The Berkeley Heights Public Schools French Controversy of 2022: A Written Record of Events

On Friday, April 8th, at 11:52 am (a few days before Spring Break), parents with children within the CMS French program received an email from their children’s French Teacher.  The email informed parents that the trip planned for Quebec by CMS was in danger of being canceled and that the District was moving forward with ending French as a language option within the District.

“I am writing to you today with great sadness and regret that the Quebec Trip will most likely be canceled next year in February 2023.  I will let you know in the coming months when an official decision has been made. 

The Board of Education has decided to eliminate the French program from Berkeley Heights Public Schools.  With the pending retirement of the high school French teacher, they saw this as an opportunity to re-evaluate programming, and I was informed today of the decision to eliminate French.

What this means is that beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, any 6th or 7th grade student of French must choose a new language, as French will no longer be offered here at the middle school.

It will be a slow phrase out, so any 8th grade student and high school student taking French will finish out the program. I am not sure if I will move to the high school, but I am letting you know my intention is to leave the Berkeley Heights Public School District to pursue other opportunities.

Please know I am incredibly sad not only for myself, but also for the students who will no longer be offered the opportunity to learn French. I love my students and this school community dearly, and I will be extremely sad to leave this place that I feel is like home to me. I have enjoyed working with your children; their enthusiasm, humor, candor, and kindness is what makes coming to work enjoyable for me each day.

I have not yet informed the students, but I will begin making the announcement to my remaining classes today. You are welcome to share this information with them as well.

I am sincerely sorry this trip may not work out, I was very much looking forward to it. Thank you so much for your support this year and over the years. I appreciate it more than you could know.”

With only a few hours before a long break, the District informed teaching staff and parents of an entire language being removed from our District.  A small group of parents only found out through one Teacher’s email.  The larger community became aware of this first through a post on BHCW [https://bit.ly/3wwSsLF]

On that same day, students at Columbia Middle school started a petition requesting that the District reverse its decision.  [https://bit.ly/3k6pwDn] which went on to garner over 400 signatures.

On April 9th, Dr. Melissa Varely published an announcement that stated the following:

“The program continues to struggle 6-12. Currently the makeup of foreign language students at the middle school enrolled in French is:
6th grade students rotate through each language, Foreign Language begins as a primer in 7th grade, with Grade 8 beginning the college prep course of language.
Grade 7 – 196 students, 42 enrolled in French
Grade 8 – 166 students, 27 enrolled in French
All other CMS students are taking either Spanish or Italian (unless excused from taking the foreign language requirement). Total enrollment at CMS is approximately 543 students.” [https://bit.ly/3ltSXQl]

Repeated requests for enrollment numbers in other languages were ignored. Later that day, the public became aware that Dr. Varely’s enrollment numbers were incorrect, but her fundamental understanding of how the Worlds Languages Program worked was also wrong. A response attributed to Language Program Teacher(s) soon came out:

“Students DO NOT in fact rotate through all languages in 6th grade but choose one language only. There are 50 students enrolled in 6th grade French who would be impacted next year.
“Grade 7 – 196 students, 42 enrolled in French”
Correct number: 44
“Grade 8 – 166 students, 27 enrolled in French”
Correct number: 36
Total students enrolled in French at CMS: 130″ (in comments section of post linked above).”

Dr. Melissa Varely posted a correction the next day [https://bit.ly/39BWzNw]

On April 10th, 2022, a CMS PTO Parent Representative on the curriculum Committee published an article that stated:

“If you are wondering what I’m speaking about, here’s a quick recap…As the CMS PTO representative on the Curriculum Committee I want to assure everyone that there was not a single mention of French language being phased out or eliminated at our January meeting. Yesterday, teachers and families alike were notified that French is being phased out and canceled for those in 6th and 7th grade.” [https://bit.ly/38JCLaN]

The backlash from the community was significant and growing by the minute.

To my knowledge, only two BOE Members (Dr. Foregger and Ms. Akiri) conveyed opposition to the decision to members of the public.  In his email response to me, Dr. Foregger expressed surprise that the Teacher was informed and indicated he had provided the District with an argument and data supporting that the District retain French.

Email response from Ms. Akiri [https://bit.ly/3wEaN8j]
Email Response from Dr. Foregger [https://bit.ly/3MBbxBU]
Letter Dr. Foregger wrote to the District prior to the public discovering the District’s decision to eliminate French [https://bit.ly/3MBpVdA]

On April 11th, 2022, Dr. Melissa Varley announced the District’s decision to reverse the decision to end the French Languages program.  [https://bit.ly/3sIFoAD]

During the last BOE Meeting, a parent requested an update on hiring a French Teacher but did not receive a response.

It is important to note that this sequence is evidence of yet another decision that was made with incorrect data, without any parental input or the opportunity for BOE members to fully deliberate this decision.

More importantly, this is evidence of one Teacher’s passion for her profession and her students.  The power of our students and residents in protecting the integrity of our schools from further malpractice.  The power of social media in bringing all this together to forge change.

Thank you to Ms. Combe, our students, residents, Ms. Akiri, and Dr. Foregger.

Other material that may be of interest:

Compilation of OP-Eds in Connection to the Reconfiguration Controversy of 2021 [https://bit.ly/36EUKe6]

Compilation of YOUTUBE Videos in Connection to the Reconfiguration Controversy of 2021 [https://bit.ly/2TlvsOF]

Compilation of Op-Eds in Connection to the Union County Prosecutors’ investigation of the District (OPMA)- led to the District changing meeting practices- [https://bit.ly/3lwW89O]

 Copy of Complaint Filed with the NJ Attorney General- led to the District needing to complete a corrective action plan [https://bit.ly/3sMhPH0]

All the Op-Ed surrounding the Controversy connected to Dr. Melissa Varley’s early contract renewal and salary increase [https://bit.ly/3lqDpNn]

Op-Ed in connection to the Berkeley Heights 2022 Budget Controversy [https://bit.ly/39F9A8S]