Jim Ridgeway

Jim Ridgeway has been involved with negotiating contracts since the Taylor Law was enacted allowing teachers to negotiate the terms and conditions of their employment. Here is what is purported to be Jim with one of our earliest contracts.

There is the possibility that this picture has been faked. If you look closely, the bottom right panel shows some signatures.

Two things show us that this cannot be one of Jim's original contracts. First, Jim's superintendents included Beebe, Pearl, Moores, Hamaty, and DeLucia before Rubeis appeared on the scene. Second, Dr. Rubeis has NEVER signed an agreement that he felt was set in stone!

One thing about Jim, it's almost impossible to find him without a tie on (unless there's a TV camera nearby). This picture shows that even when he is at parties, he wears a tie. This picture also shows that while he may be tough on management at the bargaining table, he is able to put that aside in other situations. Notice how his arm is over Rudy's shoulder in a sign of camaraderie. Notice Rudy's left hand is trying to pick Jim's back pocket!

Jim hasn't changed much in his years of teaching ­ especially not his glasses! Here is a picture of Jim in his "early years". He often comments that the teachers today all look so young! The reason is really quite simple. Jim began teaching in January of 1961. We presently have on staff 177 teachers who weren't even born when he started teaching!

It should also be noted that the District will be saving a LOT of money because of Jim's retirement. I'm not just talking about salary. The District will save a lot money on computer memory, printer ink and paper. The fact is, due to Jim's retirement, we can now remove the top five steps from each salary schedule!

by Ray Fuller