Board Candidate Interviews, Athletic Trainer and Heavy Investment in New Behavioral Service on the Agenda

The Acting Superintendent will present the district goals following the student representatives’ report.

The highlight of the night will be the interview with board candidates.  This list has not been made public, but all candidates who submitted a resume and letter of interest will be subject to a public interview followed by the second Executive Session of the night.  

Following this second Executive session, the Board will vote to appoint a new Board Member. This appointee will be an active Board member through 12/31/2024.  There will be three seats on the ballot for the fall election.  Two seats will be for a 3-year term, and one seat will be used to fulfill the remainder of Angela Penna’s term (1 year).

Shauna sent an email inquiring about how the process will be managed.

There are concerns about which questions will be asked and to whom if the BOE President is the sole decision-maker/gate keeper of the process.

Have the candidates been announced, and if not, will they be?

Will the interviews be done in public or executive session?

Is there a process by which questions that will be asked are vetted ahead of time (as mentioned by NJSBA for the Superintendent search)?

If there are defined questions, who selects the questions to be asked?

Will there be a limit to the number of questions current BOE members can ask?

ADMINISTRATION

D. Approve employment contract of the Business Administrator/Board Secretary Anthony Juskiewicz for the 2024-25 fiscal year with an annual salary of $180,250.

E. Amend Acting Superintendent Employment of Robert Nixon through June 30, 2024.

F. G.  The Acting Principal and Lead Teacher positions at GL currently filled by Jackie Bartlett and Nick O’Sullivan, respectfully, will also continue through June 30, 2024.

EDUCATION

D. At the Assistant Superintendent’s request, a resolution for Effective School Solutions to provide intensive mental health services at a cost of $325,000 is on the agenda, reportedly being paid by “budget funds.”  I am hoping to learn more about this service, who qualifies, whether this is a new or pre-existing program, and what it specifically entails.  

E. Approve Sidebar Agreement for elementary curriculum writing over the summer.  This amended resolution now offers what the teachers requested: their per diem hourly rate versus the previously offered $50/hour.

PERSONNEL

A.  Creation of a full-time Reading Specialist for Columbia Middle School.

It was reported that CMS does not currently employ a dedicated reading specialist.  This role is being created to fulfill a need in the school, as reported by the Assistant Superintendent at a previous Board meeting. 

B. Creation of a full time athletic trainer position for Governor Livingston.

C. Creation of a part time school nurse position for Governor Livingston.

W. Linda Place (MKM Paraprofessional) and David Rien (Bus Driver) have retired from BHPS effective July 1, 2024.

AA.  An unnamed employee is on the agenda for Administrative Leave from May 22 – June 30, 2024.

BUSINESS

E. Approve award of E-Rate technology support services with a price tag of $162,962.66

Here is a run down of some of the key policies that will be discussed:

Ethics

Guidance Counseling

Public Participation at Board Meetings

Read All Articles on BOE Agendas and Meetings

Reach Out to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education

Subscribe to NJ21st For Free