[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6745843,"mediaKeyId","5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b","parentId",5348425,"title","Public pushes back as board advances policy revisions on controversial issues, philosophy and religion","audioSeconds",1307,"startMs",2933000,"endMs",4240000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b&start=2933&end=4240","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b/thumbnail_2933000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6745843/New-Jersey/Public-pushes-back-as-board-advances-policy-revisions-on-controversial-issues-philosophy-and-religion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745843-77c5132680e5e9cbc3e2df0385610c2e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149838&Signature=f2Rhah4w58NmNeoA9u2V6K-rhx737JA9CrM1ojlUIGQjD3BsJaNGH8kk7X6AaYHpgnjgq26bQPQP9dgEfv~1gmAaKGhu0H4-YB18RfIMdkWTHYHjbEFKHNfpNgrZBTicsZG21CXfGthljjRVLOxw9H9~FYLEouCr4m3IdoN16tbCJKeDztWAypgnhpZANZE8sBzUeLCwKvCvgy22NpZKI9VOtjfKlDbhkaYgdjud5SHSCIyp41ct0kDJZpe3AyAbMenefGOyhh-URkNebmM3CEcDhCpKisKAhTgwwEjS1XK6swnIa4Nh8T4EEbQ-4lOc3zCK-e4zteIik~mMcvtGzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, NJ","date","2025-07-10T07:22:00.67Z","article","A package of policy updates that included revisions to 2110 (philosophy), 2240 (controversial issues) and 2270 (religion in schools) prompted sustained public comment and divided votes at Monday’s meeting of the Hunterdon Central Regional Fiscal Board of Education.

Multiple residents urged the board to reject the revisions during both action‑item and general public comment periods. Raritan Township resident Ted Hoff told the board he was “more concerned” after re‑reading policy 2240 and said current proposed language would prevent teachers from teaching students how to evaluate competing theories. Hoff warned the policy as drafted could leave students unable to distinguish demonstrably false claims and cited Holocaust denial and The Bell Curve as examples he said illustrated the risk of leaving controversial questions as merely “the teacher’s opinion.” He also asked the board to explain an increase in reported legal fees from $75,000 to $125,000.

Parent Christina Leah asked the board to vote no on the second readings, arguing the changes remove explicit board statements that “racism, prejudice, and bias are unacceptable” and leave teachers and students without clear guardrails for instruction. She and other speakers said the board’s newsletter explanations did not answer community concerns about deletions and newly proposed restrictions requiring approval for topics outside course curriculum.

Reverend Vernon Williams and other residents urged more public involvement in policy changes and questioned the process; Williams also asked about possible conflicts related to attorney selection. Board members responded that they had cleared conflict‑of‑interest questions with counsel.

During the policy committee readout, the chair said policy updates were administrative in many sections but acknowledged members had requested extra review of discretionary language. The committee moved several policies for board action, noting the counseling services policy (2411) appears as a first read and that policy 2435 (NJSIAA random testing) is required by association membership.

When the board took the roll call vote, the motions passed by majority. Several board members recorded no votes on specific policies during the roll call; the meeting minutes record multiple individual no votes and recusals on parts of the package, though the overall motions carried. The motion to adopt the listed second readings was recorded as passed.

Board members and the superintendent said some changes were vendor or statute‑driven and that additional administrative language would be incorporated into handbooks or regulations where applicable. Board members who opposed parts of the package said they wanted to preserve stronger language in the district’s philosophy and counseling statements.

What happened

- Public commenters urged the board to reject or substantially revise the policy language, citing concerns that deletion of explicit anti‑bias language and restrictions on controversial topic discussion would harm students and teachers.
- The policy package advanced by majority vote; individual board members recorded no votes on certain items and several recusals were logged in committee votes.

Why it matters

Board policy sets the expectations teachers use to design lessons and manage classroom discussion; language that narrows how controversial topics are taught can shape curriculum and teacher practice across the district. Several speakers asked for more public input before final action.

