The Reorganization Meeting of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, January 7, starting at 6:45 PM. For those familiar with local politics, this coincides with the Town Council Reorganization meeting, creating a scheduling conflict for those interested in both events.

Tuesday’s Board of Education agenda appears relatively standard, with no major surprises expected. The meeting will begin with Mr. Juskiewicz administering the Oath of Office to the three candidates who secured seats in the 2024 election. Incumbents Foregger (2,455 votes) and Stanley (1,950 votes) will each serve a three-year term. Additionally, Terrero (3,418 votes), who is completing the remaining term for Angela Penna’s seat, will serve a one-year term.

Notably, the agenda lists the Mountainside Representative to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education as “tentative.” The Mountainside Board of Education will appoint their representative during their reorganization meeting on Monday, January 6, at 5:30 PM. The appointment will then require a vote by the full Mountainside Board. This meeting will be held virtually due to the weather forecast. Observers may have noticed that the Mountainside agenda still lists the election results from 2023; it is expected to be updated to reflect the uncontested 2024 results for Jordan Hyman and Candice Schiano.

Given the historically contentious nature of the vote for Board President and Vice President, it is anticipated that any new Mountainside representative will abstain from voting on these leadership positions. Since the new member will not have had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Berkeley Heights Board of Education members, abstaining is likely the only appropriate course of action to ensure an informed decision.

While most of the agenda items are routine for a reorganization meeting, there are several noteworthy topics under “New Business,” including:

• The use of attorneys for handling OPRA requests
• Policies 131 (Bylaws, Policies, and Regulations) and 164 (Conduct of Board Meetings)
• Delivery timelines for Board packets to members
• Acceptable revisions to Board packets within 24 hours of a meeting
• Separate sessions for recognizing educators, students, and achievements
• Implementation details of the new visitor management software for district buildings

Many of these topics have been discussed at previous meetings, particularly the high costs associated with using attorneys for OPRA requests. As previously reported, this practice is neither typical nor necessary.

Policy 164 was amended during the December 2023 “lame duck” BOE meeting, now requiring 48 hours’ notice for New Business items to be added to the agenda. This contrasts with ongoing concerns about last-minute changes to Board Business shortly before meetings, which leaves members with insufficient time to review critical information.

Lastly, further discussion is expected regarding the visitor management software. Key questions remain unanswered, particularly about the legality and liability of collecting personal information from visitors. Additionally, logistical concerns about how elementary schools will handle large numbers of visitors on special occasions—such as promotion days, concerts, and class celebrations—have not been adequately addressed. It remains unclear whether staff will manage this influx or if alternative security measures will be implemented.

Overall, while the agenda may seem routine, the discussions during the New Business portion of the meeting are likely to generate significant interest.

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Articles on Last Year’s BOE Reorganization Meeting:

Melissa Varley’s Spin on the BOE Reorganization Meeting Highlights How This All Got Started

Three Clear Examples of Why Change is Needed – 01/18/2024 Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting

The Real Story on How the January Berkeley Heights BOE Meeting Fell Apart

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