Berkeley Heights BOE Board President Endorsement 2024

Letter supporting Dipti Khanna for BOE President

Feb 4, 2024

The following is an email received from Helen Gabara, Berkeley Heights Resident and Parent, to the County Superintendent Daryl Palmieri in Support of Ms. Khanna for BOE President.

Mr. Palmieri’s email address is [email protected]

The majority of Berkeley Heights citizens who voted for BOE members in November have chosen new board members who vote mostly opposite of how Ms Penna does. It is clear the public wants the Board to move in another direction.

I support Dipti Khanna for BOE president. I want to begin by talking about qualifications.

Dipti has a degree in engineering and works for a multinational company in a high-level position. We’ve heard a lot from Ms. Bradford about how Ms. Khanna, being a working mother, is somehow a deficit.

We have yet to hear much about Ms. Penna’s qualifications. We know that she, like everyone here, has volunteered. What is her degree in? What is her profession? How do they connect to the Board?

Let’s discuss the track record.

In her short time on BOE, Dipti clearly listens to the people and truly considered each new issue, asking tough questions. She doesn’t interrupt people. “Respect” is not a buzz word, but a way of life with her.

Let’s evaluate Ms. Penna’s record-

Ms. Penna has School Ethics Commission validated complaints. Several, in fact.

Ms. Penna voted for a reconfiguration that is now a cautionary tale to surrounding communities. It is causing terrible traffic patterns.

Ms. Penna was BOE Member, Vice President, and President as our per pupil costs skyrocketed, our legal costs increase and proficiencies dropped.

Ms. Penna was President and Vice president during two of the most contentious and secretive Budget processes in the history of the District.

Ms. Penna was President and Vice President as the BOE obsessed and voted through policies, knowing they would lose majorities – is this the “hard work” Ms. Stanley refers to in support of Ms. Penna?

Ms. Penna was on the technology committee as the District spent thousands to equip BOE meetings for Zoom yet years later, parents are still unable to participate.

Ms. Penna was a BOE member, vice president, and president as staff left in droves, and one of our most experienced and cherished administrators expressed her position on the administration’s hostility to our staff.

So, if we are going to talk qualifications and track record – which I think are important conversations to have, let’s put it all on the table.

Helen Gabara

Parent in the Berkeley Heights School District