Central to the meeting were the impassioned comments from the president of the New Players Company, who advocated for upgrades to the Ridgewood High School (RHS) Little Theater, emphasizing its importance to the community and its extensive use by students. She brought to light that the theater had not seen significant physical improvements since its construction and pointed out the need for updates to the stage, lobby, and restroom facilities. A wish list for maintenance and improvements was presented, along with a reminder of the New Players Association’s substantial financial contributions to the Board of Education amounting to nearly $2.5 million since 2010.

Dr. Laura McKenna brought attention to the need for the district to adopt new strategies to better accommodate neurodivergent students in the classroom. She underscored the importance of professional development for teachers and the formation of a committee to examine district practices. The aim is to collaborate with other districts to support students with different levels of autism and ensure that all students have accessible resources and support.

Another community member, Stefan K., raised concerns about Masterclass Athletics, a not-for-profit organization providing low-cost recreational basketball activities, struggling to obtain gym space for its programs. He urged the board to address this issue, highlighting the benefits such programs offer to children and the community.

Assurances were given that efforts were underway to address the issues raised by Masterclass Athletics.

The meeting also held a public hearing for the final budget, where the business administrator and the superintendent outlined budget objectives, highlighting the challenge of staying within the tax levy increase limit without guaranteed increased state aid for the next year. The detailed budget discussions revealed a total school budget of $138,564,000 for the 2024-2025 school year, covering a wide range of costs from salaries and health benefits to special education and capital projects. It was noted that the local tax levy would constitute about 78% of the operating budget, with state aid and grants being the largest source of non-taxpayer revenue.

The board budgeted $3 million in extraordinary Aid for special education, with the exact amount to be received still uncertain. Other revenue sources included using the district’s fund balance, tuition from other districts, federal and local funds, and the withdrawal of funds from maintenance and emergency reserves. Capital projects discussed included HVAC upgrades at two schools, partially state-funded. A proposed 2% tax levy increase would result in an additional $25.96 per year in taxes for the average home.

Discussions also touched on the allocation of class three officers in schools, the possibility of adding a third officer, and the potential for the village to fund this position. Questions from the public included inquiries about employee benefits, student-to-teacher ratios, water filtration systems, and the allocation of funds for class three officers. The board expressed their appreciation for the public’s interest and input into the district’s operations.

Further, the board discussed ongoing initiatives and provided updates on various matters including the implementation of water filters in schools’ water filling stations, the upcoming state of the schools address, and the Ridgewood Partnership for Community Well-being initiative. The latter aims to promote community well-being through evidence-based practices and information sharing.

The board also deliberated on policy revisions, particularly related to public information and legal services, with a focus on preventing privileged access to facilities for vendors. Additionally, the condition of the Orchard and Brookside fields was examined, noting the difficulties in procuring services for necessary maintenance and repair work.