Berkeley Heights teachers and the school district are headed to mediation in December after the teachers' union declared contract negotiations at an impasse.

Board President Deb Terrero announced the development at the Berkeley Heights Board of Education's Oct. 29 meeting, according to nj21st. The Berkeley Heights Education Association (BHEA) requested the mediation. Terrero noted that teachers are still being paid and remain governed by the prior contract while negotiations continue.

About 15 Berkeley Heights teachers attended the meeting, though none spoke during public comment.

One resident did address the contract talks, expressing appreciation for the district's teachers but noting that negotiations are conducted as a bloc by the BHEA. The resident suggested tying raises to performance evaluations so more effective teachers receive larger increases.

Board also restructures committees

The contract impasse was not the only significant action Oct. 29. The board voted to pass Policy 0155 on first reading, with all members present voting yes. The policy would consolidate nine standing committees down to six: Education, Finance, Governance, Mountainside, Personnel and Policy.

The restructuring drew pointed questions from board members and residents. Board President Terrero said the administration had requested the consolidation because topics were being discussed by multiple committees. She cited the example of a large budget item like a new press box being debated in both the Athletics/Co-Curricular committee and the Finance and Facilities meeting.

Dr. Tom Foregger raised concerns about renaming the Finance and Facilities committee to simply "Finance." Policy Committee Chair Pamela Stanley said the name was changed to align with the board agenda's section headings. Foregger said he would rather change the agenda heading than drop "facilities" from the committee name.

Board member Natasha Joly and Foregger also questioned the creation of a new Governance committee. Foregger said he was concerned that a committee aimed at governing the board might limit individual board members.

A resident echoed that worry during the closing public comment period, warning that removing the word "facilities" from the committee name could let that responsibility drift. Policy 0155 will return for a second reading at the next board meeting.

Mountainside seat vacant after Dillon resignation

Bill Dillon has resigned as the Mountainside representative on the Berkeley Heights board. A pre-meeting agenda review by nj21st noted that Dillon had said online he was stepping down. No replacement has been named.

To fill the committee gaps left by Dillon's departure, Javier Morales takes over as Athletics/Co-Curricular chair and as a Personnel representative. Foregger replaces Gale Bradford as Athletics/Co-Curricular alternate, and Stanley replaces Morales as Personnel alternate.

On the Berkeley Heights side, two board members' terms are ending with only one candidate on the ballot. Write-in candidate Angela Halverson attended the Oct. 29 meeting.

The board also approved extending the Interim Director of STEAM through March 2027 at $600 per day. That appointment had been set to end Dec. 23, 2026. The superintendent has recommended hiring a Supervisor of Math and a Supervisor of Science to replace the director position.

Families should watch for the Policy 0155 second reading and the BHEA mediation session, both expected before year's end.