Is the BOE Majority Setting the District Up for Another Violation at Tonight’s Special Meeting?
Another Questionable Special Meeting And Potential Violation Shauna WIlliams sent the following email in connection to the purpose of tonight’s BOE Meeting – Interviewing Architects- to the Board of Education. Laws are in place to ensure the public is fully aware of District decisions that impact students and to protect the dollars taxpayers invest to educate them. It was not...
BHCW 12/03/2023 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week…. This week’s newsletter begins with revisiting the Berkeley Heights Board of Education; we review the current BOE Majority’s attempts to gridlock change next year through policy changes. Berkeley Heights residents also discovered that the District’s issues with conducting ethical surveys in obtaining student information continue – this time in connection to...
Update on Land Use Ordinance Discussed During 11/21/2023 Town Council Meeting
We were cc’d on an email connected to the Land Use Ordinance we posted about a few days ago – specifically on the issue of political signs. Councilwoman Kingsley informed us that changes were being drafted after meeting with the attorney today. At about the same time, we received an email from Ms. Viana (Township Administrator) informing us that the...
BHCW 11/27/2023 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week…. This week’s Newsletter looks at two essential items impacting Berkeley Heights residents being passed immediately after an election during lame-duck sessions. On the state level, legislators are looking to overhaul the Open Public Records Act and the Open Public Meetings Act. All early indications are that these changes make both laws...
Take Action to Save the Open Public Records Act
The Problem Plans to gut the Open Public Records Act during a lame duck session are moving forward. If passed, this would render OPRA meaningless and citizens of NJ would be in the dark on what their government bodies are doing. Here are the bills: https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=232#item https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=231#item https://www.njlm.org/Blog.aspx?IID=230#item Here is an article John recently wrote that provides insight into how...
11/21/2023 Town Council Meeting – Questions On Redevelopment Studies
On the town council agenda tonight: “2. Resolution directing the Planning Board to undertake an investigation to determine whether all or a portion of certain properties identified on the tax map as Block 702, Lots 4,6, 16, constitute a non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment. (458, 414-424 Springfield Avenue, and 230 Sherman Avenue)” This is the state statute, Section 52:27D-302...
BHCW 11/20/2023 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week… Last week, Berkeley Heights Families learned that the current BOE Majority will continue to prevent them from having access to meetings via Zoom. They voted for a measure that further muted BOE Members while giving more power to the BOE President – all of this points to a majority still obsessed...
My Notes on the Berkeley Heights BOE 11/16/2023 Meeting
-Natasha Joly Three main topics stood out for me at last night’s meeting. The elimination of Mr. Hopkins’ role as records custodian. I’m happy about this, as I’ve argued many times why this role, which costs an additional $12k per year, was not necessary based on the number of OPRA requests. Mr. Hopkins did not perform well in this role...
11/16/2023 Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting Agenda – Laura & Shauna’s Notes
A. District ByLaws – Study and First Reading 0155 Board Committees The President shall appoint members to any committee and require monthly reporting to Board President. Committees are not authorized to take action on behalf of the Board. The selection and interview process relating to the hiring of a new Superintendent or Interim Superintendent shall be at all times conducted...
Thank You
I’d like to say a heartfelt “thank you” to the Berkeley Heights community for your support. The fact that so many people turned out and voted in a contest that was seemingly a done deal means so much to me. The message of Education First! underpinned by transparency and accountability truly resonated with many. As a board member, I will...
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