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...
Update On SEC Matter Involving Superintendent
Earlier today I emailed the Board of Education with regard to the ethics complaint filed against Dr. Varley surrounding allegations of Nepotism. BHCW became aware of this earlier this year when the parent who filed the complaint informed BHCW that the attorneys representing Dr. Varley (board attorneys) were attempting to block her access in a meeting with the OAL Judge...
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...
Statement on 09/22/2022 Board of Education Meeting
I joined the Board of Education because I wanted to help provide the best education possible for our students. Unfortunately, the incivility and rancor among board members has distracted us from our goals. Thursday night’s meeting got out of control and I did not want to be a party to the proceedings so I left. I hope we can get...
MY STATEMENT ON THE SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 BOARD MEETING
Our board meeting became disorderly yesterday evening. Pamela Stanley gave a prepared speech unrelated to board agenda items that sought to mischaracterize parents’ concerns. I requested Board President Michael D’Aquila to control the meeting and bring it back in order. He asked for Ms. Stanley to stay on topic, but she refused, and he did not exercise his powers as...
DR. VARLEY, HIGH PRICED ATTORNEYS AND THE ANGRY SIX vs. SAI AKIRI
Merely weeks after being elected, Ms. Akiri attempted to fulfill one of her primary campaign promises on accountability and transparency by encouraging the BOE to follow their policies on interviewing an attorney-something the District has failed to do in almost two decades. Many residents were disgusted by the actions of the current firm for the following reasons: 1) Their defense...
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...
DR. VARLEY’S LEGAL TEAM TRIES TO PREVENT RESIDENT FROM ATTENDING HEARING ON NEPOTISM ALLEGATION
BHCW received an email from a resident who filed an ethics complaint against Dr. Varley that alleges the Superintendent and Attorneys from the District are attempting to prevent the resident from attending a hearing in connection to a probable cause finding from the SEC that the Berkeley Heights Superintendent violated the District’s nepotism policy. From the email, the following appears...
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