BERKELEY HEIGHTS BOARD OF EDUCATION. Include, Inspire, Empower

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1 BERKELEY HEIGHTS BOARD OF EDUCATION Include, Inspire, Empower Berkeley Heights Public Schools 345 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ (908) Website: Facebook: Berkeley Heights Public Schools Instagram: bhpsnj

2 MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TERM EXPIRES DOUGLAS REINSTEIN, PRESIDENT 2021 ROBERT CIANCIULLI 2023 MICHAEL D AQUILA 2022 HELEN KIRSCH 2022 ANGELA PENNA 2022 CHRISTINE REILLY 2021 JOY YOUNG 2023 MOUNTAINSIDE STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES EMILY HAINES THOMAS BURKE MEETING SCHEDULE January 7, 2021 * February 4, 2021 * February 25, 2021 * March 18, 2021 * April 8, 2021 * April 29, 2021 * May 13, 2021 * June 10, 2021 * June 22, 2021 * August 12, 2021 * September.9, 2021 ** September.23, 2021 October 14, 2021 November 11, 2021 December 9, 2021 January 6, 2022 & Organization Meeting & Public Meeting to Adopt Tentative Budget & Public Meeting to Adopt Budget & Organization Meeting * to be held remotely via Zoom ** to be held in the CMS Music Room Public Session begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Columbia Middle School Multipurpose Room unless otherwise indicated

3 W elcome to a meeting of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. This brochure has been prepared for you so that you might better understand the actions that the Board of Education will take during a meeting, to introduce you to the Board members, and to invite you to participate in the Board meeting. The Board of Education will follow an agenda that was previously prepared by the Superintendent of Schools. The agenda will be available on the district website at bhpsnj.org under the Board of Ed tab prior to the meeting date. We hope that your attendance at the BOE meeting will prove informative. Thanks for taking the time to attend a meeting of the School Board and for demonstrating your interest in our community s educational program!

4 THE BOARD OF EDUCATION T he Berkeley Heights Board of Education is comprised of eight members. Seven members are elected as representatives of Berkeley Heights and the Mountainside Board of Education designates one member to represent the residents of Mountainside in matters relating to the program at Governor Livingston High School. Mountainside students complete their elementary school program in Mountainside and then attend Governor Livingston High School. Board members are normally elected for a three-year term of office. The Board is charged with the responsibility of acting as the general agent of the State of New Jersey in carrying out the will of the people of this community in the matters of public education. The Board of Education establishes educational goals for the children of this district and supervises all programs designed to meet these goals. The Board is responsible for enforcing laws. Where state law does not provide or prohibit, the Board is responsible for establishing, maintaining and apprising the public of educational activities of the school district. The Berkeley Heights Board of Education meets in public to determine the educational policies of the school district. The Board of Education provides an opportunity for the public to express their views at these meetings.

5 Please note that your Board of Education members are local residents who are serving you by devoting many unpaid hours of their time to our school district. Board members do not have offices in the administration building. Board members do not have authority as individuals and can act on school matters only at a regularly scheduled and advertised Board of Education meeting. COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR BOARD W hen you attend a meeting, you will find a copy of the meeting agenda on the district website at bhpsnj.org under the Board of Ed tab. A copy of the agenda format for the Conference and Regular Meetings can be found later in this brochure. There are two opportunities to address the members of the Board during the meeting. The first public portion is reserved for persons wishing to speak about items that appear on the meeting agenda. This guarantees that you can express your opinion regarding an issue prior to the Board voting on it. Residents may speak to the Board on any topic during the second public participation session. If you wish to address the Board, raise your hand and wait for recognition by the President. State your name, address, and your remarks to the President. Individual members may be addressed upon recognition by the Board President. The Board, through individual members, may choose to respond to your comments. Unless an extension of time is granted, a speaker shall be limited to three (3) minutes. No individual may speak more than once on the

6 same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard. Written statements may be read to the Board and then given to the Board Secretary/School Business Administrator to be included in the minutes of the meeting. Letters to the Berkeley Heights Board of Education may be addressed to the Board Secretary/ School Business Administrator, 345 Plainfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ The administration is available by appointment to help you with any concerns that you might have about the day-to-day operation of the schools. A Board of Education meeting is not an appropriate time to debate or to question the Board or administration about personnel matters. The meeting is your opportunity to observe the work of the School Board and to communicate directly with your elected officials regarding school district policies, educational matters or concerns.

7 Sample Agenda ~ Call to Order ~ ~ Roll Call ~ ~ Statement ~ ~ Adjourn to Executive Session ~ ~ Return to Public Session ~ ~ Flag Salute ~ ~ Approval of Minutes ~ ~ Correspondence ~ ~ Report of the Student Representatives ~ ~ Report of the Superintendent ~ ~ Liaison Reports ~ ~ Facilities Report ~ ~ Citizens Hearing~ ~ Recommendations for Action ~ ~ Other Business ~ ~ Adjournment ~ Public Sessions Begin at 7:30 p.m.

8 BERKELEY HEIGHTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS The mission of the Berkeley Heights School District, a community partnership that values the direct relationship between exceptional education and individual success, is to challenge students to explore, to excel, and to embrace a lifetime of learning by developing a staff devoted to excellence, applying resources effectively, fostering a culture of mutual respect and integrity, and offering engaging academic curricula and diverse co-curricular programs. Include, Inspire, Empower ADMINISTRATION Dr. Melissa Varley Superintendent of Schools (908) Scott McKinney Assistant Superintendent (908) Donna felezzola Board secretary & School Business Administrator (908) Michele Gardner Director Special Services (908) anne corley-hand, principal mary kay mcmillin early childhood center (908) jessica nardi, principal thomas p. hughes school (908) jonathan morisseau, principal mountain park school (908) patricia gasparini, principal william woodruff school (908) frank geiger, principal columbia middle school (908) robert nixon, principal governor livingston high school (908)