On Tuesday, October 18, the Edison Board of Education held a public meeting at Edison High School. This meeting was to determine the passage of policy resolutions, details of several committee reports, and public opinion on affairs concerning the overall community’s residents.

At 7 p.m., members of the board began the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence dedicated to the sudden passing of Mr. Anthony White, who was a beloved teacher not only to JP Stevens but also to many other schools in the district. 

Later, Board President Doulas Schneider opened by commemorating the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act for creating transparency between the people and agencies of the state. The board then moved forward to the agenda’s resolutions, two of which are critical to the addressed changes in policy.

In its finance resolution, board members addressed the Solar Power Purchase Agreement, which will shift the township toward cleaner energy with the use of solar panels, while remaining as cost-efficient as possible. The finance resolution also addressed a problem that has persisted in the township for several years: overcrowding. With the School Facilities Project, the BOE plans to invest capital into renovation and construction, which will involve the addition of gymnasiums in Herbert Hoover Middle School and Thomas Jefferson Middle School. At JP, it is expected that there will be an additional 30 classrooms built to accommodate the growing population. Many students and staff believe that this addition will create an enhanced environment for learning by lowering the number of students in each classroom. Almost unanimously, these resolutions were passed by the BOE and will take effect immediately.

The meeting then transitioned to its committee reports, where the primary agenda items were discussed in further detail. As the Budget and Oversight Committee reported, their energy-saving agenda would allow for improved equipment in schools. This further supported the Solar Power Purchase Agreement and its plan to shift energy usage in education to solar. In the Township Liaison Committee’s findings, the members extensively discussed improvements to traffic in the district. In particular, they mentioned a letter sent to the Zoning Board regarding housing developments on 401 Division Street. The BOE strongly opposed this development, as it would be harmful to traffic in already crowded intersections near Edison Township Schools. With its letter of opposition, they were able to prevent this situation with relative decorum.

Afterward, the BOE welcomed senior Aditya Rawat, a student representative from JP. As the Student Council co-President, he had been invited to provide an open discussion on the school as a whole. While reporting on JP’s start to the school year, Aditya commended senior Marcella Iversen, a captain of the football team, for breaking gender barriers through her accomplishments and inspiring work ethic. He also expressed pride in JP for performing well in sports and music, and conveyed his enthusiasm for the year ahead.

The final segment of the meeting was allotted to receive and discuss public comments and prefacing this were reports of sexual harassment within the school district. Several students, chiefly from Edison High, came forward with their own experiences on this issue.

The Board of Education took time to hear out these comments and was very concerned by the cases of sexual assault. The following day, Superintendent Dr. Bernard Bragen Jr. issued a statement to the community about these behaviors and proclaimed that they will not be tolerated under any circumstance. In the same statement, he informed that the Board of Education will be forming a committee of students, staff, and parents to investigate the issue and what needs to be done to combat it effectively. 

In essence, the Board of Education attempted to address significant issues currently affecting the district. Through policy, they made progress toward a more responsible and green Edison while addressing public concerns in regard to overcrowding. After paying attention to concerns and statements made by the general public, the Board of Education also identified a new problem concerning sexual harassment and quickly formulated a plan to find solutions to it. The meeting addressed a plan of action the Board of Education will take, which comes with profound changes that will occur throughout the district in both communities and schools.