More Than Just Ethics: The First of Three OPRA Cases Validates Parent Concerns on District’s Costly and Improper OPRA Redactions
The Government Records Council (GRC), also known as the authority on government records, a/k/a documents requested under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), recently confirmed suspicions that the Berkeley Heights Public School (BHPS) Records Custodian (Currently Julie Kot and ‘designee’ Steve Hopkins) inappropriately redacted (to black or white-out) responsive records. This ruling and fact are substantial because Ms. Kot has...
BHCW Night Watch Episode 5: John Sincaglia on Budget, Ethics, Terrible Attorneys & Italian Food
In this episode of Night Watch John Sincaglia – the man, the myth, the legend – joins us to discuss the School Budget Process, Ethics Violations, and our terrible Attorneys. He also gives his opinion on JP’s creative experiments with Italian food and the best Italian food in Berkeley Heights.
Fiscal Cliff? Or Money to Burn?
Our financial issues have nothing to do with teachers or special needs students. At the most recent Board of Education meeting on February 9th, there were (as usual) more bits to be talked about that can fit into a single article, so the focus of this one is on the money (no pun intended). Our Business Administrator, Julie Kot, gave...
Ms. Bradford’s OPRA Custodian Vote: Super Secret Information & One More Business Assistant
In this clip, BOE Member Gale Bradford claims that she was “on the other side” of the OPRA Custodian issue (there does not appear to be any public record of statements from her confirming this). She then claims that she received “new information” that was not available to her as a member of the public that caused her to change...
Dr. Melissa Varley’s Tax Payer Funded Defense
Questions Remain Unanswered Sai Akiri The text below is my last reply to Dr. Melissa Varley as a response to her answers to my questions on the amount of money the District has spent on her defense against the Nepotism allegation that the proposed settlement agreement appears to demonstrate that she is now admitting to. Please read the email exchange...
BHCW Newsletter 02/12/2023
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights, NJ This Week In this week newsletter, -More Concerns on the use of District Dollars in Shielding the Superintendent and BOE Members -The Mayor Hangs out with the Night Watch Crew and in our regular cast we discuss the second BOE Meeting of the Year -More Discussion on Police in Schools -Questions for...
Eighty-Eight Percent: How The Berkeley Heights School District’s Legal Bills Nearly Doubled in a Year
It’s not entirely possible to pinpoint a single moment in time when things shifted in our school district, but it’s impossible to deny the mistrust and division that has been growing for the past three years. What is a little easier to pinpoint is what has led to a staggering increase in legal bills. Let’s look at how we went...
There’s More; Pamela Stanley’s UnEthical Encore
After reviewing the School Ethics Commission’s initial ruling, I realized there were 3 additional violations against BOE Member Pamela Stanley that were found, by the Commission to be substantial. The codes in the original article (N.J.S.A.18A:12-24 (b), (c), (f)) fall under Conflicts of Interest for Board Members and they are as follows; N.J.S.A.18A:12-24.1 (c) I will confine my board action...
Email To The BOE on the Proposed OPRA Custodian of Records PositIon
MORE MONEY OUT OF THE CLASSROOM FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS In an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, the District is trying to add yet another position to the Business office while using the cynical and Machiavellian ploy of blaming residents who are using OPRA to request information from a District that has progressively clamped down avenues...
BUDGET, NEPOTISM & TEXTBOOKS
In this clip, a parents asks questions surrounding three areas: (1) Budget Process: Last year, the Budget Process was the subject of much criticism as the total budget was not disclosed to the public (until BHCW obtained it through an OPRA request to the State) and because there was no public meeting before initial approval. Last year the BOE hinted...
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