Development News for Cliffside Park, New Jersey

District Addresses Healthcare Costs, Financial Crisis, and Infrastructure Projects

The district is addressing the healthcare and financial crisis impacting New Jersey school districts. A resolution urges the state government to prioritize this issue, acknowledging that the board is doing its best with available resources. Projections indicate double-digit premium rate increases for 2027, following a significant 31.9% increase in January 2026 and a nearly 74% increase over the preceding five years. The board is calling upon the governor and state legislature for immediate short-term relief from unsustainable healthcare costs. The district also conducted a pre-audit with auditors to proactively manage potential findings before the formal audit in September. The business office engages in this informal Q&A discussion annually to identify and remediate potential issues. Additionally, the district is undertaking a summer facilities project, specifically a high school masonry project involving concrete work on a retaining wall, sidewalk, and steps, with a projected start date of June 1st. The district is joining a cooperative to bypass the standard bid or quote process for certain business components, participating in the Passaic County cooperative. A server infrastructure refresh project, including project management, technical services, product infrastructure, off-site backup, and monitoring, has been approved with vendor New Era for a five-year term.

District Honors Teachers and Educational Support Professionals for Exceptional Service

The document recognizes several educators and staff members for their outstanding contributions. Evbec Yagan is named School 3 Teacher of the Year, noted for her dedication, numerous program involvements (Girls Who Code, book fairs, fundraising, tutoring), and her role as president-elect of the NJ State School Librarian Association. Allison Morettic is recognized as School 4 Teacher of the Year for her 30 years of service, mentorship, advocacy for inclusion, and leadership in special education programs. Daniela Rutz is School 5 Teacher of the Year, praised for her instructional skills, organizational abilities for school-wide events, and expertise in early childhood education. Linda Lewicowski is School 6 Teacher of the Year, celebrated for her 33 years of service, including 21 at School 6, her roles as media specialist and English teacher, and her long-standing leadership in the after-school program and fundraising efforts. Vicki Bucko is honored as the district's Educational Support Professional of the Year, acknowledged for her supportive nature in the classroom, mentoring of new teachers, expertise in close reading, and her past coaching roles. Vinnie Barrera is named High School Teacher of the Year for his 20 years of dedication, high AP scores in Spanish, role in supporting families and staff, and leadership on committees. Christine is recognized as the District's Educational Services Professional of the Year for her compassionate support of students, her role in maintaining smooth operations, and her advocacy for students over 21 years of service.