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Residents and parents press Berkeley Heights BOE to restore Prism club funding; board says formal proposal needed
Summary
Multiple residents and parents urged the Berkeley Heights Board of Education to approve funding and formal recognition for the Prism (GSA) club, calling it a needed safe space; board members said the district requires a formal adviser proposal and stipend review under the BHEA process before the board can vote.
Dozens of residents told the Berkeley Heights Board of Education at a special meeting that the district should reverse an earlier decision that blocked formal funding for the Prism club, a middle‑school group for LGBTQ+ students and allies.
“Prism is about belonging,” said a resident who identified as Rich of East Avenue, urging the board to pursue available Union County grants to support the club. Rachel Mehta, a parent, said the club “100% should happen” and pleaded with the board to approve funding so students “have a place to be safe and accepted” when school resumes. Dana Yellen told the board that blocking Prism was “an act of homophobia” and asked the board to reconsider.
Board member Mrs. Jolley said she heard the comments and read the district’s formal steps for establishing a new club: an adviser must submit a proposal describing the mission, estimated participation, meeting schedule and anticipated activities; the adviser and BHEA review the stipend; the superintendent reviews the proposal; and, if approved administratively, the item is brought to the board for consideration. The principal said that, in practice, clubs are vetted administratively and that the district can provide the underlying packet to the board for review before the next meeting.
Several public speakers disputed the board’s prior explanation for denying a stipend, saying a claim that the school psychologist needed to be consulted appeared to be a pretext. Adam Parowitz, who said he could not find attachments for item 5 on the district website, asked the board to make any ethics-related material public before voting and to disclose whether the board’s counsel had advised on legal risks.
The board president told the public Prism will be placed on the regular meeting agenda for further consideration. The administration offered to provide the club proposal packet to board members prior to that meeting so members can review the adviser, proposed stipend and any supporting documentation.
Next steps: the board said Prism and related stipend questions will be on the regular meeting agenda; the board asked administration to provide any proposal documents for review ahead of that meeting.
