By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — When comedian Chris Gethard posted a speech for the students at his former high school on his Instagram page on Feb. 1, it created a stir that he wasn’t expecting. A West Orange native and member of the West Orange High School Class of 1998, Gethard said district administrators had suggested […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Residents will be voting in two new members to the West Orange Board of Education on Nov. 6, casting their ballots for two of the three challengers running for election. Cheryl Merklinger, Jeremias Salinas and Terry Trigg-Scales all shared the direction they want to see the school district head in the […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education approved a separation agreement with Superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky at a special meeting Oct. 19, in which Rutzky agreed to voluntarily resign effective at midnight that evening. Complying with state law, Rutzky will be paid three months’ salary for each year remaining on his contract, which […]
By Editor on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — It was back to the classroom for West Orange public school students on Sept. 6 and, despite the sweltering temperatures, there was excitement and smiles. Superintendent of Schools Jeff Rutzky spent the day visiting the district’s 12 schools, beginning his morning at Gregory Elementary School, where he welcomed students, staff and […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The torrential rain that fell in New Jersey on Aug. 11 resulted in a flood in Kelly Elementary School, leaving about 3 inches of water in all but one of the school’s classrooms. Superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky updated West Orange Board of Education members and the public about the progress of the […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education discussed New Jersey’s new recess legislation and how the law will affect the school day at each of the district’s seven elementary schools at its Aug. 27 meeting at West Orange High School. The law, P.L. 2018, c. 73, which was signed by Gov. Phil […]
By Kaanita Iyer on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The seats of the Richard J. Codey Arena were packed with family and friends of the 2018 graduating class of West Orange High School on Thursday, June 21. Their cheers and applause echoed throughout the arena as the seniors walked onto the transformed hockey rink, united with their blue caps and […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Board of Education approved a resolution at its June 4 meeting to hire a third-party law firm to investigate allegations made by members of the public that a Gregory Elementary School employee improperly used student funds to pay her personal property taxes in 2016. The resolution was passed to “ensure […]
By Editor on WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — At the May 21 West Orange Board of Education meeting, a speaker alleged during public speaks that a district employee had misused district funds, prompting a cover-up by Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Rutzky. According to records made public by the speaker, a Gregory School employee used school funds in 2016 to […]
By Amanda Valentovic on HEADLINE NEWS, WEST ORANGE
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education unanimously passed the 2018-2019 preliminary budget at its May 7 meeting at Liberty Middle School. The preliminary operating budget totals $149,186,427. Salaries make up 63 percent of the district’s operating costs at $94,315,752. Benefits and special education services combined take up approximately 24 percent of […]