Berkeley Heights BOE BOE Agendas and Meeting Summaries

Laura’s Notes on the 09/14/2023 BOE Agenda

Sep 12, 2023

Yes….they are now screwing with the Elections

(9/14/23) REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT Among other items, we will receive a DISTRICT DATA UPDATE. Not sure what data we are getting, but it should be oodles of fun!

ADMINISTRATION

Resolution A. District Bylaws/Policies/Regulations – Study and First Reading P 0143 Board Member Election and Appointment.

Remember when Robert Cianciulli made a mountain out of a molehill when a fellow BCHW jokingly said the BOE is probably trying to change the election process…in secret meetings? (Tee! Hee!) It turns out the Policy Committee WAS revising Policy regarding the election process.

This revised Policy is looking to abolish having a special election should there be a vacancy on the Board of Education. This Policy would have the ability to give power to the county superintendent to appoint someone to the board. This Policy also dictates that a special election can take place within 60 days of an election ONLY IF there is a tie between two candidates at the polls or the election is disqualified due to improper election procedures.

What does this all mean?

As previously reported, I don’t write Policy for a living, but it seems the BOE is looking to control further who sits on the Dias with them instead of letting the public decide who gets to represent them.

PERSONNEL

A. Approve the Appointment of the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

Anthony Juskiewicz is being hired as our new Julie Kot. He comes from Roselle Park and, according to Linkedin, has tremendous experience as a BA. His salary is a hefty $175,000. Missing from BA contract (in attachments) is a meeting date of initiation of said contract.

B. Approve Appointment of Director of Special Services.

Kevin Morra, a long-time BHPS employee with a wealth of experience in Special Services, is taking over this lead role at an annual salary of $158,000.

C. Approve Appointment of Governor Livingston High School Assistant Principal

Dennis Dagounis, former Director of STEAM/STEM, is transitioning into his new role. (Side Note: the “Essential Employees” which was updated June 2023, and oddly on the agenda for approval, still has Dennis listed as Director of STEAM/STEM. The start date is to be determined because we are going to….

D. Approve Appointment of Governor Livingston High School Interim Assistant

Principal James Shriner, who started August 29 and is getting $500/day. It’s good to know this person has been interacting with our kids – but we are just hearing this news now. Thanks, Dr. Varley – is communication improving?

E. Approve Appointment of Supervisor of Special Education

Alyssa Rush is being paid $120,000 and will begin November 14, 2023.

F. Approve Appointment of Technology Specialist/Coordinator

Long time employee Jeremy Marx, is taking over for Mike Skara, effective September 18, 2023 at an annual salary of $115,000.

BUSINESS

F. Approve Submission of American Rescue Plan (ARP)

ESSER III Amendment Funds are being reallocated from Supplies & Materials to Other Purchased Services. What the hell IS this? How much is being moved? What are we losing, and what are we gaining? Stay tuned as the mystery of ESSER III Funds unfold…

Q. Approve the Purchase of Digital Software Newsela Essentials for $6,930.

I don’t know if anyone has ever sat with a child to read these articles and take the “quiz” afterward. I personally think they are awful and, at times, present bias, so they should not be presented to our children as “news.”