Ridgewood Schools Reveal Fate Of Popular Coach Who Faced Layoff

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — After more than 1,100 people signed a petition against the layoff of a popular Ridgewood wrestling coach, the district said they will keep him.

The decision was made as a final vote looms Monday on the district's $134 million budget, with a 4 percent tax increase.

Ridgewood and many school districts across the country are facing budget increases as a result of rising health insurance costs, maintenance expenses, and other necessary expenditures.

Ridgewood officials had warned parents to expect teacher layoffs.

But some asked why the district was not trimming administrative staff instead.

Among the teachers on the chopping block was wrestling coach Robert Franklin.

"Mr. Franklin, a PE teacher at Benjamin Franklin Middle School and Assistant Coach at Ridgewood Wrestling, is being laid off as a result of budget cuts at Ridgewood Public Schools," wrote student Matteos Meschian in a petition posted last month. "Without Coach Franklin, many wrestlers wouldn't be the wrestlers or people they are today."

By this week, more than 1,100 people had signed the petition, "Keep Coach Franklin at Ridgewood."

Superintendent Marc Schwarz had said that if positions opened due to retirement or resignations, those spots would be filled with staff who faced layoffs, a district spokesperson said Thursday.

Franklin is among those who will be kept on as a result, the spokesperson confirmed for Patch.

"For staff members being let go for performance issues, this does not hold true," she noted.

The proposed budget calls for an increase in the tax levy of almost 4 percent, or $527 per year for an average home in Ridgewood, according to the March budget presentation.

The budget is up for a hearing and final vote on Monday.

Schwarz had said layoffs could increase class sizes, but that the district does not want to push them to over 30 people per class.

More information on the Monday board meeting is here.