The Following email to the Superintendent and the Board was received from Michael Leblond who is a resident of Berkeley Heights and a parent with children in our School District.

Dear Dr. Feltre and members of the School Board,

For a person to have credibility, they must be willing to acknowledge and highlight positive experiences and improvements instead of only pointing out issues and problems in our community.  I have been critical of choices that the district has made but I must also offer praise when improvements are made and amazing student experiences occur.

On March 4th, the district sent out a text regarding the possibility of busing delays in the afternoon before dismissal.  This outreach, ahead of a potential problem, is exactly what the district can do to reduce frustration and complaints from families about a lack of communication and information coming from our schools.  I commend this improvement and hope that it is a sign of positive change that will continue for the future.

This week, I had the opportunity to join the fifth grade classes from Hughes and Mountain Park for the trip to JA Biztown in Edison.  Unique, hands-on experiences like this are paramount for the learning of our students.   I had the opportunity to watch our youth simulate running a model economy that was well built and covered numerous types of businesses, services and government interactions.  This curriculum and trip were a great learning experience.  Mr. Reel and all of our Berkeley Heights educators that work with this curriculum and chaperoned that trip deserve recognition for working with our students in remarkable ways.

These types of experiences should be prioritized across the district to enhance learning experiences for all our students.  Hands on learning has always been a proven practice for teaching our youth.  I strongly endorse these types of activities for the students and staff of Berkeley Heights Public Schools.

With Appreciation,

Michael Leblond

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