasized the importance of disseminating budget information to the public before preliminary meetings, allowing sufficient time for review and input. The potential for budget cuts or changes to the tax levy was also discussed, with a focus on ensuring that any financial decisions are communicated clearly to the community.

A speaker highlighted the frustrations surrounding the compressed schedule for budget discussions, noting the difficulty in maintaining transparency under such constraints. The board agreed on the necessity of a structured framework for presenting budget information. They also discussed the potential impacts of state funding cuts and the need to prepare for various scenarios, acknowledging the financial challenges facing many districts.

Public comments further illuminated community concerns. Christina Millian addressed issues related to school health and safety, noting rodent problems at Hawes School and the absence of PFOA filters in water fountains. She advocated for improved security measures, such as hiring retired police officers for elementary schools, and called for transparent communication regarding health risks. Millian’s comments were echoed by Suzanne Ruan, who emphasized the need for better support and funding for special needs education. Ruan also raised a safety concern about a bus stop at Franklin and Oak.

In response to these concerns, School Superintendent Mark Schwarz acknowledged the importance of the issues raised. He assured the community that the board was working on strategies to evaluate and support student performance, particularly in special needs education. Schwarz also committed to addressing the rodent issues at Hawes School and exploring solutions for the bus stop safety concern.