Refocus the Referendum: Spend Wisely, Not Widely
The Following Community Voices article was received from Helen Gabara who is a resident of Berkeley Heights and parent of a child in the District The PR firm told the BOE during his presentation, that the way to get the public to vote for the referendum is to include “something for everyone.” That is lousy advice. The temptation would be...
Progress Not Promises—BHPSNJ Needs Real Budget Reform
Fix the Budget Before Marketing the Referendum or Giving Away School Resources For too long, consultants and so-called experts have profited from advising our community while delivering little to no meaningful results. The time for talk is over—we need real action. The BHPSNJ budget is bloated and mismanaged, with efforts to reform it met with obstruction, harassment, and public ridicule....
The 02/26/2025 BOE Referendum Presentation in a Snapshot
Laura’s Notes on the 02/26/2025 BOE Meeting Planning a successful referendum revolves around three critical factors: Scope, Budget, and Tax Impact. The District’s Debt In 2005, BHPS successfully passed a referendum, with bonds issued in 2006. In 2014, the District refinanced its debt, leaving only one outstanding bond set to mature on March 1, 2026. When existing debt is nearing maturity, school...
Dr. Feltre Responds to NJ21st Questions on Referendum and Parent Concerns on School Closings
John received the following response from Dr. Feltre to his article on the referendum published last week. Good Afternoon Mr. Migueis, Thank you for your thoughts and insights. Your first question “A referendum for what?” is part of the reason for the meeting on February 26th, but the next step in the process. When I started in January, I navigated multiple...
BHEA and Community Await Details on BHPSNJ Facilities and Funding Plans
Earlier this morning, BHPSNJ families received an email from Dr. Feltre regarding the first step toward a potential referendum. The email stated: “On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 7:00 pm, a presentation will be held on the referendum process. Architects, bond counsel, and financial advisers will be present to discuss the debt rolling off, potential tax implications, timeline, and next...
BOE Members Respond to Questions on Facility Concerns
As a follow-up to questions connected to facilities, NJ21st received responses from two BOE Members: Sai Akiri Hi John, Thank you for your email. Your concerns about the long-overdue facilities repairs and the urgency of addressing them are well-founded, and I completely support the call for actions that are well-planned and swift. You raise important points about the availability of...
Distortions of Truth at the Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting
Shauna’s Notes of the 01/27/2025 BOE Meeting The Union County Superintendent, Daryl Palmieri again selected Gale Bradford to fill the role of President of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education, and the meeting opened with Mrs. Bradford sharing a directive given by Mr. Palmieri that the board work together. A relatively straight-forward vote elected Dipti Khanna to the position of...
Critical Questions on the Issue of Facilities to the BOE: Why Is This So Complicated?
The following email was sent to the Berkeley Board of Education, Dr. Feltre, the Business Administrator and BHEA President: The facilities issue is becoming increasingly concerning, especially when considering the budget realities. At the last meeting, students and the BHEA urged the BOE to take swift action in addressing long-neglected facility repairs. Ms. Akiri proposed what appeared to be a...
BHPSNJ Response to Resident Concerns on Facilities, Data Breach, BOE President and Audit
In response to Mr. Leblond’s Letter to the District on Facilities, the Data Breach and BOE President: From Ms. Akiri: Thank you for reaching out, Mr.Leblond. I share your concerns regarding the PowerSchool data breach. I have contacted the district administration to request a detailed review of the specific information stored in PowerSchool for Berkeley Heights Public Schools (BHPSNJ). Obtaining...
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