Hot Topics and noteworthy Board agenda items for 9/22/22
Here are the highlights to the agenda and attachments for the BOE Meeting tomorrow night. There are 199 pages of attachments in addition to the lengthy agenda – it’s a lot, so here’s the good stuff: ADMINISTRATION: Resolution A – District Policies – Study and First Reading P0163: Quorum; policy was updated in February 2021, as part of a settlement...
FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL
Let us talk about the busing challenges that our District faces this year. Busing children is among the essential services most school districts provide their students. Working parents rely on bus transportation by the school district to manage their schedules and have the peace of mind during pick-ups and drop-offs that their children are being transported safely. Children make new...
STATE AMENDS ANTI-BULLYING BILL OF RIGHTS ACT
In August 2022 the state amended the NJ Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. I am not a lawyer so I am not going to even attempt to decipher the amendments to the act for you. But, it is my general feeling, as a parent and taxpayer, that when significant changes are being made that will affect my child(ren) and yours...
HEY BABY….WE GOT YOUR SEXualistic SEDUCATION CURRICULUM …WANT TO COME OVER?
Based on a parent’s request, we submitted an OPRA request for updated Phys-Ed Materials. Here is what we got back. 2020 State Standards by Gradeband (excel) Comprehensive Health And Physical Education K-5 (pdf) Comprehensive Health And Physical Education 6-8 (pdf) Comprehensive Health And Physical Education 9-12 (pdf):
R 5530- Missed Opportunity: The recent decision to continue a harmful approach to the Substance Use issue in our Schools
The use of suspensions by schools is evidenced to create more academic problems and legal difficulties without any benefit to context. (https://bit.ly/3PZ2tZU) During the 03/09/2022 BOE Meeting, the District had an opportunity to tackle the very significant issue of Substance Use and Abuse through an evidence-based approach. This policy provided the District with not only an opportunity to effectively tackle...
The Berkeley Heights Public Schools French Controversy of 2022: A Written Record of Events
On Friday, April 8th, at 11:52 am (a few days before Spring Break), parents with children within the CMS French program received an email from their children’s French Teacher. The email informed parents that the trip planned for Quebec by CMS was in danger of being canceled and that the District was moving forward with ending French as a language...
Comments on Recent Data provided by the BH School District on Reconfiguration
Recently, the District presented an infographic that demonstrates that the vast majority of families impacted by the reconfiguration “Strongly Agreed” with the following statement: “The community benefitted from the school district’s reconfiguration to implement a universal full-day program.” What residents need to keep in mind that the survey only went to families who directly benefitted from FDK, which we all...
Involve Families in Law Enforcement Activities Within Our Schools
Originally Published In Another Local Media Outlet on March 7, 2020 A proposal for increasing family involvement and input into the law enforcement activities in Berkeley Heights Schools is an issue I have been raising for some time. I am going to avoid citing the substantial and growing amount of evidence that suggests these programs do more harm than good....
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