As we prepare for 2019, let’s take a look back at some of the top moments from this past year in our schools, in the community and in the borough.
Another year is coming to a close, and Berlin Borough residents have plenty to look back on from the municipal and school levels, as well as community events. New and continuing trends in local schools, as well as the evolving downtown area, dominated the headlines in 2018.
Let’s take a look back at some of the top moments from this past year:
Community presents ‘vote of no confidence’ to BOE
At a February Berlin Borough School District Board of Education meeting, parents presented a petition requesting that, through a “vote of no confidence,” the board terminate Superintendent Kristen Martello.
The petition received 180 signatures in one month, representing the equivalent of six families per day, according to petitioner presenter Jeff Greenberg, a Berlin resident and former educator.
The document outlined a series of incidents BCS had experienced over the previous few years, which petitioners attribute to Martello taking the job in February 2016.
From mold spores to cyber bullying, the petition said Martello, “failed to adequately address multiple issues concerning the health, safety and welfare of all students.”
The document urged the board of education to act immediately in removing Martello from her position.
Greenberg, who represented the 180 petitioners, submitted the proposal during the public portion of the board of education meeting.
“We have become extremely and increasingly alarmed at the lack of transparency and communication between this board and the superintendent’s office, as well as the families that sit behind me and at home,” Greenberg said. “We are disgusted with the actions of this board, which have seemingly pandered completely and entirely to the office of the superintendent instead of to the public that has elected them.”
In a call with The Sun following the meeting, Martello encouraged parents to contact her directly with any school-related issues, saying she is willing to listen and cooperate with them in finding solutions.
“I would welcome any community member who has any concerns regarding our district that they would reach out to me so that I would provide information to ease their concerns,” she said. “I encourage anyone who has any questions regarding the school that they contact me, so I can work with them. I can ensure that we have a wonderful, beautiful school here that is achieving.”
Martello continued to serve as Superintendent for Berlin Community Schools throughout 2018 and into 2019, however community pressure has continued.
Eastern Regional students walk out of mid-day classes to honor Parkland victims
Earlier this year on Wednesday, Feb. 17, Eastern Regional High School students walked out of their high school building in honor of the 17 lives taken during the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida.
The walkout, which lasted about 17 minutes, saw a turnout of about 100 to 200 students, according to Superintendent Dr. Harold Melleby, Jr.
“Students were well-organized and very orderly,” Melleby said. “They were voicing their concerns, which we understand. … They have the constitutional right to express their feelings, and we honor that.”
Eastern implements policy of ‘immediate notification’ to police
The school safety forum, whose panel included state Sen. James Beach and Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, was initiated in March in light of the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., as well as an alleged terroristic threat made upon Eastern Regional High School weeks prior.
As a result of the district’s lack of transparency, as described by parents, regarding the Feb. 15 arrest of an 18-year-old who allegedly threatened to “shoot up” the high school, the middle school auditorium was filled to capacity with community members demanding not only answers but solutions.
Along with Melleby and Principal Robert Tull, the panel included Voorhees Mayor Michael Mignogna, Committeewoman Michelle Nocito and Police Chief Louis Bordi.
“We’ve received feedback about gaps in public information from the schools, how we provide security and the process of investigating complaints,” Bordi said. “It’s important that you know we’ve been providing superior school security for many, many years. This comes from a shared vision, commitment, a partnership and careful planning.”
Before taking questions from the audience, police officers and members of the Eastern and Voorhees Township public schools administrations discussed new ways of security, investigation and counseling that are being implemented in local schools.
First, the Voorhees Township Police Department will have remote, or live, access to Eastern’s internal security cameras. Additionally, administration began conducting grade-level meetings to review safety procedures and had contacted the state Department of Education to initiate a review of the district’s safety and communication protocols. Parents suggested innovative forms of security, including a hotline, a reliable phone line that won’t crash in the event of an emergency that goes to the district and that parents can use to determine the status of their children, in case of emergencies and installing metal detectors at the front entrance of the building.
Board of education takes first steps in hiring SRO
In what was only the first step in the process during the year, the Berlin Borough School District’s Board of Education agreed to enter into a contract with the borough to jointly fund two school resource officers at Berlin Community School during a March meeting.
Following the initiation of the contract, the borough and police department were to select two individuals to serve as SROs at BCS. Superintendent Kristen Martello said she would also be involved with the final selection of the officers.
SRO SLEO III officers were to be retired officers under the age of 65. Along with receiving full training by the police department, they must also pass a psychological exam and cannot have been retired for more than three years.
Earlier in the evening, Sgt. T.J Varano and Chief Michael Miller gave a presentation on the necessity of SROs, outlining the police department’s school resource officer program.
Varano said the benefits of hiring an SRO include having a zero-minute response time to calls of service, possessing full police powers while on duty and having direct resources to school administrators and students. SROs also have lower costs than full-time officers. The lower salary stems from logistics such as not being eligible for health benefits.
“It’s a comforting presence to students and staff,” Varano said.
