Laura’s Notes on the 01/22/2026 BHPSNJ BOE Meeting

This agenda review feels lighter, but in the best way. I want to recognize and applaud the District and Board for adopting a meeting structure that allows for two meetings per month. The agenda, attachments, and policies were easy to digest and review within 48 hours, so bravo.

The Report from the Superintendent will include a performance from the GL a cappella group, GLissando, honor BOE members for Board Recognition Month, and feature the student representatives report.

Under Finance, the Board will be voting on a resolution to approve a 2026 School Regionalization Efficiency Program grant to fund a feasibility study for the District.

Bus driver Robert Dwyer and 4th grade teacher at MP, Marie Pellegrini, will be retiring at the end of the 2025–26 school year. Shout out to Mrs. P, you will be missed and it’s been a fun ride!

The Board will vote to place a staff member (effective December 18) on paid Administrative Leave.

There are seven policies on the agenda and all are revisions to current policies. 0155: Board Committees will include the addition of “Mountainside” as a committee. The purpose of this committee is not clear in the policy document, but it is likely connected to negotiating the send-receive agreement between Berkeley Heights and Mountainside school districts.

2200: Curriculum Content and 8451: Control of Communicable Disease do not include any substantive changes. 2200 will continue to require Superintendent oversight on curriculum with Board approval.

8451 will continue to prohibit any student or staff with weeping skin lesions from attending school until wounds can be covered.

Regulation 8451 prohibits teachers from discussing communicable diseases with parents.

Policy 9270: Home Schooling and Equivalent Education Outside the Schools will now permit home- or other-schooled students who would otherwise attend Governor Livingston to be eligible to take Advanced Placement testing, with fees falling on the student’s family.

The most notable revisions are to 7230: Gifts, Grants, and Donations. Under the revisions, the Superintendent is permitted to accept gifts under $1,000 without Board approval, provided they are not grants of land and are legal. Most significant is the following:

“All fundraising activities involving the student body must be communicated in advance to the Superintendent’s office to ensure district awareness and coordination if needed. Students shall never be required or mandated to solicit donations for any group or organization, and parents/guardians must be notified in advance of any voluntary fundraising activities involving students.”

This policy will apply to in-school and school-supported organizations including Boosters, sports teams, PTOs, and BHEF. Stay tuned for more details on this policy and how it came to be.

Under new business, Ms. Terrero will discuss PowerSchool.

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