Cherry Hill parents flooded a Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8, to protest CHSEPTA's removal from back-to-school nights.

At least 13 of the 19 residents who spoke during the second public comment period addressed the Cherry Hill School Employees Professional Teachers Association's (CHSEPTA) exclusion, according to meeting minutes. The three-hour meeting ran from 6:06 to 9:16 p.m. with all seven board members present.

Kim Friddel, Kim Gallagher and Jen Naddeo each questioned CHSEPTA's treatment "as a private PTA," the minutes show. David Rozinsky addressed both rising medical insurance costs and what the minutes describe as "the decision to remove CHSEPTA from back to school nights." Dr. Jeff Podawitz cited a 2007 report that included CHSEPTA.

CHSEPTA had already filed a formal grievance with the board on Sept. 2, addressed to Board President Gina Winters and Vice President Adam Greenbaum. The grievance protested what the organization called "Administrative Exclusion of CHSEPTA, Disparate Access," according to a Facebook post by CHSEPTA. The group said it had maintained a table at back-to-school nights for 12 years. The Cherry Hill High School East website describes CHSEPTA as an advisory council to the district under New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) requirements and a district-wide PTA for parents, caregivers and employees.

The board did not publicly respond to the comments during the meeting. The district's stated reason for removing CHSEPTA from back-to-school nights does not appear in the minutes.

The controversy is unfolding during an active school board election. Ann Einhorn, who spoke at the Sept. 8 meeting about CHSEPTA's presence at back-to-school nights, is one of eight candidates running for three board seats on Nov. 3. Steve Redfearn, who commented on health insurance premium increases at the same meeting, is also a candidate. Incumbents Renee Cherfane and Melissa Manzano, both present at the meeting, are seeking re-election, according to the Camden County candidate list.

Separately, the board unanimously approved two items on the consent agenda. A professional services agreement between the district and the Cooper Health System will provide services at Politz Day School, a Jewish day school on Cooper Landing Road in Cherry Hill. Winters made the motion, seconded by Manzano. The board also accepted the fiscal year 2027 Teach STEM Classes in Nonpublic Schools Grant, a state program that funds qualified STEM teachers at nonpublic schools. Greenbaum made that motion, seconded by board member Bridget Palmer.

All four consent agenda blocks passed 7-0.

A Board of Education candidates forum hosted by the Cherry Hill Zone PTA is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Cherry Hill High School West auditorium. The League of Women Voters will moderate, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. It will be the first in-person forum since the pandemic.