Parent says settlement confirms earlier account of weapon and lockdown issues; urges board accountability

Jared Weisfeld, a Berkeley Heights resident, urged the Board of Education on Jan. 20 to act on a settlement that, he said, confirms his November 2022 account that a student brought a box cutter to school and that a lockdown drill failed. "The parties agree that plaintiff's description to the school board at an open meeting in November 2022 was not erroneous," Weisfeld said, reading from the agreement and describing the incident in detail, including written threats discovered on schoolwork.

The settlement language, read earlier in the meeting at counsel's recommendation, lists four central recommendations: retain an independent school-security expert to evaluate and recommend improvements to the district's security system; strengthen cooperation between county and local law enforcement and schools; review parental-notification requirements so that notices are "prompt and accurate" when threats are directed at students; and review procedures to prevent inappropriate disclosure of private emails or student information.

Board counsel read the provisions during the superintendent's report section, saying the items stem from a settlement previously discussed in closed session. Weisfeld told the board he had filed litigation against the district and the now-former superintendent to establish an accurate public record; he urged the board to "genuinely review the recommendations" and said "student safety must come first."

Superintendent Dr. Feltree confirmed the recommendations would be reviewed as public agenda items in future meetings. The board also discussed, earlier in the meeting, planned follow-up: the settlement's items will be listed as agenda items for future public review and progress reports, per the settlement language read aloud by counsel.

The public comment portion of the meeting included the same concerns raised by Weisfeld during both the agenda-specific public comment period and later in the general public comment period. Board members did not vote on any disciplinary or staffing actions during the meeting; the settlement wording noted that the board would disclose minutes of any prior executive-session discussion "when matters have been determined and confidentiality is no longer acceptable." The board closed public comment and continued with the rest of its agenda, including committee reports and routine resolutions.