–Support for Dr. Foregger, Matthew Behne and Arik Samson
John and Caroline Migueis are Residents of Berkeley Heights with Two Children attending BHPS
We are writing to express our wholehearted endorsement of Dr. Tom Foregger for the upcoming Board of Education election.
We are deeply grateful for Dr. Foregger’s steadfast dedication to bringing evidence, data, and reason into the community discussions about our schools—especially throughout the challenging reconfiguration period.
Dr. Foregger ran on a platform committed to transparency and academic achievement with plans to address a broad range of pressing issues.
He has delivered on his promise.
Even before public budget oversight was removed two years ago, our District was already experiencing declining proficiency, a drop in rankings, and increasing opacity. Dr. Foregger’s willingness to tackle these complex challenges head-on has been invaluable. Despite often finding himself in the minority over the past three years, he advocated tirelessly for our students and teachers, enduring ridicule and misrepresentation without wavering in his commitment.
Under Dr. Foregger’s influence, academic achievement is again a priority in Berkeley Heights. Metrics have become an integral part of board discussions, with rankings, ratings, and proficiency scores now openly included in Board of Education meetings—where they were once unwelcome topics.
Budget transparency has also improved. This year, we were able to participate in a budget survey, attend an additional budget meeting, and even receive a copy of the budget itself. These may seem like small steps, but they significantly shift our District’s approach to priority setting and allow stakeholders to be more informed and better able to provide feedback on the District’s spending decisions.
When candidates claim we need more classroom teachers, we should ask where they’ve been for the past three years. Dr. Foregger has consistently advocated for reducing administrative costs—not to cut taxes but to direct funding into classrooms and put resources back into the hands of students and teachers.
Classrooms are not funded with platitudes.
In addition, Dr. Foregger has championed transparency and openness within the board, ensuring that members now feel free to speak publicly without fear of baseless ethics charges or harassment, and providing the public with access to minutes from BOE Committee Meetings.
As a result of his efforts, in collaboration with other BOE Members and Stakeholders, Dr. Foregger has made the Board of Education a more normative and effective body.
Few would be willing to endure what Dr. Foregger has for a cause they believe in, and his perseverance has had tangible impacts. Thanks to his efforts, we now have a board majority that has successfully implemented policies making transportation more affordable for working- and middle-class families—achieving one of the lowest service rates among comparable districts.
We also support Mr. Behne and Mr. Samson, who, like Dr. Foregger, appear to prioritize budget transparency, academic achievement, and inclusivity—values that align with our vision for our school district.
We believe all three candidates will respect residents, prioritize facts over special interests, and end a long-standing practice of excluding stakeholder from important school decisions.
We feel confident that Dr. Foregger, Mr. Behne, and Mr. Samson are the best options available this election in continuing the progress being made, and we look forward to their positive impact on our schools.
-John and Caroline
Early Voting Continues Today:
DeCorso Community Center
15 East Fourth Street
New Providence, NJ
Election day is Tuesday, November 5th.
See All Endorsements for Dr. Foregger
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