School Board Chooses New Brookdale Principal

Joe Fleres, a former Demarest Elementary teacher from 2003-2011 and a principal in the Prospect Park school district, was announced as the new principal for the Brookdale School.

Fleres was announced by Bloomfield Superintendent Jason Bing at Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting. 

“We ran a successful candidate screening over the last two to three weeks and we think we came up with an absolutely great candidate, a great leader, to lead this school into the 21st Century,” said Bing.

Fleres then approached the podium in the Bloomfield High School Media Center.

“I would like to thank the selection committee and the Board of Education for the opportunity to become the Principal of Brookdale School,” he said.  “I’m extremely excited to meet the students, the staff and parents of the Brookdale family.  I’m also very eager to continue Brookdale’s drive for excellence.  I look forward to the start of the school year and to hit the ground running.”

Fleres' appointment came about after a decision to transfer Berkeley School Principal Dr. Heather Carr to Brookdale School was reversed last June.  A group of distraught Berkeley parents protested the transfer at the last BOE meeting of the school year, prompting Bing to reverse his decision.

Other business:

Starting in September, all Board of Education meetings will be held at 6:30 pm, with the public session beginning at 7:30 pm, BOE President Mary Shaughnessy announced.

The decision to change the format was in response to complaints about the meetings ending too late during the school year.  Previously, closed-door executive sessions, though required by law to take place after the start of the regular meeting, often caused significant delays of the proceedings.  

On behalf of the board, Shaughnessy said she hoped the new format would make it easier for members of the public, especially students and parents, to attend meetings.

“Now, having Executive Session first will allow people to go home, have dinner with their families and know with certainty the meeting will begin at 7:30,” said BOE Attorney Nicholas Dotoli. 

In keeping with the effort to streamline the meetings, a new “timing device” was introduced, in the form of a prominent black clock with large, bright green numerals. Shaughnessy said it was meant to encourage speakers during the public session to hold fast to the five-minute time limit in making their remarks.

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