Bernards Township Board of Education: Shaping Education in a Thriving Community
The Bernards Township Board of Education plays a vital role in overseeing the educational landscape of Bernards Township School District. This article delves into the board's responsibilities, its composition, the district's performance, and notable events that have shaped its history.
The Role and Responsibilities of the Board of Education
The Bernards Township Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Bernards Township School District. The board's primary function is to set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election.
Composition and Election
The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. This structure ensures that the board remains responsive to the community's needs and priorities.
In a recent election, according to Somerset County, Adam Lefkowitz, Smrithi Mohan, and Keith Molinari are leading over Faisal Anwar Chaudhry. Here are the results for the Bernards Township Board of Education (denotes incumbent). According to Somerset County, 100 percent of the districts have reported in. But candidates can choose a slogan to appear with their name on the ballot. Adam Lefkowitz (Pragmatic, Open-Minded, Independent) - 5,243 Smrithi Mohan (Pragmatic, Open-Minded, Independent) - 5,172 Keith Molinari (For Bernards Education)* - 4,996 Faisal Anwar Chaudhry (An Independent Voice) - 3,993
Bernards Township School District: An Overview
The Bernards Township School District is committed to providing a high-quality education to its students. The district encompasses several schools, including:
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- Cedar Hill Elementary School
- Liberty Corner Elementary School
- Mount Prospect Elementary School
- Oak Street Elementary School
- William Annin Middle School
- Ridge High School
Academic Excellence and Recognition
The Bernards Township School District has received national recognition for its commitment to academic excellence. Several schools within the district have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools, a testament to their high standards and dedication to student achievement.
- 2009 Blue Ribbon Schools: All Public and Private Schools, United States Department of Education.
- Blue Ribbon Schools Program Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002, United States Department of Education.
- 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, United States Department of Education.
- 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Private, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program.
- "These 9 NJ schools were named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools", Courier News, September 19, 2023.
William Annin Middle School was also named a New Jersey School to Watch.
Financial Management
The Bernards Township School District is committed to responsible financial management. Data from the NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending provides insights into the district's expenditures:
- Total Spending: $17,357,34
- Budgetary Cost: 13,89739
- Classroom Instruction: 8,33134
- Support Services: 2,27950
- Administrative Cost: 1,19613
- Operations & Maintenance: 1,77665
- Extracurricular Activities: 31777
- Median Teacher Salary: 62,38036
District Factor Group
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "J", the highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts.
Notable Events
The Bernards Township School District has experienced notable events that have shaped its history. One such event was the case of Paula Grossman, a music teacher who was dismissed from a teaching position at one of the district's elementary schools after her sex reassignment surgery in 1971. She rejected an offer from the district under which she would give up her tenure and transfer to the high school, where the courses she would be allowed to teach would be limited. After she was fired, she sued the school district on the basis of sex discrimination. Her lawsuit, Grossman v. William Annin Middle School
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