Schools
New Location For Central Regional Board Of Education Meeting
Thursday's meeting will be held in a different spot to accommodate the expected large turnout.
The meeting will still be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 16, but it will be in the High School Auditorium to accommodate the anticipated crowd, according to an update on the Central Regional website.
The district's response to a filmed attack on Kuch that lead to her taking her own life has sparked outrage within the community, who have been demanding change from school administrators.
This also lead to Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides' resignation over the weekend. Read more: Central Superintendent Resigns In Aftermath Of Student Death
Douglas Corbett, assistant superintendent, is acting superintendent effective immediately, the Board said. Protestors have also called for Corbett's resignation.
Students and parents alike have been protesting in the days since, while community members have been rallying around the Kuch family.
The Board also said that they asked the state Department of Education to conduct an independent assessment of the district's anti-bullying practices.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no agenda has been shared for Thursday's meeting.
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Schools
Ex-Central Super Still On Payroll After Bullying Scandal Resignation
At a lengthy school board meeting, it came out that the former superintendent was still being paid - raising concerns about his resignation.
BERKELEY, NJ — After controversy in the school district following the death of student Adriana Kuch, then-Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides resigned last Saturday.
But at Thursday's Board of Education meeting, residents brought that into question.
Late into the four-hour meeting, a concerned resident named Kia mentioned that the board had officially appointed Douglas Corbett as acting superintendent. However, there was no agenda item noting the acceptance of Parlapanides' resignation as there was for another employee, he pointed out.
He asked the board if this meant that taxpayers were now paying for double salaries.
And after a pause, Board Attorney Christopher Dasti answered yes - but could not discuss it any further as it was a personnel matter.
Kia asked about another item on the agenda approving an "administrative leave of absence" for an unnamed employee. He asked if this was Parlapanides.
Again, the board said that they could not discuss it as it was a personnel matter. This sparked outrage from the audience, who said they felt lied to.
That agenda item was approved by the board; however, board members Heather Koenig, Louis Tuminaro and Board President Denise Pavone-Wilson abstained on the vote. Two other board members were absent.
Questions about Parlapanides were raised by reporters in a press conference hosted by a public relations firm the district had hired prior to the meeting, particularly regarding comments he made to the press about Kuch's personal life and a comment made to News 12 saying that he did not want to "double whammy" a student by suspending them and charging them criminally.
But Corbett said he could not address anything regarding Parlapanides or about Kuch specifically, citing personnel issues again and an open investigation.
Schools
Long History Of Bullying At Central Regional, Students Say
Dozens of students and parents shared stories of bullying stretching back decades after a student was attacked in school and took her life.
BERKELEY, NJ — Slurs thrown in hallways, threatening social media posts and physical attacks.
Dozens of current and former Central Regional School District students and parents shared their stories of bullying at Thursday's Board of Education meeting, and according to them, it stretches back decades.
The four-hour meeting was the first since 14-year-old student Adriana Kuch was attacked in the high school's hallways, leading to her taking her own life.
A graduate of the class of 1979 and a current high school ninth grader said the same thing - there is a bullying problem in the district. And they say that administration does nothing to help.
Current eleventh grade student Milo Lugo was emotional sharing stories of being bullied in the district since the seventh grade.
"I've had people try to jump me because I'm gay," Lugo shared.
"I've just been told to ignore it, to be the bigger person, walk away," Lugo said. "I was never really given any genuine help."
That was echoed dozens of times throughout the evening, many speaking through tears.
Former student Sidney Mohel said that he was bullied by students and teachers, leading him to drop out of school.
Mohel said that he went to his guidance counselor seeking help, but was told "grow up, this is the real world."
"I've been out of the school district for two years," Mohel said. "And I've got to say, I've never met a single person who's ever treated me the way those people have."
Parents expressed a lack of faith in the administration and school board.
Bullying was also brought up with context of the board members. Two, Heather Koenig and Merissa Borawski, were under fire last year after sharing racist social media posts. Borawski was absent from Thursday's meeting. Read more: Racism Permeates Central Regional School Culture, Students Say
Joeshun Miller, whose daughter was targeted with racial slurs last year, said that it "shouldn't have gotten to this point."
"This administration is failing our students," father John Galifi said, adding that what they have done in response to Kuch's death was a "reactionary kneejerk" that was too late.
"These children don't feel safe coming to school," Galifi said.
Another former student, Emily Bush, punctuated her speech with "a big f--- you."
Speakers argued for change, and Acting Superintendent Douglas Corbett outlined some ideas the district wants to implement.
Prospective measures include establishing a steering committee of parents and more to evaluate the district's approach to bullying, an independent examination of the school's anti-bullying policies, guest speakers and student assemblies and more.
He also invited community input.
"We will not stand still," Corbett said.
But Corbett did not address Kuch's situation specifically, citing an open investigation. He did say he had not been in touch with the Kuch family.
He also denied there being a "culture of violence" in the district prior to the meeting.
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Adriana Kuch received no justice in life & is receiving no justice in death.
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