
Parent Letter to Board of Education on Zoom Access
The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Michael Leblond to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education on the 04/15/2024 Meeting. Dear members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, I read about the meeting this past Monday night, the actions taken by the Berkeley Heights Board of Education both astounded and disappointed as...

CMS Students Want the Tiger Back
Helen Gabara Without many in the community realizing it, the school they graduated from, Columbia Middle School had its mascot changed from the Tiger to the Highlander. It was done late last school year by the new principal, Mr. Kobliska, who was handed a survey done by the previous principal, under the former Superintendent Melissa Varley. At the announcement of...

Resident Letter to BOE on Courtesy Busing
The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Michael Leblond to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. Dear members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, Like many of the issues that have plagued this district for years, the bussing discussion continues to revolve around one main problem, secrecy. Instead of releasing all the...

Resident Comments on Tree Ordinance & New Rules on Correspondence to the Town Council
The following email was sent to BHCW for publication by Steven Kark, Berkeley Heights Resident I want my neighbor to keep his trees the way they are. He wants to cut some of them down. So we had a little discussion and this is what happened. I told him that 3 friends of mine think that the trees are good for...

Parent Expresses Concerns About BHPSNJ Superintendent’s Social Media Post
The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Ekin Najarian to Dr. Varley and the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. Dr. Varley / Whitfield: Just as your approval for your extended leave before your resignation was approved, you posted a unique image and caption on your Facebook page which was shared with me. I...

Resident Expresses Concerns on Potential BHPSNJ OPMA Violations and BOE Meeting Calendar
We received the following email chain for publication from Resident Matthew Behne regarding a potential Open Public Meetings Act violation on the part of the District, along with what was missing information on BOE Meetings on the District Website. The email starts with a message to the Berkeley Heights Public School Business Administrator: Good Afternoon Mr. Juskiewicz, Ms. Varley, and...

Letter supporting Dipti Khanna for BOE President
The following is an email received from Helen Gabara, Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent, to the County Superintendent Daryl Palmieri in Support of Ms. Khanna for BOE President. Mr. Palmieri’s email address is [email protected] The majority of Berkeley Heights citizens who voted for BOE members in November have chosen new board members who vote mostly opposite of how Ms Penna ...

Dipti Khanna for Berkeley Heights BOE President
The following is an email received from Steve Mondragon, Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent, to the County Superintendent Daryl Palmieri in Support of Ms. Khanna for BOE President. Mr. Palmieri’s email address is [email protected] “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”-SocratesIf there has ever been a...

Dipti Khanna Is The Leader the Berkeley Heights School District Needs
The following is an email received from Jessica Lesperance, Berkeley Heights Resident, to the County Superintendent Daryl Palmieri in Support of Ms. Khanna for BOE President. Mr. Palmieri’s email address is [email protected] Due to the fact that the Berkeley Heights Board of Education was unable to decide on a Board President or Vice President during their last meeting, it is my understanding...

Angela Penna is Not An Option for Board President
-Steven Kark I do not typically share my opinions publicly, but I am shocked and amazed that Ms. Penna is even being considered for President. How is anyone following our District even considering her as an option? I think it is essential to review her History on the Board. In 2021, she reversed her original position on FDK and voted for an...