11/16/2023 Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting Agenda – Laura & Shauna’s Notes

A. District ByLaws – Study and First Reading

0155 Board Committees

The President shall appoint members to any committee and require monthly reporting to Board President. Committees are not authorized to take action on behalf of the Board. The selection and interview process relating to the hiring of a new Superintendent or Interim Superintendent shall be at all times conducted by the Board as a whole and not through the committee process.

This continues the dangerous trend of the last few years of consolidating power into the BOE President. As we have seen in the past three years, work done in committees is often not shared with the public or even other BOE Members. This practice again blew up in the BOE’s face this year when it was discovered that the Finance Committee did not share the full detailed budget with the public or the full Board. Committees have become a way for the BOE President and majority to do what they please without scrutiny – when BOE Members ask for evidence, they are simply expected to “trust the committees”.

The logical outcome of this progression is the BOE President single-handedly making all the decisions while the rest of the Board acts as their assistant or a rubber stamp – or risk being cut off. It also politicizes the Board as selection for Board President becomes a winner take all game play decided in one meeting. With a split BOE on the horizon, this is the opposite direction we should be going.

B. District ByLaws – Second Reading and Adoption

0164 Conduct of Board Meeting
No item may be placed on the agenda and/or raised at the public meeting under “New Business” unless the Board members has provided at least forty-eight hours advance written notice. Any Board members wishing to identify a matter previously scheduled for discussion as “Old Business” shall provide forty-eight (hours advanced written notice of the unfinished business for requested inclusion in the agenda.

We’ve already written about how cynical and fascist this change is.

D. Approve Professional Development

Professional Development: Withdraws of Professional Development for Stephen Hopkins to attend the AASA National Conference.

E. Approve Presentation by Consultant

The consultant “Challenge Day” will present “Ignite School Connectedness” for 100 sophomore students and 25 staff members and will cost the district $6200; the money comes from ESSR funds dedicated to mental health.

PERSONNEL

B. Governor Livingston Assistant Principal

We bid James Shriner farewell and officially welcome Dennis Dagouins, effective December 12, 2023.

L. Approve Resignation of Staff

Effective 12/1, Steve Hopkins is resigning from his role as Custodian of Government Records Designee.

We hope the BOE takes this opportunity to normalize its OPRA practices and provide information the public is entitled to within the time frames indicated within the law or even ahead of requests.

S., V., W., Z., AA., Hiring or Extension of contracted hours

After cutting several positions in the spring due to mandatory budget cuts, we now see multiple new hires for paraprofessionals and HELP teachers in our elementary schools. Where is the money for the salaries we didn’t have in the spring?

BUSINESS

M. Accept State Funding for School Facilities Project

Projects being funded by the state include roof replacements for CMS and Woodruff.

N. Accept Donation

From Highlander Booster Club and JL Franchino Inc to renovate the Varsity Baseball field dugout.

O. Approve Nonpublic School Security Aid

As a result of an April 19 meeting with a consultant and in conjunction with the Diamond Hill Montessori School, the purchase and installation of exterior windows, not to exceed $578.15 (from Jager Lumber and Anthony Parrino Construction). What is this for, what business does BHPS have with the Diamond Hill Montessori school, what meeting happened on April 19, and who is the consultant that suggested this window purchase and replacement?

FINANCE

C. D. Transfers and Treasurers Report

Bravo to our Business department for the first step in achieving transparency. It is great to see a complete bill list and transfer list as part of the attachments to the Board meeting. More on this to come…

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