
BHPSNJ 2024-2025 Tentative Budget
As a result of an OPRA request, BHCW received the complete 2024-2025 tentative budget. The fact that we got it prior to the meeting is an improvement from last year. The tentative budget represents an overall increase of ~$900,000 from the prior year which would represent a 2% tax increase. It appears that textbooks are getting a 25k boost this...

Special BOE MEETING TOMORROW – 4/24/24 Budget Presentation
Please be aware, per the district website, under “events” there is a Special Board Meeting on the schedule for tomorrow, April 24 at 7:30 pm (public session). The main purpose is the Budget presentation and public discussion. Here is the Meeting Agenda BHCW was made aware of this meeting from inside sources then verified this information on the district website....

2024 BHPSNJ Budget Survey Results Released
A New Acting Superintendent and New Finance Chair Deliver on Family Input and Transparency in Connection to the Budget While it was an imperfect survey, it was the first asking for family input into the budget process. Not only was there a survey, but the public obtained results without having to submit an OPRA request and then go to court...

BHPSNJ Releases Its First Budget Survey
After years of controversial and closed budget decisions related to BHPSNJ, the finance committee, headed by newly appointed Chair Dipti Khanna, has released the first survey asking families for their input on the 2024 -2025 Budget. Increasing family input was one of several recommendations made by BHCW last year in connection to the BHPSNJ Proficiency Declines. The District has already...

2022-23 N.J. School Performance Reports Released- Berkeley Heights is Back?
Berkeley Heights Public Schools has one of the largest increases in proficiency ratings among all districts listed, consistent with surrounding districts -Written by an Educator in the Community Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education releases its School Performance Report. According to its release on Patch.com, “school districts are scored from 0 to 100 based on factors like standardized...

A More Transparent and Substantive Discussion on the BHPSNJ Budget is the Next Step to Calmer Waters
John’s Notes on the 03/18/2024 Budget Discussions There were two disturbing discussions during last night’s BOE Meeting. One related to transportation, where the policy committee expects the Board to accept a policy on the highly controversial and secretive practice of Courtesy busing without the rubric or data to support a new policy. This article will focus on the Budget. I...

Question #2 on the BHPSNJ Budget and Audit: Enrollment Declines and Number of Positions
The following is the second in a series of articles about questions presented to the Berkeley Heights Public School District Business Administrator on the 2023 Audit submitted to the State of NJ before Berkeley Heights families and taxpayers could review the document and ask questions contrary to state statute and our historical process. Since 2019, enrollment in the Berkeley Heights...

2023 Audit & 2024 Budget Question 1: General Administration- Support Services Spending
Questions on the Berkeley Heights Public School Audit The following is the first in a series of articles about questions presented to the Berkeley Heights Public School District Business Administrator on the 2023 Audit submitted to the State of NJ before Berkeley Heights families and taxpayers could review the document and ask questions contrary to state statute and our historical...

2022-2023 7-District Dashboard Budget Resource – Updated
How Did the Berkeley Heights Public School District use it’s dollars compared to 6 other Districts… The ACFR is a document that School Districts submit to the state accounting for revenues and expenditures. As the budget process in our District (and most, if not all, surrounding Districts) , approaches, we converted the data in these documents into a spreadsheet for...

BHPSNJ 2024 Budget Prep Part 2: ACFR 7-District Dashboard
In order to further inform the public in preparation for the 2024 Berkeley Heights Public School District Budget Discussions, we created a spread sheet comparing all seven districts on the dashboard on areas within the ACFR. The ACFR is a document that Districts submit to the state with information on enrollment, revenue and spending in various areas and other information....