Parents and educators criticize board after abrupt decision on longtime girls soccer coach

The Berkeley Heights Board of Education faced sustained public criticism over what residents described as an abrupt removal of the girls head soccer coach after a board meeting Tuesday evening.

Acting Superintendent Mr Nixon told the board that personnel and athletics committees have been meeting and that the administration has heard community feedback, but he did not announce a personnel outcome in public. Residents and a union representative said the coach — identified in public comments as having 21 years of service — was informed he would not return and that there was no prior notice or an improvement plan.

Glenn Robertson, a Union County educator and union representative, urged the board to follow statutory procedures and its own code of ethics when making personnel decisions. "When a board of education wants to make personnel changes to their staff they must act on the advice of their superintendent," Robertson said, adding that the coaching community is watching the district’s process.

Multiple parents and players urged the board to reconsider or to provide a fuller explanation. Kristen Jabowski said she was upset that the timing — shortly before preseason — left students and families uncertain. "The soccer preseason starts in about six weeks," she said. "This was a horrible time, not only for the coach but for my daughter and her team."

Other speakers described the coach as a longtime, dedicated presence. "He's had over 20 years of dedication," said Mike Simon, a Berkeley Heights resident. "There’s been no transparency and no information about whether he's going to coach again." Several speakers asked the board to review emails and communications the administration has received before finalizing personnel actions.

Board members and the superintendent told the public that some related personnel discussion had occurred in executive session and that any minutes or further details would be disclosed when confidentiality no longer applies. The transcript contains references to a prior vote on the coaching position that occurred on June 10; public commenters framed that earlier vote as the decisive action, but the public portion of Tuesday's meeting made no new personnel motion or public vote concerning the coach.

The board did not take further public action on the coaching position at Tuesday’s meeting. Several residents asked the board to provide greater transparency about the process and to communicate next steps for teams and families as preseason approaches.