Berkeley Heights BOE Committee Meeting Notes for May 2024
In 2024, the Berkeley Heights Board of Education voted to make all BOE Committee Meeting Minutes Publicly Available on the District Website. Here are quick notes on the 05/2024 Committee Meeting Minutes with links to the full documents. Finance and Facilities 05/29/2024 Highlights Surveys on Menu Items for Elementary School Students discussed Despite the decision not to increase Activity Fees,...
One Possible Solution to the BHPSNJ Busing Issue
Staggered school arrival/dismissal times could save the district dollars on buses and bus drivers, provide more access to busing, and preserve instructional minutes. -Written by an Educator in the Community Berkeley Heights Public Schools (BHPS) administrators and Board members should consider the following for the 2025-26 school year. Listed below at the current BHPSNJ school start times and dismissal times:...
Response to Councilwoman’s Questions on the Library Liaison Position
Councilwoman Poage asked about the library liaison position during the most recent BOE Meeting. The Board President and Superintendent did not appear to provide a clear answer. The law requires the Superintendent to attend library board meetings and allows the Superintendent to designate someone to attend them –it is not a required position. Under the previous Superintendent, a central office...
Laura’s Notes on the 6/10/24 Berkeley Heights BOE Agenda
We expect that remote participation will again be allowed during this meeting and that the public can comment via Zoom, which can be found here. The meeting will start in the GL Cafeteria, whereupon the Board will adjourn into Executive session. Following the Executive session, the Board will reconvene in the GL Auditorium for a public session, where the night...
Update on Efforts to Bring the CMS Tiger Back
Helen Gabara I would like to provide an update on efforts to reinstate the CMS Tiger Mascot. Since my last article, I have received documents as a result of an OPRA request. I sent the OPRA request to help my daughter with her advocacy efforts. Not surprisingly, a Candidate for Town Council accused me of “weaponizing OPRA”. The information I...
Laura’s Notes on the 05/30/2024 Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting
Without any prior notification, the zoom access for the 5/30 BOE meeting allowed for remote participation. However, the new version of Zoom does not let attendees see who else is on Zoom. Regardless, this is a major step in allowing for stakeholder involvement. Presentation of District Goals with all Administrative members present. Of the presenters worth noting, Mr. Hopkins spent significant time discussing his role in...
The BHPSNJ Business Office is Over-Redacting Public Records & It is Hurting our Students
It has been a recurring theme in an ongoing narrative, “the onerous nature of OPRA requests for the District”. Yet, a compelling revelation came to light yesterday, further substantiating a strategy that is clearly intended to provoke and agitate those seeking public records, thereby dissuading the public from making such requests. – a gamble that continues to cost the District...
Laura’s Notes on the 05/30/2024 BOE Meeting Agenda
Board Candidate Interviews, Athletic Trainer and Heavy Investment in New Behavioral Service on the Agenda The Acting Superintendent will present the district goals following the student representatives’ report. The highlight of the night will be the interview with board candidates. This list has not been made public, but all candidates who submitted a resume and letter of interest will be...
John’s Notes on the Berkeley Heights 05/30/2024 BOE Meeting Agenda
Policy 0167- Public Participation in Board Meetings Before getting into this specific policy, the policy documents up for review do not contain the term “Draft” on them. Not all document changes (from the old policy) are indicated in bold. This can lead to a lot of confusion and makes it harder for the public to understand how the proposed policy...
Support Positive Change-Ignore the Desperate Narrative
Regarding Berkeley Heights Board of Education Helen Gabara There is a lot of talk from the same voices that supported the prior administration attempting to resurrect their candidate’s chances for election. These voices include members of special interests and former council members trying to twist and spin the New BOE’s efforts on the Superintendent search. Here is a fact-based, black-and-white...
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