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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.
Push-back from Boards Around the State at Today’s NJ School Board Association Delegate Assembly
The New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA) is holding its delegate assembly as this article is being written. If you recall, the NJSBA is a tax-funded lobbying group that has supported the current legislation that seeks to destroy the Open Public Records Act and advocates for anti-transparency practices such as Boards by Committees – where policies are deliberated behind closed doors.
NJ Proficiency Reports - Berkeley Heights Public Schools Climate Indicators
Two climate indicators we decided to examine this year were HIB and Chronic Absenteeism compared to the other schools on the BHCW 7-District Dashboard. Berkeley Heights was in the higher middle in the percentage of students identified as chronically absent but experienced the second-highest jump from 2018 to 2019.
Resident Writes To Board On Traffic & Safety at Woodruff
In the last BOE meeting much focus came from the feedback of about 10 parents in connection to courtesy busing and high school students. What many parents don’t realize is that there is a severe need for enhanced bussing in our middle, elementary and K-2 schools. The decision to lower subscription busing costs for families will help everyone. Could you imagine your young child walking through the traffic in the clip at the bottom? Here is an email I sent to Mr. Nixon and the Board.
Berkeley Heights Community Watch is now NJ 21st – here’s why…
Now welcoming content from all communities in New Jersey’s 21st District. Over the past year, the team has been discussing expanding the site. We’ve recognized that, throughout the state, there needs to be more space for diverse and independent voices to share substantial perspectives on essential topics. No space prominently features citizen-driven commentary on local government. These perspectives are often buried in the op-ed section to avoid controversy or drowned out by voices from monied political or corporate interests.
Laura's Notes on the 05/07/2024 BOE Meeting Part 2: Budget, Staff and Contracts
What should have been a focused Budget adoption meeting of the Board of Education turned into another marathon, with tensions boiling over. We have published content on the transportation and bussing issue ad nauseam, so this meeting recap will not address any of those concerns or discussions.
Update on the Fight to Save OPRA- There is Still Time to Act
BHCW is aware of over 200 residents in Berkeley Heights and Surrounding areas that have added their voice to saving the Open Public Records Act. 81% of New Jerseyans are opposed to this bill and have been making calls and writing emails to their representatives in the State Senate and Assembly.
BHCW 05/12/2024 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week…. This week's newsletter starts by outlining the progress made by the new Berkeley Heights BOE majority regarding the budget, transparency, transportation, and proficiency and points to a deliberate disinformation campaign by both local party machines to drown the progress made thus far.
Laura’s Notes on the 05/07/2024 BOE Meeting Part 1: Transportation & Bussing
Ms. Bradford introduced a motion to reverse the decision from the last meeting in which the Board approved only Mandated and Subscription bussing. Ms. Akiri called her out as she had not provided 48-hour notice of this motion before the meeting, per Board policy.
The New BOE Majority is Turning Things Around, and the Party Machines Are Getting Nervous
I am writing a lot this week but have more to say than usual. If all you've been paying attention to is the noise on the forums and theatre in Council meetings, you would have missed a few significant developments.
05/07/2024 Town Council Meeting – Two Issues Come to a Head
While much attention has been given to the Board of Education over the past few months, and I am thrilled to see the public interest and parent engagement BHCW has been working to increase is booming, interesting developments have been occurring over at the Town Council.
New Information Leads to Questions Surrounding List of Roads Presented by the Policy Committee
BHCW received information from sources within the District that:. (1) Other than the Feb 26 presentation and the sample rubric, there are no other documents that have been shared with the Board.
The NJ Political Class Wages Yet Another Assault on OPRA and the Public’s Right to Know
According to The Jersey Vindicator, Sarlo and company are at it again. An amended version of the twice-failed bill will be up for committee vote in two days, with a full vote scheduled for May 13th.
BHPSNJ 2024-2025 Tentative Budget
As a result of an OPRA request, BHCW received the complete 2024-2025 tentative budget. The fact that we got it prior to the meeting is an improvement from last year. The tentative budget represents an overall increase of ~$900,000 from the prior year which would represent a 2% tax increase.
BHCW 05/05/2024 Newsletter
What’s Important to Know About Berkeley Heights This Week…. Our articles on busing this week (and for over a year) present all sides of the problem and an attempt to cut through the politicized, misinformed theatre surrounding this issue.
Laura’s Notes on the 05/07/2024 Berkeley Heights BOE Agenda
2024 Budget, Busing, Administrative Positions on the Agenda for Tuesday. The resignation of Angela Penna from the Board of Education. The final presentation and adoption of the BHPS budget will occur. The total 2024-25 budget is $61,658,566. Following the presentation, a public hearing on budget items only will occur.
Parent Letter to Board of Education on Zoom Access
The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Michael Leblond to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education on the 04/15/2024 Meeting. Dear members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education,
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