On the agenda for the Berkeley Heights Board of Education meeting tonight are readings of policies 0155, 0132, and 6421.  These policies were discussed during the new business portion of the previous meeting, and there is a significant amount of contention about the Board’s approach. Look for more heated discussion tonight.

There are a total of 11 HIB cases on the agenda, with two at GL and NINE at CMS.  We are either doing something wrong in raising our children, or perhaps we need to take a closer look at the definitions of what constitutes harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

Resignations will be accepted for Board members Kelly Hufnagel and Jordan Hyman.  Ms. Hufnagel was selected to fill in the remainder of Angela Penna’s term.  A quick search of the Mountainside Board of Education lists Mr. Hyman’s term as not ending until 2027.  It is unclear whether this is incorrect, or not, and who will replace Mr. Hyman as the representative from Mountainside.

Also resigning is staff member Nancy Dasti.  NJ21st thanks her for her long-standing support to the students of Berkeley Heights.  Naomi Lee is resigning as Music Teacher at CMS.  Thank you to Ms. Lee.

The Board will recognize Mr. Rob Nixon for his service as the Acting Superintendent.  New Superintendent Dr. Kim Feltres will take the role in January.

There is a settlement agreement with BHEA and BHPS.  No additional information is available.

A curriculum is being presented for Grade 8 Social Studies: American Studies 1.  It is Attachment G, for those who may want to take a look at the contents.

It is proposed that College Jump Start will be offered June 23-26, from either 9:30-11:00 or 12:00-2:30 at a cost of $325 per session.

Paraprofessional will be given additional compensation for coverage outside their normal duties.  (Attachement J)

The Board will be asked to approve a minimal payment of $132.00 to previous law firm Giacobbe.  Let’s hope this is the last of the taxpayer dollars that need to be paid to this firm which played such a large role in the ethics issues plaguing our district.

Under New Business, the Board will discuss the use of the current attorneys for OPRA requests.  Regardless of the length of the meeting, this issue really needs to be discussed, so I hope it doesn’t get “timed out”.  Both the current and former Business Administrators continue to assert – with supporting statements from some Board members – that it is too much work for them to deal with OPRA requests.  Somehow, other BAs were able to do this, and as NJ21st has repeatedly demonstrated, there is no “inundation” of requests.  If the current BA does not have the knowledge necessary to fulfil this role (he suggested this himself), which is part of his job, then perhaps we need to find someone who does.

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