Garfield Board of Education: A Comprehensive Overview
The Garfield Board of Education is responsible for providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Garfield School District. As an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, the Board functions as an educational institution with fiscal control over the District.
District Overview
Located in Garfield, Bergen County, New Jersey, the Garfield Public School District serves approximately five thousand students. The district encompasses seven elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. The geographical coordinates of Garfield are 40°52′54″N 74°06′47″W.
Financial Information
In 2014, the total spending for the Garfield School District was $20,466,79. Budgetary costs amounted to $14,840,59. Classroom instruction expenses totaled $9,023,65, while support services accounted for $2,549,70. Administrative costs were $1,373,38, and operations and maintenance expenses were $1,654,55. Extracurricular activities were allocated $182,24. The median teacher salary was $58,059.
Comparing these figures to other K-12 districts with more than 3,500 students in the state of New Jersey, the district's spending can be further contextualized. The total spending per student was $18,891, an 8.3% increase. The budgetary cost per student was $14,783, a 0.4% increase. Classroom instruction per student was $8,763, a 3.0% increase. Support services per student was $2,392, a 6.6% increase. Administrative cost per student was $1,485, a -7.5% decrease. Operations & Maintenance per student was $1,783, a -7.2% decrease. Extracurricular Activities per student was $268, a -32.1% decrease. The median teacher salary was $64,043.
Abbott District Classification
The Garfield School District is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide. These districts were established following the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision in Abbott v. Burke. In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe, and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.
Read also: Constraints on Georgia's Education Board
District Factor Group
The New Jersey Department of Education had classified the district as being in District Factor Group "B," the second-lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups are designed to organize districts statewide, enabling comparisons based on common socioeconomic characteristics.
Board of Education Structure and Responsibilities
Comprised of nine members, the district's board of education sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operations through its administration. These trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year. The Superintendent of Schools is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District.
School Elections
The scheduling of school board elections in Garfield has been a subject of contention. In January 2025, the city council voted to shift school elections back to April. The school board tried to move it back to November. The council sued the Board of Education to block it from taking a vote to switch the election to November at the Jan. 27 meeting. A judge granted an injunction, and no vote took place.
Schools within the District
The Garfield Public School District includes the following schools:
- Garfield Early Childhood Center
- Garfield Public Preschool Annex
- Garfield Public Preschool Annex3
- Washington Irving School #4
- Woodrow Wilson School #5
- Abraham Lincoln Elementary School #6
- Theodore Roosevelt School #7
- Christopher Columbus School #8
- Thomas Jefferson School #9
- James Madison School #10
- Garfield Middle School
- Garfield High School
Superintendent
Richard D. serves as the Superintendent of the Garfield Public School District.
Read also: Highlights of the recent BOE meeting
Non-Discrimination Policy
In compliance with Title VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, Garfield County School District 16 does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates. English speaking ability will not be a barrier to participation and admission to District programs. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees and community members. The following person(s) have been identified as the compliance officer for the District: Dr. Jennifer Baugh, Superintendent Garfield County SD 16, 0460 Stone Quarry Road, Parachute, CO 81635.970-285-5701. Department of Education Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building 1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310 Denver, CO 80204-3582 Telephone: 303-844-5695.
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