What’s next

The administration indicated counseling services and related implementation details will be incorporated into department handbooks and possible regulation revisions. Community members said they will continue to monitor the next policy cycle and consider the changes when voting in upcoming elections.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Ed Meeting 6/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Residents and parents objected at the Hunterdon Central board meeting to proposed revisions to policies addressing the district’s philosophy, controversial issues and religion in schools, saying the changes remove anti‑bias language and unduly constrain classroom discussion.","taxTitle","Hunterdon Central Regional High School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",49729,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6745846,"Hunterdon Central board approves annual organizational items, capital projects and personnel slate",3360,120000,3480000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b&start=120&end=3480","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b/thumbnail_120000.jpg","/articles/6745846/New-Jersey/Hunterdon-Central-board-approves-annual-organizational-items-capital-projects-and-personnel-slate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745846-14d44e4a0393bfedf92db04d7c90559b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149838&Signature=LGYHoM2UNaEGQNVDMWEiCvEUarf-jMINuFu83GDon17OMvrn286q10-pwmCuHx76qTfLAd2QfLwpcxu3mkzHzE~zbSf0dol2Opm-rIDGvGIhJMYZex~50rCKFq9xBB29yiis2kaXBET~JUXKefjdeHJ4l3banBA2FgU~lqTCFAWtqMCeFjRgpuho7-lB9HVNDhaA185gRb6zOSw64wvUnTKyNdRWwqpegU9RtD35TcDN7WNqK2~nETUzCEcCNTXxq3FJlk0aqEb7hcr-b5SoVsxgs~SetxpHBMnU0F~JQ~dM9gw83HNXlhEbfSZCtsI0N6sf5~uu0OMvQKbLEZjYyg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hunterdon Central Regional Fiscal Board of Education on Monday approved its annual organizational agreements, multiple operations and capital projects and a slate of personnel appointments needed for the 2025–26 school year.

The board voted by roll call to adopt routine items 1–8, which the agenda described as yearly agreements needed for district operations. The motion passed on a roll call that recorded the eight regular members in attendance voting yes and several committee motions later passed with similar tallies.

Among operations approvals, the board authorized capital work including an 11–12 locker conversion, transportation repaving, and updates to the rear athletic field access road and the administration reception area. The board also authorized the purchase of a 54‑passenger bus and moved funds among capital reserve and maintenance accounts to cover expected costs. SSP Architects were approved to update the district long‑range facilities plan and to provide design services for the listed projects.

On personnel, the personnel committee’s slate of 34 items — resignations, contractual appointments, curriculum writing assignments, revised staff agreements, leaves of absence, and other routine hires — was approved by roll call. Committee members noted two recusals during the vote on specific items when a board member identified a potential conflict.

Board chair Lisa Santangelo presided over the roll calls. The motions to approve organizational, operations/transportation, and personnel items were moved and seconded from the dais and carried by majority vote; the clerk recorded individual yes votes and the recusals given when applicable.

No substantive debate accompanied most of these approvals; several board members noted there had been no public questions submitted prior to the meeting on these agenda packets. The administration said the approvals were necessary to continue day‑to‑day operations and to begin planned capital work during the summer.

The board’s motion to convene executive session on personnel and HIB issues concluded the public portion of the meeting before the board adjourned to a closed session for approximately 45 minutes.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of items 1–8 (annual organizational agreements): motion passed (roll call recorded board members voting yes; motion carried).
- Operations & transportation items (including locker conversion, repaving, SSP architects engagement, bus purchase): motion passed (vote recorded; motion carried).
- Personnel items (1–34): motion passed; two recusals noted on individual personnel items.
- Motion to adjourn to executive session: passed by roll call; no action announced publically after session.

The board did not give numeric dollar totals for each capital contract during the public meeting; specific contract awards and budget line references appear in the packet and will be available from the board secretary’s office.

