“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...
Thinking Classroom: Where Are We Now, What Happens Next
Building the Thinking Classroom (BTC), on paper and in theory, sounds like a wonderful way to teach. Who doesn’t want their child to be a critical thinker, able to come up with independent, creative solutions to problems? In reality, as parents either know now, or are coming to realize, there is nearly as wide a range of success with this...
The First BOE Meeting Offered Parents Little Hope For Change
Angela Penna and her bloc will continue the practice of the former BOE President in allowing the Attorney to act as an unelected BOE member. There were several instances during the meeting where she and the Attorney rudely interrupted Berkeley Heights parents. The purpose of this is to likely occupy time so that the parent has less opportunity to speak...
Competent Town Admin fired because the Kingsley Tribe is mad about losing another mayoral election
UPDATE: a petition has been created by residents encouraging the Town Council to reverse their decision and hire Liza back. As the number of parents who are questioning the competence of the Superintendent and District’s Business Manager grows exponentially (to the point now where the Board Attorney and BOE President appear to be infringing on resident’s rights to speak through...
Gale Bradford 2022 BOE Questions To the Candidate Responses and articles
Gale Bradford was recently elected to the BOE. This document is a collection of her responses to BHCW questions and articles she has submitted. I organized this so that parents and other residents can learn about Gale as she takes on this new role next year. (1) What qualifications do you hold to manage a 60 million dollar budget? The...
Dipti Khanna 2022 BOE Questions To the Candidate Responses and articles
Dipti Khanna was recently elected to the BOE. This document is a collection of her responses to BHCW questions and articles she has submitted. I organized this so that parents and other residents can learn about Dipti as she takes on this new role next year. Question on Budget: (1) What qualifications do you hold to manage a 60 million...
Why we need Sai on the BOE
I’ve known Sai for many years. She is a friend. It’s been painful for me to see how she’s been treated by her fellow Board members over the last year. At the same time I felt proud about the way she kept her composure, stayed respectful and continued diligently doing her job despite all the harassment and the pressure to...
November 8th is an Opportunity for Real Change
Every election introduces the possibility of change. I am a change manger and I manage programs and projects that include both technology change and people / process change. I understand first-hand how change can be difficult for many and why people resist change. It’s unsettling and uncomfortable and the outcomes are uncertain. But change is necessary not just for the...
IS THE DISTRICT’S TOP LEADERSHIP SEEKING TO INFLUENCE THE ELECTION?
It has come to my attention that a post is circulating on the internet which involves an email from Julie Kot, BHPS Business Administrator, to Melissa Varley, BHPS Superintendent. The date of this email was 10/26/22 at approximately 3:45PM. The subject of this email was about “wasted funds” on a hotel room for a BOE Member who was unable to...
This Years Budget Process was NOT Normal
John Sincaglia I recently posted an article on Facebook where I criticized some of the recent actions of the Board of Education. Perhaps the most important job of the Board is the approval of the annual budget. I was quite dismayed at the way that process was conducted this year and sent an email to the 2 Board officers explaining...
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