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Students urge board to keep interim assistant principal through school year; amendment to shorten term fails
Summary
Students and board members debated an amendment to shorten an interim assistant-principal appointment; student testimony in support of keeping the administrator for the full year factored into discussion and the amendment failed in roll-call vote.
A contested amendment to shorten the duration of an interim assistant-principal appointment drew extended testimony from students and a sharp budget-focused exchange among board members at the June 11 Berkeley Heights Board of Education meeting.
The personnel committee had proposed appointing an interim assistant principal beginning Aug. 27, 2026. Board discussion centered on a motion to amend that resolution so the appointment would run only from Aug. 27 through Dec. 31, 2026. Supporters of the amendment framed the change as a cost-management step while the district evaluates administrative staffing levels; opponents argued the amendment would create an unnecessary leadership gap.
Students addressed the board directly. Student liaison Howard Aerson told members he and many classmates value the current assistant principal, Dr. Jackson, for his visible presence in corridors and for listening to students. "He's very active. He roams around the halls," Aerson said, describing how Dr. Jackson checks in with students and helps de-escalate disciplinary situations. Another student, John Patty, told the board Dr. Jackson "is willing to hear other students out" and said the administrator's responsiveness matters for school climate.
Board members debated administrative-cost-per-pupil figures and budget trade-offs; several members said they have worked for months on administrative-cost reductions while acknowledging the personal support some staff provide to students. The motion to amend the appointment's duration went to a roll-call vote and did not pass (the board declined the amendment), so the original personnel resolution remained before the board for final action.
The exchange demonstrates two concurrent priorities for the board: fiscal restraint during a period of declining enrollment and the value students and staff place on experienced, present administrators. Administrators and board members said follow-up conversations about staffing and budget models will continue in committee and during summer planning.
The board later completed roll-call votes on the broader personnel slate; several members recorded no votes or abstentions on specific items as recorded in the meeting minutes.
