The Berkeley HeightS Public School District’s 12-month Path to Less Input and Engagement
This article was originally published on TapInto. Over the past 12 months, residents, especially parents, have witnessed the removal of avenues available to them to communicate with District leadership and influence policy decisions. This article is intended to serve as a timeline of events surrounding the removal of these avenues. After a reconfiguration process (April 2021) that led to an...
R 5530- Missed Opportunity: The recent decision to continue a harmful approach to the Substance Use issue in our Schools
The use of suspensions by schools is evidenced to create more academic problems and legal difficulties without any benefit to context. (https://bit.ly/3PZ2tZU) During the 03/09/2022 BOE Meeting, the District had an opportunity to tackle the very significant issue of Substance Use and Abuse through an evidence-based approach. This policy provided the District with not only an opportunity to effectively tackle...
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools French Controversy of 2022: A Written Record of Events
This article was originally published on Tapinto [https://bit.ly/38Hx25h] On Friday, April 8th, at 11:52 am (a few days before Spring Break), parents with children within the CMS French program received an email from their children’s French Teacher. The email informed parents that the trip planned for Quebec by CMS was in danger of being canceled and that the District was...
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools French Controversy of 2022: A Written Record of Events
On Friday, April 8th, at 11:52 am (a few days before Spring Break), parents with children within the CMS French program received an email from their children’s French Teacher. The email informed parents that the trip planned for Quebec by CMS was in danger of being canceled and that the District was moving forward with ending French as a language...
The Berkeley Heights Public School 2022 Budget Controversy: Synopsis
The article was originally published by TapInto Berkeley Heights as an Op-Ed on 05/13/2022. It’s been some time since I’ve updated this site with an article. We’ve been trying to provide information to the public while at the same time working to prevent the Superintendent and the BOE from making some unfortunate decisions. As a result, we’ve been more active...
Comments on Recent Data provided by the BH School District on Reconfiguration
Recently, the District presented an infographic that demonstrates that the vast majority of families impacted by the reconfiguration “Strongly Agreed” with the following statement: “The community benefitted from the school district’s reconfiguration to implement a universal full-day program.” What residents need to keep in mind that the survey only went to families who directly benefitted from FDK, which we all...
Union County Prosecutor investigations of the BOE: All the letters
On September 23rd BOE President Doug Reinstein read an opening remark in connection to multiple investigations by the Union County Prosecutor of the BOE’s actions in connection to reconfiguration. This item was not on the agenda and those he named in his remarks were not allowed to speak until the end of what was a very full meeting. This is...
Dr. Melissa Varley’s Contract Renewal: All the Articles
This is a collection of TapInto Articles on the controversy surrounding the BOE’s decision to consider extending Dr. Melissa Varley’s contract one year prior to expiration with a 20+% raise. Dr. Melissa Varley was responsible for the mass reconfiguration of Berkeley Heights schools and defended the position that parents should not have been involved in the planning twice publicly in...
OPRA: The Final Line OF Defense
During the 06/10/2021 meeting, Mr. Reinstein made it a point to highlight that over 20 OPRA requests came from one parent (https://bit.ly/3vJ3p9v). This event occurring nearly one year after the BOE (under his leadership) implemented the practice of listing OPRA requests received by the District on Board Meeting Agendas. Additionally, District staff who receive OPRA requests from parents cc Mr....
copy of complaint filed with the nj attorney general
Updated 06/02/2022 The following is a multi page complaint alleging numerous violations in connection with the Berkeley Heights BOE’s actions surrounding reconfiguration. This complaint was filed a day prior to the 06/10/2021 BOE meeting where the public was informed that the plan the BOE voted on was likely not to occur. During this meeting, the public was informed that the...
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