Education
By JULIE STEINBERG
April 17, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors, We did it! The votes are in, and I am very excited and grateful to be joining the Westfield Board of Education this Spring. I am also glad to see that the budget was approved. Thank you to everyone for all your support. Every vote, lawn sign, donation, ...
April 8, 2024 As Westfield residents prepare to go to the polls on Tuesday, April 16 to vote on an additional spending proposal in the 2024-2025 school district operating budget, I want to share with you how the process differs from last year and why this continued investment in our students and ...
April 5, 2024 Dear Editor: Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano should be applauded for his work in helping defeat the monstrous Wayne Board of Education spending referendum in March. The $170 million pork-filled, spending plan would have raised taxes nearly $400 on the average homeowner. The ...
Netflix’s new sci-fi epic “3 Body Problem”, an adaption of 2015 Hugo Award Winner in namesake sci-fi novel by Chinese novelist Liu Cixin, premiered on March 21st, 2024. The opening scene, a brutal struggle session in Tsinghua University, Beijing in 1966, draws strong reaction from audiences both ...
Our 11 year old children are victims of cyber crimes right here in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Trouble found them more than two months ago in the form of ongoing impersonation, harassment, hate speech, and threats. The toll it has taken on our children is devastating. We are writing this in the hope ...
Dear Editor, As a taxpayer, I have concerns about where the direction of the Jersey City Board of Education is heading. After last week’s appalling meeting, I noticed former Governor Jim McGreevey posted online about a community town hall on education. I thought that was odd timing. I ...
Dear Editor, I'm nervous about the upcoming special election where Robbinsville residents can vote for a tax increase to help ensure our school district remains properly funded. I'm nervous because this is such an important vote, and it's hard to fathom what the negative impact will be if this ...
Another year and another “vote” for higher school taxes. Last year, 9% of eligible voters passed a $500 per year increase and now they are back! Scheduling a vote in April instead of November is a deliberate tactic to force higher costs on the 91% of taxpayers who either voted against it or not ...
Dear Editor: When we contemplated moving to Robbinsville a decade ago, before our kids were even old enough to be in school, we contacted a few folks we knew who worked there. We had friends in the police and fire departments and in the school system, and they all said the taxes were a little ...
Dear Editor: Pork roll or Taylor ham…sub or hoagie…sprinkles or jimmies…De Lorenzo’s or Papa’s…vote yes or vote no? Few things are more hotly contested in Robbinsville right now than the school referendum question. While both sides present valid arguments, my husband and I have chosen to ...
Dear Editor, We are committed to voting 'Yes' in the March 12th Special Election. Residing in this wonderful town for over 15 years, both my husband and I, along with our daughter, have embraced the community. Although our daughter will soon be in college, and we won't have a direct ...
Dear Editor, March 12th is the day of our school district’s public question special election! I am enthusiastically voting yes for the public question which will fund our schools appropriately. I hope you will join me. One of the MANY reasons why I will be voting yes is regarding the ...
Dear Editor, I have the privilege of living in the beautiful town of Robbinsville with my grandson, granddaughter-in-law, and their twin 8-year-old boys. Every day, I watch my great-grandchildren board the school bus and watch them come home with extreme enthusiasm as they tell me about their ...
Dear Editor, We moved to Robbinsville (Town Center) in 2004. My work took me all over the USA, but of all the moves from California, to Chicago and back, we’ve enjoyed living here the most. Both my wife and daughter have been school teachers so educators and education are very important to ...
Dear Editor: I am the parent of two Robbinsville Alumni that had an outstanding k-12 education and were both fully prepared to pursue higher education. They had incredible teachers who supported and encouraged them to pursue their academic and personal interests. My two alumni not only received ...
Dear Editor: My husband and I moved to Robbinsville from a neighboring town when I was seven months pregnant with our first child. We wanted to put down roots in a friendly town with an excellent school system, and Robbinsville ticked all the boxes for us. I attended fantastic public schools ...
Dear Editor: Initially, I voted "NO" on a $4.8 million proposal, reflecting my approach as a COO to prioritize listening, analysis, and problem-solving, especially against unprofessional and opaque practices. This stance was reinforced by the realization that previous financial increases weren't ...
Dear Editor: We are voting YES on the Robbinsville Public Question on March 12. Robbinsville schools have provided our three children with an outstanding education from committed and compassionate teachers, counselors and staff. Over the years, so many of these professionals have gone beyond ...
It is interesting to note that many of the individuals responsible for the issues in the District suddenly acknowledge them. However, they appear to believe that the decades of unaccountability and secrecy that many families are concerned about are the responsibility of two new BOE Members who have ...
Below is an abridged version of an email that I sent to Mr. Daryl Palmieri last week in support of Dipti Khanna for Berkeley Heights Board of Education President. Mr. Palmieri, As a resident of the Berkeley Heights community and a parent of 2 children in the district, I feel compelled to ...
If you are not paying attention to what is happening on the Berkeley Heights BOE, you should be. At its reorganization meeting on January 4th and again on January 18th the Board was unable to elect a president and was deadlocked 4-4. As a result, the decision will be made by someone outside the ...
Dear Members of the Berkeley Heights Board of Education and Dr. Varley, As an educator for this district for over 20 years. I can honestly say I don't have any words for what transpired in the reorganization meeting. As an educator of first grade students, the 20 members of my community each ...
“I’m afraid to tell my classmates I celebrate Chanukah,” a 7-year-old shared with her parents and then with me last week. “I’ve taken off my Star of David necklace,” a high school student confided. “I’ve changed my name on Uber to sound less Jewish,” a college student shared. “When I walk down the ...
I recently attended a meeting at the home of Dorota Mani, alongside concerned parents and residents concerning the alleged AI deepfakes distributed at WHS. During this gathering, Mayor Brindle expressed the need for more police reports to investigate this issue. However, it raises the question: ...
I am writing this letter in support for Lisa Danchak-Martin, Salvatore Balsamo and Salvatore Ferraro for re-election to the Nutley Board of Education on November 7th. I've had the privilege of serving alongside Lisa, Sal and Sal for many years. In all my interactions with them, they have ...
My name is Marla Hunter, and I am proud to endorse the re-election of Lisa Dancek Martin, Salvatore Balsamo, and Salvatore Ferraro. Throughout my 10-year tenure as a PTO board member, I have had the privilege of working closely with these board members and have witnessed their unwavering ...
To the Editor: I write as a concerned parent of three current Princeton Public School students—a junior at PHS, an eighth grader at PMS, and a fifth grader at Riverside Elementary. On November 7th I will be enthusiastically voting for Eleanor Hubbard, Adam Bierman, and Rene Obregon Jr. for the ...
I am writing to express my outrage and frustration about the way sexual harassment is handled in our schools and community. My daughter and other girls have been victims of bullying and harassment by boys from Westfield Intermediate Schools and Westfield High School. They have received threatening ...
“AI pornographic images were circulated of your 14-year-old daughter,” the WHS principal informed me on Friday. “This has been confirmed by four people, but not to worry, the person who did it is gone.” “We have it under control, the images were deleted,” the vice principal informed me earlier ...
I am a resident of Robbinsville and the proud parent of a recent graduate of Robbinsville High School, now attending Rutgers, and two teens enrolled at the high school. I am voting “Yes” for the school public question on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and am asking you to do the same. Without the proper ...