The meeting commenced with a farewell speech from Michael Lembo, who served four years on the School Board. Lembo expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve the community and inspire the students and staff. He reflected on the accomplishments of his tenure, including the Orchards remediation project, the late start initiative, the steps program, and policy changes to increase transparency and public input. He also acknowledged the challenges faced during his term, including staff loss, and stressed the importance of maintaining a positive working environment. This acknowledgement was met with an expression of gratitude from the board and the community.

However, the meeting also saw some contention when discussion turned to the reading of a resolution of censure against Sheila Brogan. Laurie Weber, a public commentator, raised concerns about the resolution being absent from the meeting agenda and accused Brogan of making false statements about her ethics case and prior litigation. This led to a debate regarding the process of changes to the meeting agenda and the approval of minutes. One board member’s request to include specific comments made during a previous meeting in the minutes sparked disagreements among the board members.

The board also discussed the implementation of Master Library, a centralized platform for scheduling events and activities. They highlighted the importance of proper scheduling to avoid conflicts and the need for comprehensive information and paperwork to ensure safety and proper facility utilization. Seventeen Ridgewood students received the first maroon awards of the 2023 to 2024 school year, and the German club visited a German Christmas Market. The choir Winter concert was scheduled, and the girl’s and boy’s basketball teams had successful scrimmages. These updates highlighted the board’s support for student involvement and achievement.

Moreover, the board expressed its commitment to student support and safety. They praised the Ridgewood Library’s support programs for students and the Village Health Department’s grant to bring two movies about social media impact and mental health to Ridgewood. The Safety Committee reported improved collaboration with the police and the village engineering, focusing on pedestrian and traffic safety.

In the Finance Committee report, they discussed the completion of the audit, the Cyber Insurance issue, and the Community School project.