John’s Notes on the 04/15/2024 BHPSNJ BOE Meeting
Attorney RFP Passes while Zoom Access for Families Gets Shut Down by Two BOE Reps Who Promised they Would Work to Make it Happen…. Last night, during the special meeting, the BOE re-opened the RFP process for attorneys. Ms. Stanley’s argument against it ranged from “it will increase costs” (which is not true – the BOE can negotiate a per-diem...
Document Alleges Berkeley Heights Township CFO Resignation due to Undue Interference
BHCW recieved information from a credible source along with a copy of a document that evidenced the resignation of the Town’s CFO. The document alleges that an individual – who’s name was redacted but is known to BHCW – within the Township office or Government engaged in “relentless harassment” and “concerted efforts to take over vital finance functions with preconceived...
Dipti Khanna -Fourth BHPSNJ BOE Member to Question Proposed Transportation Policy
Still No Data or Rational on the Secretive Policy Committee Chair’s Proposal Dipti Khanna has replied to BHCW’s questions about the Policy Committee’s transportation policy and the process surrounding its development. As indicated in prior articles, BHCW emailed the BOE the following questions: Are there plans to share the rubric and data driving the scoring that led to the hazardous...
2022-2023 7-District Dashboard District Wide Comparisons- Better But Not Good Enough
Background In 2022, BHCW, residents and three BOE Members (Khanna, Joly, Akiri) raised concerns about 2018-2019 Berkeley Heights Math, Science, and ELA proficiencies. In 2023, BHCW published extensively on the 2021-2022 results, demonstrating significant drops in all three areas. During this time, BHCW developed a 7-district dashboard of comparable schools that had Berkeley Heights last in ELA, Math, and Science...
What Berkeley Heights Residents Should Know About “the Line”
What is “the Line”? The Line refers to an inherent Ballot design structure unique to NJ that lists candidates according to an endorsed slate versus according to the office they seek. A typical primary ballot design in other states lists candidates according to the office they are seeking, for example, Nevada and Delaware: This is what a NJ Primary Ballot...
Dr. Foregger’s Response on Transportation Policy & Process
Will the Committee Chair Change Course Before it is too Late? A third Berkeley Heights Board of Education member has replied to BHCW’s questions about the Policy Committee’s transportation policy and the process surrounding its development with concerns. As indicated in prior articles, BHCW emailed the BOE the following questions: Are there plans to share the rubric and data driving...
Second Berkeley Heights BOE Member Expresses Serious Concerns on Courtesy Busing
Closed Door Meetings with No Supporting Data A second BOE member indicated that the Policy Committee still has not released the data driving the decisions related to streets designated as ” hazardous” in the transportation policy and continues to make decisions in closed-door sessions. This is important as the lack of criteria is the main criticism of Courtesy busing, which...
BHPSNJ BOE Policy Committee Holding Closed Door Meetings without Data on Transportation Policy
BOE Member Sai Akiri’s Response to Questions on Transportation On 03/28/2024, I emailed the Berkeley Heights BOE The following questions: Are there plans to share the rubric and data driving the scoring that led to the hazardous road designations by the consultants-with the public? Will there be a period of time when public input is sought on those designations? Can...
Team Notes on the 03/18/2024 BOE Meeting: The Courtesy Busing Controversy Continues
So, we have three items we wanted to point out about the vote on the transportation policy. The Transportation Coordinator and Ms. Stanley both held the routes determined as hazardous by the consultants as the final word on the matter. Given the consultants ‘ expertise, they argued, we did not need to see the rubric or data. Here is a...
A More Transparent and Substantive Discussion on the BHPSNJ Budget is the Next Step to Calmer Waters
John’s Notes on the 03/18/2024 Budget Discussions There were two disturbing discussions during last night’s BOE Meeting. One related to transportation, where the policy committee expects the Board to accept a policy on the highly controversial and secretive practice of Courtesy busing without the rubric or data to support a new policy. This article will focus on the Budget. I...
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