RPS Budgetary and Classroom Size Statistics

The request was successful.

Dear Ridgewood Public School District,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. This is being used for personal use.

Information requested:
1. Current class sizes for each individual class in all the K-5 elementary schools of RPS.
2. The aide staffing count for each of the 6 elementary schools this year, and for the past 10 years.
3. Meeting minutes for the BOE Finance Committee from the current 21/22 School Year and the 20/21 School Year.
4. Meeting minutes for the BOE Facilities Committee from the current 21/22 School Year.
5. Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from audits.
6. Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from legal fees.
7. RPS per pupil costs for the past 10 years.
8. The total school budget in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and also Per Pupil Cost for those years?
9. What is the timeline of the tuition hikes for teachers from $0 for out-of-district students to the current ~$8,000/student?

Yours faithfully,
Jean Whitehead
Local Parent

Scott Bisig,

Dear Ms. Whitehead,

This correspondence is being sent in response to the Open Public Records
Act (“OPRA”) request you submitted to the Ridgewood Public Schools.  As
the official Records Custodian, I received this request on March 29, 2022.
As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is
April 7, 2022. I will be sending a response to your request within this
deadline.

If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven business days required by law, you have a right
to challenge the Board’s decision to deny access. At your option, you may
either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file
a complaint with the GRC by completing the Denial of Access Complaint
Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at (866)-850-0511, by
mail at P.O. Box 819, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625, by e-mail at
[1][email address], or at their website at [2]www.state.nj.us/grc. The
Council can also answer other questions about the law. All questions
regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the
Court Clerk in your County.

Sincerely,

Scott T. Bisig, M.Ed.

Business Administrator/Board Secretary

Ridgewood Public Schools

On Tue, Mar 29, 2022 at 4:25 PM Jean Whitehead
<[3][OPRA #30534 email]> wrote:

Dear Ridgewood Public School District,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law
right of access. This is being used for personal use.

Information requested:
1. Current class sizes for each individual class in all the K-5
elementary schools of RPS.
2. The aide staffing count for each of the 6 elementary schools this
year, and for the past 10 years.
3. Meeting minutes for the BOE Finance Committee from the current 21/22
School Year and the 20/21 School Year.
4. Meeting minutes for the BOE Facilities Committee from the current
21/22 School Year.
5. Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from audits.
6. Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from legal fees.
7. RPS per pupil costs for the past 10 years.
8. The total school budget in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and also Per Pupil
Cost for those years?
9. What is the timeline of the tuition hikes for teachers from $0 for
out-of-district students to the current ~$8,000/student?

Yours faithfully,
Jean Whitehead
Local Parent

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Scott T. Bisig,

SENT VIA EMAIL TO MS. WHITEHEAD ON 4/7/22

April 7, 2022

Dear Ms. Whitehead

The Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on March 29, 2022. The seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is April 7, 2022. As such, the District is timely responding to your OPRA request in accordance with New Jersey law.

Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Current class sizes for each individual class in all the K-5 elementary schools of RPS.
The aide staffing count for each of the 6 elementary schools this year, and for the past 10 years.
Meeting minutes for the BOE Finance Committee from the current 21/22 School Year and the 20/21 School Year.
Meeting minutes for the BOE Facilities Committee from the current 21/22 School Year.
Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from audits.
Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from legal fees.
RPS per pupil costs for the past 10 years.
The total school budget in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and also Per Pupil Cost for those years?
What is the timeline of the tuition hikes for teachers from $0 for out-of-district students to the current ~$8,000/student?

The Dropbox link below contains the response to request # 1 and 2 as well as # 5 - 9.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/im1pvqn0vfu4v8...

The District requires additional time to compile, review, and redact (if necessary) the requested board minutes from the finance and facilities committees (requests #3 and 4) that are responsive to your request. The District anticipates finalizing your request by April 14, 2022. The District also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time, if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.

Very truly yours,

Scott Bisig
Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Ridgewood Public Schools

Scott T. Bisig,

April 14, 2022

Dear Ms. Whitehead

​The Ridgewood Public Schools (“District”) records custodian received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on ​. You have requested the following records:
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:

Current class sizes for each individual class in all the K-5 elementary schools of RPS.
The aide staffing count for each of the 6 elementary schools this year, and for the past 10 years.
Meeting minutes for the BOE Finance Committee from the current 21/22 School Year and the 20/21 School Year.
Meeting minutes for the BOE Facilities Committee from the current 21/22 School Year.
Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from audits.
Costs accrued in the 20/21 and 21/22 School Year from legal fees.
RPS per pupil costs for the past 10 years.
The total school budget in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and also Per Pupil Cost for those years?
What is the timeline of the tuition hikes for teachers from $0 for out-of-district students to the current ~$8,000/student?

​The District requires additional time to compile, review, and redact (if necessary) the meeting minutes (request number 3 and 4). The District anticipates finalizing your request by April 22, 2022. The District also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).

Scott T. Bisig, M.Ed.
Business Administrator/Board Secretary
Ridgewood Public Schools

Scott T. Bisig,

Dear Ms. Whitehead,

Below please find a Dropbox link with our response letter:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b35pnt39bwuyn6...

Here is the link with the documents that are responsive to your request:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wfckkva7ybs0qp...

Sincerely,

Scott T. Bisig