Development News for Berkeley, New Jersey

School Board Approves Gaggle Safety Management System Amidst Privacy Concerns

The Berkeley Heights Board of Education discussed and voted on the adoption of Gaggle Safety Management, a new student safety monitoring system, to replace the discontinued Securely Aware. Concerns were raised regarding student privacy, civil liberties, and the effectiveness of AI-based monitoring, as well as potential for false positives and increased contact with law enforcement. The administration emphasized that the system is a legal requirement in New Jersey for student safety, particularly for self-harm and threats, and that Gaggle provides 24/7 human review and escalation processes, distinguishing it from automated systems like Securely Aware. Despite reservations from some board members and a community member about privacy and lack of independent research, the board ultimately approved the adoption of Gaggle.