IT’S HAPPENING…are we going to let it???
Community- Thank you all for supporting this petition for our children in Berkeley Heights.
We hope all of you were able to listen and hear the Board’s presentation last night to the community.
After 2 weeks of debate, it has been confirmed that this petition was started based on factual and accurate information. Many were not sure if this would be confirmed unfortunately it was.
The Board has devised a plan to REDSITRICT our children.
Last night they presented 5 scenarios and one might think there will be an option to vote on all 5, NOPE…They want the community to vote on scenario #4 or #5 and call they this community engagement and giving the community an option to choose.
IT’S THE SAME CHOICE… NOW OR LATER
If you were not able to listen last evening here is a quick breakdown of what those 2 options are:
Scenario #4- Redistrict by the start of next year making MKM and WW grades K-2 and TPH and MP 3-5 (This is just a summary there are more details as it relates to children in specific grades on who would move when.)
Scenario #5- Redistricting a year from now making MKM and WW grades K-2 and TPH and MP 3-5 (This is just a summary there are more details as it relates to children in specific grades on who would move when.)
The board is making statements such as they want to enlist community feedback based on these two choices. DON’T BE FOOLED the only choice is Redistrict now or in a year from now no matter how they try to spin their listening sessions.
A parent last night asked why not include Scenario #3 as part of the vote? They listened to this suggestion, but it might be time to press this issue to SAVE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS!!
Scenario 3 is keeping 3 elementary schools by brining 1st grade to all three schools TPH, MP and WW which would result in grades 1-5 at all.
On the Board presentation population size by school is also evenly split with Scenario 3 option. Seems to make the most sense and most likely what we as parents all grew up with.
So, you may ask yourself why wouldn’t they just do this? Well, the Superintendent last night stated and is claiming that Berkeley Heights has an “opportunity” to be a model district for the future and develop what some in the educational field are claiming to be “Developmentally Appropriate” schools.
Another parent challenging them stating (which has been confirmed) that Summit, New Providence, Westfield, and Milburn DO NOT have this so why does BH need it? We do not!! All these town have very highly rated schools without this.
One parent did some quick research and DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice) is an education approach that can be implied through early learning, strategies, and curriculum, but DOES NOT mean kids have to only be in a school with younger kids to achieve this.
“Developmentally Appropriate Practice is informed by what we know from theory and literature about how children develop and learn”- NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children)
It seems as if the Superintendent is looking to make BH an experimental example, a possible “model” for the future, we are sure she is thinking how good it will look for her and the Board at the expense of your children… those currently in the district who are impacted by this decision at this time.
Scenario 3 does allow for Full Day Kindergarten-Seems like a win win, but not what the superintendent wants.
Parents and community members- YOU MUST ACT NOW if we want to influence this at all. The district is giving a measly 20 days for community involvement.
Starting Today here is our 20 day plan:
Day 1- Write to all Board members TODAY expressing frustration that by providing only 2 options on to vote which are virtually the same is a joke. Ask for Scenario 3 to be added to the final community vote!
We need more SIGNS into yards- need exposure!!! Are you willing to put a sign, know someone who is?
(Did anyone hear the BOE president try to make a joke and say how nice the signs were expressing saving our neighborhood schools is exactly what they are doing. They have notice and so has the community, they make an impact let’s get more up we have about 40 left.)
Please send your address and a team member will stop by with one.
Please send your address to:
EMAIL: parentsofberkeleyheights@gmail.com
Parents- some might be feeling down a little defeated, this is the time to find that inner strength for our children raise your VOICE and get active.
20 days WE CAN DO THIS!
If we have to choose Scenario 3 make the most sense and the BEST OPTION, we are being given.
We are also looking for volunteers to go door to door and get more signatures. Are you aware our volunteers collected 100 signatures going door to door.- A big thank you to those to donated their time and continue to do so!
A big thank you to all who spoke up at last night’s meeting.
WE CAN DO THIS!!!!
BELIVE, be INSPIRED for your CHILDREN to make a DIFFERENCE!
Have a great day!