John’s Notes on the 01/28/2025 BOE Agenda

For years, families in Berkeley Heights Public Schools (BHPSNJ) have expressed frustration with the Business Office, citing a lack of transparency, accountability, unprofessional behavior and political partisanship. These concerns existed before Dr. Varley’s tenure, but they worsened significantly under her leadership and have not improved with the addition of the current Business Administrator (BA)—who was part of the prior administration.

Under the current BA, audits have been submitted to the state without prior review or discussion by the Board of Education (BOE) or the public. Several BOE members have pushed for greater oversight, including more frequent Bill List reviews, only to face pushback from others who argued it was “micromanagement” of administration.

Now, let’s discuss the latest audit findings and why they matter, especially given the ongoing concerns about financial oversight in the district.

The agenda for the February 25, 2025 BOE meeting reveals that the latest audit produced two findings that highlight four significant financial control failures.

Finding #2024-01: Approval Signatures & Cash Receipts Recording Issues

• Missing approval signatures on checks increase the risk of unauthorized transactions.
• Failure to record cash receipts in the ledger could lead to financial discrepancies and potential fraud.

Proper financial controls exist to prevent errors, mismanagement, and fraud, making these serious concerns for the district.

Finding #2024-02: Inconsistencies in State School Aid Reporting

Last year, some current and former BOE members raised concerns about phantom funding cuts to transportation, despite those changes never materializing. By that same standard, they should be just as vocal about this very real issue.

• Inaccurate reporting on the Application for State School Aid could jeopardize district funding.
• Missing documentation for low-income students could lead to funding reductions, penalties, or loss of resources for students in need.

If left uncorrected, these discrepancies could impact student programs and financial stability.

Given the severity of these findings, should the district hold a dedicated public meeting to address these concerns and discuss a better approach to managing the Business Office?

Additionally, does the current Business Administrator have the capacity to prioritize fiscal management over administrative politics? At a time when strong financial leadership is crucial, is the district’s financial oversight system working effectively, or does it need a significant overhaul?

By taking a different approach, the BOE and administration can work toward restoring trust and ensuring financial integrity within the district. Can the BOE discuss this over the next two meetings with a referendum on the table or will the meeting be taken over, yet again with Ms. Stanley’s endless lectures or another Township entourage showing up asking the District for either more money or property?

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