Bernards Township Parents Step Up To Support Schools After Budget Cuts

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A group of parents is taking action to support students with the formation of the Bernards Township Educational Foundation (BTEF).

The new community foundation was started by a team of parents “to strengthen and enrich the education experience of all Bernards students by funding innovative programs and equitable opportunities through strong partnerships with families, educators, and the broader community.”

"The idea for the Foundation came just bubbling up because of all the budgeting cuts and teacher cuts and the programming cuts that came along with it at the end of last school year," said Suniti Patel to Patch, who was among the parents to help start the foundation. "At that point, every parent that we spoke to wanted to do something to help our kids and students were speaking up at the [Board of Education] meetings. They were really voicing their discontent over the budget cuts and their favorite teachers leaving. Parents were upset."

In May, Bernards Township BOE approved a budget with a tax levy increase of 3.97 percent, which also included cutting 28 school staff positions and program reductions.

Concerned parents spoke with Superintendent Nick Markarian to see how they can help. He suggested starting the foundation.

The parents began researching this option to learn that there are more than 70 educational foundations in New Jersey alone.

"We were lucky to be surrounded with like-minded parents, who just wanted to help out. We wanted to help teachers stay motivated through this time and come up with exciting new ways to engage their kids and for the kids to be excited that there's a possibility of cool new things coming our way, to stay excited, to just have joy in learning," said Patel.

While the Foundation will help support the district, it does not take on the responsibilities of the district. The BOE will still be responsible for teacher salaries and programming.

"As much as we wish we could, we cannot pay teacher salaries. But other districts have done things like [sponsor a] residency from the New Jersey Symphony for a prolonged period of time to supplement strings instruction,” said Patel.

What the foundation hopes to be able to do is to provide programs that enrich the curriculum.

Teachers or administrators could request grants that would go through the foundation and they would provide the funding for those requests.

"There are different ways and many more innovative ways that the foundation can help, and it's really up to the teachers and our administrators to think about what is in line with our curriculum that we can request from the BTEF. What can we request that enriches our curriculum?" said Patel.

"It's become this idea of being able, regardless of what happens with state funding, federal funding budgets being cut, that the district and the schools will always have a consistent resource that teachers can tap into to do something creative and exciting and to keep learning like new and fresh for the kids in the community," said Esther Kau, who was also among the parents to help start the foundation.

The BTEF is currently working towards 501(c)(3) status and is seeking volunteers and community support. The BTEF also plans to maintain a strong social media presence and engage with the community to ensure consistent funding for educational initiatives.

Most recently, the BOE approved a resolution at its Aug. 25 meeting recognizing the BTEF as an independent, not-for-profit entity dedicated to enriching the education experience of the students in the Bernards Township School District.

"The Board of Education acknowledges the valuable role that an educational foundation can play in supporting the school district's mission and educational goals. The Bernards Township Education Foundation will work in collaboration with the District to identify ways to supplement district programs and initiatives that benefit students," according to the resolution. "The Bernards Township Education Foundation shall remain a separate legal entity, and the District shall not be liable for the obligations of the Foundation."

For more information on the BTEF or to become involved, visit bernardstef.org or follow instagram.com/bernards_education_foundation or facebook.com or linkedin.com/in/bernards-education-foundation.

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