=== BHPSNJ Business Office Troubles ===
BHPSNJ District Opens Search for Business Administrator Ahead of July Transition
Date: 2025-05-05
BHPSNJ does not renew current Business Administrator
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/05/06/bhpsnj-district-opens-search-for-business-administrator-ahead-of-july-transition/
The Ongoing Issues with the BHPSNJ Business Office & Recent Audit Findings
Date: 2025-02-25
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.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/02/25/the-ongoing-issues-with-the-bhpsnj-business-office-recent-audit-findings/
More on the BHPSNJ Business Administrator's Inaccurate OPRA Report to the Berkeley Heights BOE
Date: 2025-02-03
Email from NJ21st highlighting public misstatements made by the Business Administrator regarding OPRA requests and record release compliance.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/02/03/more-on-the-bhpsnj-business-administrators-inaccurate-opra-report-to-the-berkeley-heights-boe/
Critical Questions on the Issue of Facilities to the BOE: Why Is This So Complicated?
Date: 2025-01-29
Raises questions about facilities planning and transparency as the district prepares for budget decisions and infrastructure needs.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/01/29/01292025_facilities_questions/
The 2025 Berkeley Heights BOE Reorganization Meeting: Sanity V. Spectacle
Date: 2025-01-11
Recounts a chaotic reorganization meeting, highlighting dysfunction, delays, and administrative power struggles.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2025/01/11/the-2025-berkeley-heights-boe-reorganization-meeting-sanity-v-spectacle/
11th Hour Revisions to 12/12/2024 BOE Meeting Agenda
Date: 2024-12-12
A revised agenda introduced at the last minute raises concerns over transparency and internal coordination within the Business Office.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/12/12/shaunas-notes-on-the-12-12-2024-boe-meeting-agenda-2/
Pamela Stanley, Anthony Juskiewicz, and Board Attorneys: Lessons Learned, or Rather, Not Learned
Date: 2024-07-05
Analyzes internal communications released via OPRA, revealing missteps by BOE leadership and legal counsel during a contentious personnel episode.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/07/05/shaunas-notes-on-the-06-20-2024-bhpsnj-boe-meeting-2/
The $34,000 OPRA Request
Date: 2024-04-25
Unpacks the controversy over a massive public records request cost estimate and what it says about administrative priorities.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/04/25/the-34000-opra-request/
Pamela Stanley, Incompetent Attorneys, and Improper Motions (Part 1 & 2)
Date: 2024-03-01 & 2024-02-29
A two-part breakdown of procedural missteps and questionable legal guidance tied to administrative decisions and BOE motions.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/03/01/pam-stanley-incompetent-attorneys-and-improper-motions-2/
https://nj21st.com/2024/02/29/pam-stanley-incompetent-attorneys-and-improper-motions/
New President Takes Same Old Tactics to a Whole New Level
Date: 2024-02-27
Criticizes BOE leadership’s reliance on obfuscation and selective transparency, particularly during finance-related discussions.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/02/27/new-president-takes-same-old-tactics-to-a-whole-new-level-notes-on-the-02-26-2024-boe-meeting/
Three Clear Examples of Why Change Is Needed (01/18/2024 BOE Meeting)
Date: 2024-01-21
Details several alarming patterns observed in recent budget, audit, and public access discussions.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/21/three-clear-examples-of-why-change-is-needed-01-18-2024-berkeley-heights-boe-meeting/
Minutia Matters — Especially Audits
Date: 2024-01-18
Stresses the importance of small details in audit compliance and budget oversight.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/18/minutia-matters-especially-audits/
The Real Story on How the January BOE Meeting Fell Apart
Date: 2024-01-07
Walks through the procedural breakdown that derailed the first BOE meeting of 2024.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/07/the-real-story-on-how-the-january-boe-meeting-fell-apart/
“Only the Policies I Agree With Matter...”
