Second Berkeley Heights BOE Member Expresses Serious Concerns on Courtesy Busing
Closed Door Meetings with No Supporting Data A second BOE member indicated that the Policy Committee still has not released the data driving the decisions related to streets designated as ” hazardous” in the transportation policy and continues to make decisions in closed-door sessions. This is important as the lack of criteria is the main criticism of Courtesy busing, which...
BHPSNJ BOE Policy Committee Holding Closed Door Meetings without Data on Transportation Policy
BOE Member Sai Akiri’s Response to Questions on Transportation On 03/28/2024, I emailed the Berkeley Heights BOE The following questions: Are there plans to share the rubric and data driving the scoring that led to the hazardous road designations by the consultants-with the public? Will there be a period of time when public input is sought on those designations? Can...
Re-framing the BHPSNJ Transportation Discussion
In 2023, all Chatham Public Schools pushed their start times forward, allowing students to get more rest. The following start and end times were implemented September 2023: Early Childhood Centers 8:55 am – 3:25 pm Elementary 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Middle 7:55 am – 2:30 pm High School: 8:20 am – 3:00 pm In Ridgewood, the Board recently approved...
BHCW Position on the Berkeley Heights BOE Selection of Robert Nixon as the Acting Superintendent of Berkeley Heights Public Schools
We are cautiously optimistic in the selection of Mr. Nixon as the Acting Superintendent of Berkeley Heights Public Schools. Our community is seeking stability and leadership from someone who knows our schools, has had the time to develop personal relationships with students and staff, and is looking to run the District well rather than making a name for themselves outside...
Response from District on Mice at Governor Livingston
Teachers and Students have informed us of a mouse infestation at Governor Livingston. We reached out to the District with the following questions: (1) What is the severity of the issue (2) What is the cause of the issue (3) What steps have been taken to remedy the situation (4) What steps are being taken to ensure the health and...
Team Notes on the 03/18/2024 BOE Meeting: The Courtesy Busing Controversy Continues
So, we have three items we wanted to point out about the vote on the transportation policy. The Transportation Coordinator and Ms. Stanley both held the routes determined as hazardous by the consultants as the final word on the matter. Given the consultants ‘ expertise, they argued, we did not need to see the rubric or data. Here is a...
A More Transparent and Substantive Discussion on the BHPSNJ Budget is the Next Step to Calmer Waters
John’s Notes on the 03/18/2024 Budget Discussions There were two disturbing discussions during last night’s BOE Meeting. One related to transportation, where the policy committee expects the Board to accept a policy on the highly controversial and secretive practice of Courtesy busing without the rubric or data to support a new policy. This article will focus on the Budget. I...
Did the Former Berkeley Heights BOE Majority Get Acquitted of an Ethics Violation by Admitting They Broke the Law?
Let me explain. On March 22, 2022, current BOE Member and former BOE President Angela Penna co-published what we now know to be an inaccurate letter to the editor in response to Sai Akiri’s condemnation of the budget process. This letter was not only quickly debunked but it resulted in an ethics complaint against the publishers of the letter by a resident and parent...
Elected Representatives in NJ Need to Stop Hiding Behind “Leagues” And “Associations”
Before getting started on this, I want to acknowledge our Mayor, every single member of our Town Council, and the four BOE Members who publicly conveyed their opposition to NJ legislation that seeks to destroy the Open Public Records Act, which would be catastrophic for NJ residents. With one day left, I hope Ms. Bradford, Ms. Stanley, and Ms. Penna do the...
Parent Expresses Concerns About BHPSNJ Superintendent’s Social Media Post
The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Ekin Najarian to Dr. Varley and the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. Dr. Varley / Whitfield: Just as your approval for your extended leave before your resignation was approved, you posted a unique image and caption on your Facebook page which was shared with me. I...
nj21st.com (with the exception of featured images and logo) is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
