The following is an email provided to BHCW from Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent Michael Leblond to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education.
Dear members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education,
Like many of the issues that have plagued this district for years, the bussing discussion continues to revolve around one main problem, secrecy. Instead of releasing all the information to the public, the board continues to withhold information that would quiet rumors and complaints about how the board makes decisions that impact our students, teachers and community.
The most important aspect of this issue should be serving our students, their families and our schools in the most effective way possible. Again the board complains about costs but is willing to spend more than one hundred thousand dollars on lawyers that have no relevance to educating our students instead of funding bussing, teachers and classroom materials.
The lack of transparency also contributes to the high legal costs the district complains about on a regular basis. The solution is clear and obvious: transparency. Instead of forcing our community to OPRA information that should be made public, release information to the public so the public can make informed decisions about our district and students.
Sincerely,
Michael Leblond