North Bergen Board of Education - Quid Pro Quo
Dear North Bergen Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-5(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
What promotions are taking place at the NB Board of Education this year? What supervisor, vice principal, and principal positions are available to apply for?
What are the credentials needed for receiving a promotion to all of these positions mentioned, especially that of vice principal and principal, at the North Bergen Board of Education?
Is there an application that is sent out by the Board of Education to promote someone from teacher to administrator, for example, and have all those applications been sent out yet?
What is the North Bergen Board of Education’s policy on nepotism?
I have been informed that there will be a promotion to Vice Principal and the teacher for this position has been selected for quite some time already (even though applications for this position have just recently been sent out, to give the false impression that there is a fair selection process). I am told that this teacher receiving the promotion has been romantically involved with a married high up administrator for many years and this is why she has been awarded this promotion.
If the district allows a compromised hiring process to proceed, it opens the door to lawsuits from passed-over, qualified candidates. An anonymous tip perhaps to the state’s School Ethics Commission usually triggers an internal investigation. If the allegations are proven true, it typically results in forced resignations, stripped certifications, and the immediate pulling of the promotion.
I’m told that there are various texts and photos confirming these allegations specifically of one time in Asbury Park.
When a higher up of this level has been romantically involved with an “applicant”, it is a flagrant conflict of interest. Under state educational ethics laws, he is strictly prohibited from participating in any personnel matter, evaluation, or promotion where they have a personal relationship that creates "a justifiable impression that the public trust may be violated."
This is all very unsettling to think that this type of conduct is common practice at the North Bergen Board of Education-Quid Pro Quo for perks and promotions.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
More to come
Dear Jay:
The Township of North Bergen (the “Township”) received your request dated 05/28/2026 under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”), N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq.
You requested:
1. What promotions are taking place at the NB Board of Education this year? What supervisor, vice principal, and principal positions are available to apply for?
Township Response: Please be advised there are no government records responsive.
2. What are the credentials needed for receiving a promotion to all of these positions mentioned, especially that of vice principal and principal, at the North Bergen Board of Education?
Township Response: Please be advised there are no government records responsive.
3. Is there an application that is sent out by the Board of Education to promote someone from teacher to administrator, for example, and have all those applications been sent out yet?
Township Response: Please be advised there are no government records responsive.
4. What is the North Bergen Board of Education’s policy on nepotism?
Township Response: Please be advised there are no government records responsive.
5. I have been informed that there will be a promotion to Vice Principal and the teacher for this position has been selected for quite some time already (even though applications for this position have just recently been sent out, to give the false impression that there is a fair selection process). I am told that this teacher receiving the promotion has been romantically involved with a married high up administrator for many years and this is why she has been awarded this promotion.
Township Response: Your request fails to identify a specific government record sought. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or questions are not valid OPRA requests, as no government record has been identified and no response is required. See MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005).
6. If the district allows a compromised hiring process to proceed, it opens the door to lawsuits from passed-over, qualified candidates. An anonymous tip perhaps to the state’s School Ethics Commission usually triggers an internal investigation. If the allegations are proven true, it typically results in forced resignations, stripped certifications, and the immediate pulling of the promotion.
I’m told that there are various texts and photos confirming these allegations specifically of one time in Asbury Park.
Township Response: Your request fails to identify a specific government record sought. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or questions are not valid OPRA requests, as no government record has been identified and no response is required. See MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005).
7. When a higher up of this level has been romantically involved with an “applicant”, it is a flagrant conflict of interest. Under state educational ethics laws, he is strictly prohibited from participating in any personnel matter, evaluation, or promotion where they have a personal relationship that creates "a justifiable impression that the public trust may be violated."
Township Response: Your request fails to identify a specific government record sought. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or questions are not valid OPRA requests, as no government record has been identified and no response is required. See MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005).
8. This is all very unsettling to think that this type of conduct is common practice at the North Bergen Board of Education-Quid Pro Quo for perks and promotions.
Township Response: Your request fails to identify a specific government record sought. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A5(g), requests for information, ambiguous statements, or questions are not valid OPRA requests, as no government record has been identified and no response is required. See MAG Entertainment, LLC v. Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super. 534 (App. Div. 2005); Bent v. Stafford Police Dept., 381 N.J. Super. 30 (App. Div. 2005).
As with any OPRA request, you have the right to challenge the decision by the Township in regards to your request. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. You may contact the GRC by toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at PO Box 819, Trenton, NJ 08625, by e-mail at [email address] or at their web site at https://www.nj.gov/grc. The GRC can also answer other questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in the County in which you reside.
Thank you.
Erin Barillas, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of North Bergen
4233 Kennedy Blvd
North Bergen, NJ 07047
e: [North Bergen Township request email]
o: 201-392-2024
f: 201-330-7694
www.northbergen.org