Public Outcry Erupts at Berkeley Heights Board of Education Meeting Over Controversial Decisions

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ - Thursday’s special Board of Education meeting was marked by public outcry as several passionate citizens voiced their concerns over three major issues on the agenda: the funding of the Prism Club at CMS, the ongoing lease negotiations for Lower Columbia’s facilities between the board and the Township Council, and a contentious legal dispute involving the funding of board members’ legal complaints and ethics charges.

Anger over not funding the Prism Club

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LGBTQIA+ youth often face a shortage of safe spaces in schools, which can lead to fear, bullying, and discrimination. Safe spaces are essential for empowering these students, allowing them to express their identities without fear of judgment. Programs like the district’s Prism Club provide a crucial refuge, helping LGBTQIA+ students feel more comfortable and confident in their identities. During the public comments at the meeting, residents engaged in a heated debate over the board’s decision not to fund the Prism Club at Columbia Middle School, a decision made by four board members during the June 20 meeting.

Resident Toiya Facy was very direct. “It is shameful … that any Board of Education member would vote against any club that would make a child feel supported. … To take that safe space away from them because you're guising it in a process because you got some blowback is ridiculous. Own it. You know why you voted no. Own it. Be honest with yourselves.” Facy reminded the board that they are there to represent the entire community, “not anyone's personal agenda. And not Berkeley Heights Community Watch. I'm going to keep saying that, because that is exactly what's dictating your votes.”

Other residents shared similar messages. “I know one BOE member suggested this was because they wanted input from the school psychologist.” But that never happened. It seemed more likely to this resident that it was just used as an excuse to cover up for voting it down.

Another resident felt that “It's horrible for our children to even get wind of the fact that school leadership in this town is not supportive and understanding. It should be a no-brainer. It's 2024.”

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Dana Yellin was clear and specific about how she categorized the board’s initial vote. “It is an act of homophobia. It is an act of ignorance. It is an act of violence against children who are figuring out their own identities and are learning their way in the world. The Prism club is about acceptance, building community, understanding who you are. … You are shutting down their ability to find community to understand themselves and to build empathy for people who are either like them or not ...It is deeply troubling.”

All residents who spoke shared the same basic message that they hoped the board would reverse their previous decision.

Lower Columbia Field Lease

The board also discussed the ongoing Lower Columbia field use agreement negotiations with the Berkeley Heights Township Council, which is trying to finalize a possible lease agreement by the town for the CMS fields. The town has put the question to the public on the ballot in November.

A few board members expressed concerns about the non-binding referendum question and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process. They also expressed concern about rushing into a decision on the lease agreement without fully vetting the contract, and suggest that the board should discuss the terms of the lease publicly once a decision has been made.

Resident Debbie Terrero echoed the feelings of some others, encouraging the board to get that lease signed, because every day that lease is not signed is another day the township is missing out on money for grants. “It's pretty cut and dry. I think we should move forward and stop stonewalling it.”

Board member Jordan Hyman also conveyed his position that the CMS lease agreement should be moving forward. “We have answered all the questions, trying to just get the ball moving, because … we want this to happen at some point. Instead of wasting people's time, that's my own personal preference. There's consensus that we want to move toward agreement. I personally think the pieces are in place, and we should move toward it. There's enough there.”

To learn more, see here.

Ethics complaint funding

One key item on the meeting agenda involved a resolution addressing the board's funding for an ethics case initiated in June 2022. This issue centers on allegations that a board member’s close public relationships and political connections have raised ethical concerns. The discussion on this topic was tabled to allow for further consultation with legal counsel and to gather more details before proceeding. TAPinto will provide a follow-up report as more information becomes available.

Personnel Resolution H

Among all the personnel resolutions approved by the board at this meeting, Resolution H is particularly noteworthy because it included the approval of Michael Roof as Head Girl’s Soccer Coach. This decision reverses a recent controversy where Roof was not initially rehired for his 22nd season by the board.

To read more about this subject, click here.

The board ended the public meeting early and went into what was expected to be a lengthy executive session.

Watch the entire meeting here.

The next special board meeting will be held on Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Governor Livingston High School cafeteria.

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