A Perfect Storm
In this clip, a parent provides a brief overview of how a perfect storm of misinformed and inaccurate guidance from the Superintendent, the political interests of BOE Members, and opportunistic Attorneys who appear to be giving bad legal advice on one issue after another has led to a pile-up of substantiated ethics charges and a mountain of legal fees that...
Pamela Stanley, Ethics and the Gift that Keeps on Giving
On January 31, 2023 the School Ethics Commission denied Pamela Stanley’s Motion to Dismiss allegations of ethical violations against her stemming from her use of the District’s attorney to file a complaint against a fellow BOE Member. The Commission found 7 of the 8 allegations against Pamela to be substantial. Additionally, the Commission adopted a decision finding the Complaint against...
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...
Unnecessary “Lawsuits” and The Blame Game
In what has to be the most brilliant irony of the year, Berkeley Heights BOE Member Angela Penna penned a candidate statement which included the following: “Board members are engaging in their own forms of political posturing and grandstanding; particularly when they disagree with their fellow board members.” “We see statements in social media suffixed with “This is my personal...
School Ethics Commission decision Involving Five BOE Members Moves Case to Office of Administrative Law
Motion to Dismiss filed by BOE Attorney Rejected In It’s Entirety by School Ethics Commission At a meeting of the New Jersey School Ethics Commission (SEC) on October 17th, a decision was rendered on one of the ethics complaints filed against several members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. Although some residents would have you believe that a formal...
Bills, Bills, bills; Not the song from Destiny’s child
In late August, I received legal bills from the district for May 2021-June 2022. I found the statements overly redacted and nearly impossible to decipher or begin to understand the mounting legal bills the district incurred. My original request was to find evidence to support Dr. Varley’s statements, under oath, that she consulted with a lawyer before hiring her daughter...
PAMELA STANLEY APPEARS TO CONFIRM THAT ANGELA PENNA VIOLATED ETHICAL STANDARDS
In an incredible turn of events, Ms. Stanley appears to confirm that Ms. Penna may have in fact, violated Ethical standards in connection to allegations that Ms. Penna was electioneering at Woodruff. N.J.S.A 18A:12-24.1(d) states: “I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.”...
PARENTS CONCERNED ABOUT BOE CANDIDATE ELECTIONEERING ON SCHOOL GROUNDS
A parent emailed the BOE requesting clarification on District Policy concerning electioneering on school grounds and forwarded the email to BHCW for publishing. The email concerns Ms. Angela Penna and asks 4 questions about the BOE Vice President (who is running for re-election): “1. What was Angela Penna, who is running for re-election, doing inside and outside of William Woodruff...
Concerns Over Growing Legal Bills Need to be Addressed
By Shauna Williams The legal bills accrued by the Berkeley Heights School District Board of Education have skyrocketed in the last year, leading the Board to vote for increases in the cap on legal fees from $85,000 to $125,000 then again to $160,000. At the September 1st Board meeting, business administrator Julie Kot confirmed that our legal bills for the...
Union County Prosecutor investigations of the BOE: All the letters
On September 23rd BOE President Doug Reinstein read an opening remark in connection to multiple investigations by the Union County Prosecutor of the BOE’s actions in connection to reconfiguration. This item was not on the agenda and those he named in his remarks were not allowed to speak until the end of what was a very full meeting. This is...
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