Date: 2024-01-05
Examines contradictions in procedural enforcement by district leadership and Business Office staff.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/05/only-the-policies-i-agree-with-matter-only-the-people-i-like-are-allowed-to-vote/
The Community Voted for Change — BHPSNJ Administration Can’t Seem to Let Go
Date: 2024-01-04
Comments on the Business Office’s reluctance to acknowledge new governance dynamics following BOE elections.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2024/01/04/the-community-voted-for-change-bhpsnj-administration-cant-seem-to-let-go/
What It’s Like to Ask for Basic Documents from the Berkeley Heights School District
Date: 2023-12-06
A firsthand account of the obstacles residents face when requesting basic information from the Business Office.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/12/06/what-its-like-to-ask-for-basic-documents-from-the-berkeley-heights-school-district/
The Unredacted Detailed Budget That Some of Our BOE Members Have Not Seen
Date: 2023-09-13
Raises serious concerns about budget transparency and whether all board members have received full access to financial documents.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/09/13/the-unredacted-detailed-budget-that-some-of-our-boe-members-have-not-seen/
Interesting Facts About Ridgewood, NJ
Date: 2023-06-28
Highlights how other districts like Ridgewood structure financial operations, transparency practices, and community communication.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/06/28/interesting-facts-about-ridgewood-nj/
MKM Principal’s Resignation Letter to Dr. Varley and the Berkeley Heights Board of Education
Date: 2023-06-26
Features the resignation letter of a school principal, shedding light on leadership culture and administrative challenges.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/06/26/mkm-principals-resignation-letter-to-dr-varley-and-the-berkeley-heights-board-of-education/
The BHPSNJ OPRA Troubles
Date: 2023-06-12
A deep dive into repeated issues with delayed, redacted, or denied public records requests under the Business Office.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/06/12/the-bhpsnj-opra-troubles/
Financial Shenanigans
Date: 2023-04-16
Breaks down alleged irregularities in the district’s financial reporting, focusing on shifting explanations around benefit costs and line-item inconsistencies.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/04/16/financial-shenanigans/
BHCW Night Watch Episode 13: BHPSNJ Budget & the Medical Benefits Questions
Date: 2023-04-15
A video-based discussion raising serious concerns about unexplained increases in the district’s medical benefits line, budget transparency, and administrative accountability.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/04/15/bhcw-night-watch-episode-13-bhpsnj-budget-the-medical-benefits-questions/
NJ Education Report Publishes New Information on BHPSNJ Budget — And It Doesn’t Look Good
Date: 2023-04-13
Highlights a third-party analysis from NJ Education Report that reveals concerning budget trends and supports local concerns about benefit and staffing cost transparency.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/04/13/nj-education-report-publishes-new-information-on-bhpsnj-budget-and-it-doesnt-look-good/
Questions About the Berkeley Heights 2023 School Budget Remain
Date: 2023-04-06
Surfaces ongoing inconsistencies and unanswered questions related to the 2023 budget process.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/04/06/questions-about-the-berkeley-heights-2023-school-budget-remain/
Julie Kot Continues to Pretend the Budget Is Classified Information
Date: 2023-03-29
Calls out the Business Administrator’s refusal to release full budget data and the resulting impact on public trust.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/03/29/julie-kot-continues-to-pretend-the-budget-is-classified-information/
Berkeley Heights Public School Budget: All (Maybe Most) of the Articles
Date: 2023-03-08
A roundup of prior budget-related coverage, documenting administrative opacity and shifting justifications.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/03/08/berkeley-heights-public-school-budget-all-maybe-most-of-the-articles/
Fiscal Cliff or Money to Burn?
Date: 2023-02-15
Analyzes contradictory budget statements and spending decisions in light of claimed financial crisis.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2023/02/15/fiscal-cliff-or-money-to-burn/
Varley, Kot, and the Ongoing Obsession with Sai Akiri
Date: 2022-11-19
Describes administrative actions that appear retaliatory or politically motivated in the context of budget debates.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2022/11/19/varley-kot-and-the-ongoing-obsession-with-sai-akiri/
Is the District’s Top Leadership Seeking to Influence the Election?
Date: 2022-11-05
Raises ethics questions about administrative behavior and email communications close to election season.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2022/11/05/is-the-districts-top-leadership-seeking-to-influence-the-election/
This Year’s Budget Process Was Not Normal
Date: 2022-11-04
Documents how the 2022–2023 budget process deviated from precedent in concerning ways.
Read full article:
https://nj21st.com/2022/11/04/this-years-budget-process-was-not-normal/