Gale Bradford was recently elected to the BOE. This document is a collection of her responses to BHCW questions and articles she has submitted. I organized this so that parents and other residents can learn about Gale as she takes on this new role next year.
(1) What qualifications do you hold to manage a 60 million dollar budget?
The school budget is collaborative and not the responsibility of an individual board member. The budget is the district’s financial plan and is a reflection of all the needs of the district. The responsibilities of the school board is to discuss these needs and to set the parameters for developing the budget. As a former district employee, I have insight into these needs. The superintendent and other staff draft a budget that meets the board’s goals and student’s needs while complying with state regulations and staying within Berkeley Heights’ financial resources. The board has a Finance/Facilities Committee composed of several members. The BOE should hold budget hearings with the public. After a final public hearing, the board adopts the budget and the superintendent is responsible for administering it. The BOE provides financial oversight by a monthly review of the bills and expenditures.
(2) If you were given a marker and the ability to do so, what is one thing you could change about the Budget? (name more than one if you want)?
I believe that district resources should be channeled to the students and to the professional staff. Building facilities and classrooms should be well-maintained and safe environments. Every building and classroom, with the guidance of the staff, should provide each student with a feeling of safety and security. Teachers should have the materials, technology, support, and time to deliver a well-planned curriculum to students. Curriculum purchasing decisions should be based on current best practice research and teacher input with adequate professional development training and time to integrate new material into a schedule. I believe the district should actively recruit the highest caliber and character of individuals to work with students. The district should mentor, support, and retain highly qualified individuals. Compensation for employees should be financially and professionally rewarding.
(3) What would you do to bring order and cohesion back to the BOE while simultaneously trying to initiate the changes you have discussed thus far?
Kindness and respect within our school community is key to successful achievement of our goals. I believe in the resilience and the commitment of our Berkeley Heights community. I believe in the active engagement of the community that supports and that adds to the educational goals that we want for all our children. School boards guide our schools to the ultimate goal of an exemplary education for all students and a strong platform for these students to continue their life aspirations. School board members only have authority when the majority of members vote on something. Despite strong feelings on an issue, one or two board members cannot enact new policies, they must convince a majority of the other board members to see things their way and vote during the public meetings. I believe that I can be a positive influence and work collaboratively as a board member. I am an educational leader and a dedicated community resident. I am asking for your vote.
Regarding Suggestion to schedule more frequent meetings so that there is not so much to go over at one time potentially keeping meetings from being 5 hours long, making it more likely that all BOE members will be familiar with what they are voting on, and making it easier for parents to attend meetings.
Board of Education members should be available to listen to the concerns and to the suggestions from the public and the district employees. The BOE members are elected volunteers and are not paid for their time and work on behalf of the district. There is a scheduled monthly public meeting and regularly scheduled committee meetings. I do not see a need for additional monthly meetings.
Regarding suggestion to share with residents a sort of ‘Cliff Notes’ version of what is on the agenda.
I do not support separate additional notes on the agenda.
Regarding suggestion to make the agenda and any attachments available the week prior to BOE meetings.
I support a reasonable amount of time for board members and the public to review the monthly agenda and attachments. The BOE agenda is standardized with required sections that allow a flow of information to the public. In the past, the BOE has moved around agenda items in consideration of students and the fact that board meetings are on school nights.
As I am currently not on the BOE, I do not know exactly when or how board members receive the agenda and attachments for upcoming board meetings. I am only aware of the conversations among BOE members at the public meetings that they have not had enough time to review items. There is a monthly public BOE meeting, but there are also regular committee meetings among the board members. As a potential board member, I would encourage all board members to ask questions of committee members and provide feedback at the committee level.
If elected, what would be your plan to ensure every single employee of the BHPS system is supported, valued and partnered with in approaching significant decisions that impact the District?”
Teaching is the essence of our school district. Our Berkeley Heights’ schools are highly rated because of the professional individuals, teachers and staff, that instruct and support our children.
Teachers and staff need to feel supported by generous yearly salary increases and commensurate salary guides and steps to ensure recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals.
Teachers and staff need to feel valued by providing adequate daily lesson preparation time, by providing explanatory in-person workshops with continuing monthly mentorship for new curricula and for new staff, and by providing adequate weekly collaboration time within the grade level at the building and district level.
Teachers and staff need to partner with administration in decision making for schedules, curricula, lesson scope and sequence, programs, workshops, classes, and placement.
As an elected Board of Education member, an important aspect of the job is to understand what is happening in our schools and to listen to our staff. Members should become active observers and listeners in our schools to facilitate improved understanding and communication among the BOE, the administration, the staff, and the students and parents.
What will you do to reassure these residents (mostly parents) that you will not be another rubber stamp for the Superintendent? Would you be open to putting the Superintendent on a Performance Improvement Plan? Are you open to holding the Superintendent PUBLICLY accountable if similar behaviors were to occur again in the future?
Please understand that promises of “better communication” will likely not suffice in responding to the question as that really is, in the mind of many parents, a small part of a collection of concerns.”
“I received your email titled “Question #1”. There were three questions in your email regarding the BOE responsibilities and the district superintendent.
School board members are elected by the community and their role is to set budget priorities, establish policies, evaluate the outcomes of district and facilities operations, and supervise the superintendent. The district superintendent’s role is to identify needs, provide leadership, supervise staff, and manage the day-to-day operation of the district. The BOE and the superintendent work together. The teachers, staff, students, parents, and administrators complete the process.
Community input is provided to the board of education. As a potential board member, I will listen to comments and/or concerns and I will help to make a group decision by the board for the benefit of our students and district.
I am an alumni of the Berkeley Heights School District, K-12, and I have been a teacher for 35 years in four other states and districts. I have recently retired from the Berkeley Heights School District after 22 years. I have a clear understanding of the responsibilities of the roles.”
Gale’s Articles:
