Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • April 24, 2013 Area The Ramsey Board of Education has named Dr. Matthew J. Murphy as the district’s new superintendent of schools. Dr. Murphy, who was appointed at a special meeting last week, is expected to begin his post on or about July 1. Ramsey High serves students from Ramsey and Saddle River. Murphy is currently the superintendent of schools in River Vale. Since he stepped into that post in 2010, Murphy has completely revised and implemented a new curriculum, instruction, and assessment plan that infuses 21st century skills into the curriculum and highlights professional development. He also spearheaded the revitalization of the district’s education foundation, helped launch a before- and after-school program, and raised $100,000 in the first year. He also worked to improve communication via a new website, an electronic newsletter, and community forums. Before he arrived in River Vale, Murphy was assistant Matthew Murphy named superintendent in Ramsey superintendent of curriculum and instruction in the Westwood Regional School District. In that post, which he held from 2008-10, he developed and implemented a new supervisory process to strengthen and sustain instruction, created a summer enrichment program, and implemented data benchmark assessments. Murphy’s work in Westwood also included serving as that district’s director of elementary education and district technology from 2006-08, and as principal of the Berkeley Elementary School from 1999-2006. Prior to his work in Westwood, the educator was assistant principal, teacher, and technology coordinator at the Eisenhower Middle School in Wyckoff. He also logged several years of service as a fifth grade teacher at Wyckoff’s Calvin Coolidge Elementary School. The new superintendent is an adjunct professor at Ramapo College in Mahwah and at Fordham University in New York City. He has received several awards, including the New Jersey Principal and Supervisor’s Association’s 2006 Principal of the Year award. He was also a David L. Clark (continued on page 12) Moody’s, the global investors service, has informed the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority that it has upgraded the authority’s bond rating. The upgrade affects $5.9 million in outstanding debt that is scheduled to be retired shortly. In addition to direct written correspondence with NBCUA, Moody’s posted the rating boost from Aa3 to Aa2 on its public website. Moody’s indicated that the positive change is due in large measure to the “strong credit characteristics” of its participating service area municipalities, including Mahwah, Ramsey, Waldwick, Wyckoff, Allendale, Midland Park, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Ridgewood. In a letter to mayors and governing bodies, NBCUA Executive Director Howard Hurwitz noted the significance of the action and the basis for the upgrade “reflects the weighted average credit quality of the participating municipalities.” He explained that the bonds are secured by the full faith and credit of their participating municipalities and emphasized the credit rating for several of these municipalities. Hurwitz also pointed out that it is the credit worthiness of NBCUA’s member municipalities that makes it possible for the authority to finance capital projects at low interest rates, which benefits all parties involved. The NBCUA service area’s population of 75,000 represents eight percent of Bergen County, according to Moody’s. The service pointed to the area as a highly desirable location, which also gains benefits from proximity to employment centers, including the New York City metropolitan area. The authority’s system is reportedly in compliance with all state and federal regulatory requirements, Moody’s added. NBCUA receives upgraded rating