Parent Expresses Concerns on Activity Fees
Context: We’ve received reports from parents of graduating students on emails/letters they’ve received in May concerning Activities Fees. We understand that these collection letters, arriving just two weeks before graduation and summer break, have caused significant concern and anxiety among students and their parents, as we’ve heard from the feedback we’ve received. When students and parents contacted the CMS principal,...
Proposed Changes to Policy 3211- Code of Ethics
Another Policy Item on the 05/30/2024 Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting Agenda Since every political and special interest in town doesn’t like our site – why not just bring up the teachers’ union? The main change to this policy involves language that appears to indicate that the only courses of action that can be taken concerning violating the code of ethics...
05/30/2024 BOE Agenda Notes on Proposed Changes to Policy 2411- Guidance Counseling
The first item of concern for me in the proposed policy is the removal of language that: (1) Indicates collaboration between the guidance office and teaching staff (2) Reaffirms the necessity of having licensed/certified guidance and counseling staff (3) Assures services are available to all students from pre-K through Senior Year Old Policy New (draft) Policy The policy...
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...
Laura’s Notes on the 05/20/2024 BHPSNJ BOE Meeting: Public Comments
You can tell when election season in Berkeley Heights is approaching, residents come out and make their presence known by their attendance and participation at public council and Board meetings. Participation in local government, like voting, is a privilege we all have, and it contributes to a healthy, transparent, and effective democracy. I have seen a pattern and can report...
Laura’s Notes on the Berkeley Heights 05/21/2024 Town Council Meeting Agenda
Update at 5:32 p.m.: The Proposed Salary for the Chief of Police Position is $216,300 – the contract is still in draft form. The Town Council Meeting will occur tonight, Tuesday, May 21 at 7:00PM The meeting will start with a conference session dedicated to having an affordable housing update, followed by a presentation from FACT (the Union County Care...
John’s Notes on the Berkeley Heights 05/20/2024 BOE Meeting
NJSBA Superintendent Search & Social Media Policy NJSBA As we reported at the last meeting, the BOE President signed a contract with the NJSBA to facilitate the Superintendent search. It’s worth noting that this was done without a full board review of the contract, a decision that has raised some concerns. Last night, the NJSBA indicated that BOE Members would be limited in the...
Laura’s Notes on the Berkeley Heights 05/20/2024 BOE Meeting Agenda
Superintendent Search, Social Media Policy, OPMA and Recognition The Board of Education’s special meeting is tonight with the public session expected to begin at 6:30 PM. Unlike other meetings, the Board will meet to discuss the one and only business item before adjourning into Executive session. The NJSBA Superintendent Search Discussion is the main attraction for this special meeting. This is the first meeting surrounding the process of hiring...
The Good, the Bad, and the Less-Than-Attractive: 9 Recent Events
Let’s start with the bad, ‘cause I’m that kind of person. (My husband has at times referred to me as the angel of doom.) 1. Public name-calling. It’s okay to have differences of opinion; healthy, even. What’s not healthy is taking to a public forum and quite literally name-calling. Even worse when that name-calling is coming from one of the...
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