Stop the Insanity!
Is common sense and transparency really too much to ask? We find ourselves again at the mercy of an Administration unwilling to engage with the community and an ineffective board that cannot or will not be the voice of the community. The latest budget meeting is just another example. The detailed budget was sent to the Board on a Thursday...
Dipti Has Questions
This clip reviews Dipti Khanna’s questions and comments during the 03/13/2023 Budget Meeting. Here are some of the highlights (video at the end). Courtesy Bussing- Dipti questions the impact of removing bussing – the added impact of the decisions connected to this budget onto Berkeley Heights families and the increase in traffic on an already problematic traffic situation. OPRA Custodian...
How To Be A BOE Member During a Public Discussion of the Budget.
What a Discussion on the Budget Should Sound Like During this clip, Dr. Foregger asks pointed and relevant questions of the Business Administrator, who, for the most part, demonstrated a strong recall of the reasoning behind the numbers with a few notable exceptions. Legal Costs are skyrocketing, and the Business Administrator does everything she can not to mention the specific reasons...
Notes On The Tentative 2023 Berkeley Heights Public School Budget
Proposed Tax Increase, Legal Costs, Administrative Costs, Safety and Public Feedback on the Radar -Natasha Joly My summary from the budget presentation: 1. Ms. Bradford offered strong suggestions as to what to review to see where we can further cut expenses to save teachers’ jobs. While I support the goal and further review, I do not support the 3.19% tax increase...
Quick Highlights From The First 2023 Budget Meeting
What Berkeley Heights Residents Should Know About the Tentative Budget Presentation Let’s start with the positives: -Joy Young who is on the Finance Committee suggested an additional BOE Meeting to discuss the Budget. While not the same as a Public Finance Committee Meeting (which would be a more helpful compliment in my opinion) that’s a step in the right direction....
The Penna Magic Show Continues
Slight of Hand on Serious Issues Has A Real Consequence We are navigating a process that continues to fail and the public officials who aren’t keeping promises are driving the car. In the absence of accountability, we have seen the majority of the Board and Administration pivot into true politicians. Except, they are really bad in that role as well....
Berkeley Heights Public School Budget: All (maybe most OF) The Articles
How many times will Robert Cianculli snicker or Angela Penna whine this year when serious BOE Members raise concerns? The BOE is poised to vote on the Tentative Budget this Monday and the public has yet to receive a copy of what the BOE will be looking at nor has there been any announcement of a public Finance Committee Meeting...
Business as Usual: Still No Budget and Waiting on the Promise of a Public Meeting
It’s business as usual, with the current school district budget for 2023-24 – A state secret that can’t be released to the public. -Sai Akiri Last year the business administrator Ms. Kot, superintendent Dr. Varley, along with Previous Board President Mr. D’Aquilla and then Vice President Penna, denied sharing the complete tentative budget with the entire Board until the budget vote....
the Budget, Stupid.
Berkeley Heights, NJ Should Go Back to Having a Public Vote on The School Budget You are part of a group of investors that provide a Company 60 million dollars annually. You hire a new CEO and CFO, and within a few years, the Company’s legal bills increase 88%, the quality of your core services is reduced (math proficiencies declining, kids...
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...
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