Berkeley Heights Township Tactics: Is the CMS Lease Agreement a Power Grab?
The Township of Berkeley Heights published a version of the CMS land lease agreement as an attachment to the March 4, 2025, meeting. What stands out most in this proposal is the complete absence of any mention or indication that a turf field is part of the plan. Whether this omission is intentional or not, its absence raises serious questions....
Dr. Feltre Responds to Community Questions on Lower Columbia Lease Agreement
This afternoon, Superintendent Dr. Feltre addressed the BHPS community regarding the pressing issue at hand: the Lower Columbia Land Lease Agreement. She emphasized the importance of careful deliberation, stating, “The field is a precious asset for which the Board has a responsibility. Certain practical and legal issues take time to resolve… any perceived delays stem from the Board taking its...
Leadership Under Pressure: How Five BOE Members Stepped Up
Laura’s Notes on the 02/27/2025 BOE Meeting The concerns I raised in my agenda summary—politically motivated Board appointments and a questionable committee structure—were on full display at the February 27, 2025, BOE meeting. The comments and behavior in the room only reinforced these issues. It’s often said that if you want to see someone’s true intentions, put them under pressure...
The 02/26/2025 BOE Referendum Presentation in a Snapshot
Laura’s Notes on the 02/26/2025 BOE Meeting Planning a successful referendum revolves around three critical factors: Scope, Budget, and Tax Impact. The District’s Debt In 2005, BHPS successfully passed a referendum, with bonds issued in 2006. In 2014, the District refinanced its debt, leaving only one outstanding bond set to mature on March 1, 2026. When existing debt is nearing maturity, school...
Laura’s Notes on the 02/27/2025 BOE Meeting Agenda
ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS Approval of Annual Committee Appointments Each Board of Education (BOE) member has been assigned to chair one committee and serve as a representative on two others, ensuring that each member is involved in three committees in total. This structure is logical and equitable. However, when it comes to liaison appointments, fairness seems to take a backseat. BOARD...
Collaboration or Dictatorship? | Laura’s Notes on the 01/27/2025 BOE Meeting
Collaboration or Dictatorship? With Policy 0155 clearly stating—confirmed by the Board Attorney—that Standing Board Committees remain intact, it’s difficult to justify Mrs. Bradford’s decision to appoint six ad hoc committees at the 1/27 Board Meeting as her first order of business. The BH Board of Education operates as a Board of Committees, where the real work happens within committees before...
Laura’s Notes on the 01/27/2025 BOE Meeting
EDUCATION F. Approve New Courses: CMS – Mathematics Grade 8 (attachment E). This is being proposed by Dr. Curtiss to serve as a course to comply with the state standards in addition to provide students with a substantial foundation in geometry. This course, if approved, will be rolled out this fall. PERSONNEL B. Mr. Dirk Phillips will continue as Interim...
The 2025 Berkeley Heights BOE Reorganization Meeting: Sanity V. Spectacle
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education’s reorganization was so dramatic it could qualify for an Emmy. Next time, perhaps we should aim for a Tony—because honestly, the only way these marathon meetings could be bearable is if the endless contentious debates were performed as a musical, complete with high-energy dance breaks from the Administration. But on a serious note: We...
Laura’s Notes on the 01/07/2025 Berkeley Heights Town Council Reorganization Meeting
With the November 2024 election results favoring Andrew Moran, our community seems to be heading toward a direction that many, including myself, are concerned about: governance by a single party. Regardless of political affiliation, single-party dominance rarely benefits anyone. A balanced leadership with diverse ideologies and perspectives fosters healthier governance, especially in a small town like ours, which feels more...
Laura’s Notes on the 01/07/2025 Berkeley Heights BOE Reorganization Meeting Agenda
The Reorganization Meeting of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, January 7, starting at 6:45 PM. For those familiar with local politics, this coincides with the Town Council Reorganization meeting, creating a scheduling conflict for those interested in both events. Tuesday’s Board of Education agenda appears relatively standard, with no major surprises expected. The meeting...
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