","The Hunterdon Central Regional Fiscal Board of Education on Monday approved routine organizational agreements and moved forward with multiple capital and personnel items required for district operations and the 2025–26 school year.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6745838,"Hundreds of Central students honored; freshman urges board to reinstate popular teacher",4054,659000,4713000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b&start=659&end=4713","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5348425-692a0d3d8cd48c0f4573bcf2e6f2be9b/thumbnail_659000.jpg","/articles/6745838/New-Jersey/Hundreds-of-Central-students-honored-freshman-urges-board-to-reinstate-popular-teacher","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6745838-e6f9a17a631bce73f8ca31ede7bee417/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149838&Signature=lhu1kybtlbSyNUWNxgvFUAk2Jw35P6TBF8-GaxG~QCpgWmPqazb-oTfMwz2v5GsQ8cw4AltX6~OmDscqLWUndl0vr-DtQwH9LHizFkLmbR46NoYnOXWUGLi-22055ZU-MaT9NINsc6hLiZ6cBRut2CfqLSktTm3eL3lpL6LFSc0yZE5rykZczvjJ6mD97eFpY5hbVdTN3E166ChaLmelrNU0fIDAUElgarumaz4VRFavm0xxwRlZHSGxubRI12GJ8jXB27iktjbb9eNqrrty6KUDdv9uoZIgI4~TBmI~HxGpq80D-XXQSOPLEsX~Nc2rUE286fkXBa-VBOq-GSeXPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hunterdon Central board used a large portion of its June meeting to publicly recognize student and staff achievements across disciplines, then heard emotional public comment from a student asking the board to reverse a recent termination.

Recognitions

Administrators and department leaders called dozens of students and teams to the front of the meeting to receive the board’s biannual public recognitions. Honors included:

- Academic acceptances and awards (an acceptance to the Governor’s School of Engineering and Technology at Rutgers; multiple winners at the Warren County Young Writers Competition and the New Jersey Teen Arts Festival).
- Music and performing arts accolades, including selections to All‑State ensembles and state teen arts performances for choir and instrumentalists.
- Club and extracurricular successes: Chemistry Olympics team awards, a first‑ever STEM showcase hosted by the Science National Honor Society, Model UN premier delegate recognitions, and theatre troupe awards at regional festivals.
- Athletics highlights announced by Athletic Director Jesse Spencer: girls softball (Group 4 state champions), girls lacrosse sectional finishers, unified basketball state champions, cheerleading state titles, girls flag football undefeated regular season and sectional honors, and multiple track sectional champions.

Public appeal for teacher reinstatement

In the general resident forum, freshman Fiona Burchill called on the board to reconsider its decision to terminate George Wentz, identified in her remarks as her U.S. History I teacher. Burchill described classroom interactions that she said demonstrated Wentz’s care for students, including an instance when he repaired her backpack at no cost. She argued that teachers like Wentz provide important social and academic supports to freshmen and cited national statistics about undercertified or unfilled teacher positions to underline the difficulty of replacing experienced, caring educators.

Burchill asked the board to “respectfully reconsider the termination of Mr. Wentz’s employment.” The board did not announce a reversal during the meeting and moved to executive session to discuss personnel and HIB matters; no public action was announced afterward.

What happened next

The board adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel matters; the public portion ended with no immediate action reported on the request for reinstatement. The superintendent said HIB and suspension items would be discussed in closed session and will be reflected where appropriate in minutes or later board actions.

","The board recognized dozens of student achievements in academics, arts and athletics. During the final public forum a freshman, Fiona Burchill, asked the board to reconsider the termination of teacher George Wentz, describing his positive impact and citing teacher‑shortage statistics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public pushes back as board advances policy revisions on controversial issues, philosophy and religion

Hunterdon Central board approves annual organizational items, capital projects and personnel slate

Hundreds of Central students honored; freshman urges board to reinstate popular teacher