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...

DR. VARLEY, HIGH PRICED ATTORNEYS AND THE ANGRY SIX vs. SAI AKIRI
Merely weeks after being elected, Ms. Akiri attempted to fulfill one of her primary campaign promises on accountability and transparency by encouraging the BOE to follow their policies on interviewing an attorney-something the District has failed to do in almost two decades. Many residents were disgusted by the actions of the current firm for the following reasons: 1) Their defense...
PAMELA STANLEY APPEARS TO CONFIRM THAT ANGELA PENNA VIOLATED ETHICAL STANDARDS
In an incredible turn of events, Ms. Stanley appears to confirm that Ms. Penna may have in fact, violated Ethical standards in connection to allegations that Ms. Penna was electioneering at Woodruff. N.J.S.A 18A:12-24.1(d) states: “I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.”...
PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT BOE CANDIDATE ELECTIONEERING ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
A parent emailed the BOE requesting clarification on District Policy concerning electioneering on school grounds and forwarded the email to BHCW for publishing. The email concerns Ms. Angela Penna and asks 4 questions about the BOE Vice President (who is running for re-election): “1. What was Angela Penna, who is running for re-election, doing inside and outside of William Woodruff...
Berkeley Heights BOE Candidate Natasha Joly Questions the Berkeley Heights BOE on Zoom Meetings
Last week Laura Kap published a timeline of facts that contradicted Mr. D’Aquila’s incredible claim that the equipment purchased by the District and the move to Governor Livingston were never intended to facilitate the ability of the public to speak at BOE meetings through zoom. Mr. D’Aquila’s claim was in response to Ms. Akiri’s question surrounding hybrid meetings in a...
Concerns Over Growing Legal Bills Need to be Addressed
By Shauna Williams The legal bills accrued by the Berkeley Heights School District Board of Education have skyrocketed in the last year, leading the Board to vote for increases in the cap on legal fees from $85,000 to $125,000 then again to $160,000. At the September 1st Board meeting, business administrator Julie Kot confirmed that our legal bills for the...
THE DISTRICTS WAR ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CONTINUES: THE 2022 LWV BOE DEBATE
The League of Women Voters was born out of the American women’s suffrage movement. For over a century they have maintained an important role in the national discourse of American government by sponsoring debates, working to reform elections to benefit every American (HAVA), launching VOTE411 all while remaining non-partisan. The LWV has been critical in helping our small community learn...