BHCW Night Watch – Episode 2 – 01/29/2023: Apocalyptic Waffle Math Bad Wifi Mashup Edition
In this episode we talk about The Apocalypse, Pancakes v Waffles, HIB, School Safety, Math, Building Thinking Classrooms, Wawa and Liza’s Reappointment. Related Content: OUR FIRST EPISODE OF BHCW NIGHT WATCH
The BOE Blame Game is the Greatest Security Threat
BOE and Administration are too confused and angry to bring the community together on a complex issue. John Leo Jr. Mid January, a student brought an airsoft gun to Columbia Middle school. Students reported it, and the school and PD responded in kind. But some parts of the responses reveal an uncomfortable truth that demands some scrutiny. Does our public...
Dr. Varley’s Nepotism Settlement and Concerning Questions for the Board Attorney
BHCW received an email from Natasha Joly sent to the BOE to be published. For reference, links to the Settlement Agreement and Video Clip Referenced are available at the end of the article. BOE Members, You are likely aware of an existing settlement agreement regarding the nepotism ethics complaint filed against the administration. If you recall, this all goes back...
Unpopular Opinion on School Safety
I sent the following email to the BOE this morning and wanted to share it here as well. Good Afternoon, Schools are safe- the community-wide and national conversation on school safety is not based on any evidence. Lockdown drills do not have any evidence of doing anything but traumatize children. Adding police in schools doesn’t do anything to prevent school shootings; the...
Peeling the Spin: A Condensed Look at OPRA Requests
There are currently 118 individual screenshots of OPRA (Open Public Records Act) requests, from June 2022 to the present, on the district website. In an effort to parse this out and make it easier to get to the meat of the issue surrounding the appointment of a School Records Custodian, here is a breakdown. Of the 118 posted screenshots, five...
Our First Episode of BHCW Night Watch
We discuss:-The District’s Security Mess/Theatre-Newly obtained settlement agreement @ Dr. Varley’s Nepotism Case-The first two Berkeley Heights BOE Meetings of the Year
01/19/2023 BOE Meeting- What Parents Should Be Aware of Going In To This Meeting
There is a 15-page agenda with a 106-page attachment. BHCW reached out to the District last night as the policy revisions were STILL not publicly available until today. Buried in this mountain of paper parents should pay attention to the following: Resolution A: Approve the Annual Appointment of Stephen Hopkins as Records Custodian. This is a new appointment and a role...
Policy 0167 – Don’t Allow Them To Silence Your Voice
Sai Akiri Everyone attending a Berkeley Heights Board of Education meeting has fundamental rights, mainly the freedom of speech. Every resident or parent wanting to express their opinions, concerns, or questions is entitled to do so under the OPMA – Open public meetings act. There are two segments during the board meeting for residents to speak. The first is during...
Parents Aren’t creating THE “Decorum Issues” at BOE Meetings…
In this six-minute clip, parents and residents can notice: (1) Ms. Penna consistently interrupting and talking over parents while taking up their 3-minute space while advocating for decorum. While she refuses to answer questions because “BOE Meetings are not a back and forth” she has no problem interrupting parents and taking up their time to speak. (2) The Attorney attempting...
“Teaching is an Art”
We’ve heard this from our Superintendent recently in conjunction with parent concerns over Building Thinking Classroom methods and the impact it is having on students. Our administration, across the district, has declined to intervene on behalf of students who are failing, whose families have to turn to tutors or outside math classes, or who have come to realize their best...
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