From Middletown Patch:
Candidates night kicks off 7 p.m. at Harmony School
Want to learn more about the 10 candidates running for three Middletown Board of Education seats?
Here's your chance—a candidates night will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Harmony School’s all-purpose room, 100 Murphy Rd.
Sponsored by the Harmony School's PTO and the League of Women Voters of Greater Red Bank Area, residents will have the opportunity to meet and question the candidates up for a three-year board term.
The candidates are: Christopher J. Aveta, Bob Banta, John Bennett, Jr., Vincent S. Brand, Richard G. Campbell, Michael Craig, Rocco DelGuercio, Michael Donlon, Anastasia Millicker, and Michael J. Ostrander Jr.
7 comments:
Voters should not forget the current board members that voted not to renew the principal at Harmony School.
They do not deserve to be re-elected. If they can't recognize quality educators, why are they on this board?
Anon 12:28
Name them please so we know who they are
I believe the board members to vote not to renew Mr. Paulson's contract are Chris Aveta, John Bennett, Leonora Caminiti, Sue Griffin, and Joan Minnuies. Some of these members are not up for re-election this year, but those that are need to go.
Not only did they try to fire a principal against the recommendation of the super, they refused to hire many of his recommendations before and since.
Let's not forget why they changed their minds about the Harmony School principal. He had the support of the teachers in his school, students, parents and most importantly the superintendent.
This wasn't a decision that these five all came upon on their own. They decided a long time ago that they would vote to support each other's vendettas and agendas and that they would vote as a block. They could be the superintendent as long as they all supported each other.
With nine members on the board these five have the controlling majority. No agenda item is going to pass without their approval. The other four board member's votes are insignificant.
So what happened? Why did they suddenly vote to rehire the principal? One of them blinked. He was afraid that they had finally stepped over the line and had done something the parents would remember on election day so he turned on the other four and voted to return to closed session to reconsider the vote. I have no way of knowing what was said in closed session. All he had to do was change his vote and the principal would have had the five votes needed to keep his job. So why did all five of them change their votes? Just moments before the other four rejected the thought of returning to even reconsider the issue.
Needless to say their votes never did have anything to do with your kids education. They didn't have a collective epiphany and decide to vote their consciences. The vote was no longer about the principal's job, it was about their job. They didn't change their votes so that the principal would be rehired, they changed their votes because they were afraid they wouldn't be rehired. The rats all jumped off the sinking ship.
Where did your kids figure into their vote? Nowhere.
The same five have since refused to hire an athletic director who was subbing in the district and was chosen from 1,000 candidates. He handed in his letter of resignation the next day.
They refused to hire an assistant principal, an elementary teacher and on and on. Again, it is these same five people voting together.
They are playing with people's lives and careers like they are pawns in a board game. These candidates have earned the jobs they are recommended for. Not only have they survived multiple interviews and beaten out many competitors, many of them have subbed in the district and have proven to be excellent at what they do. Prospective teachers must prepare a lesson plan and teach it to the interview committee. Everyone loses when the best candidates are rejected, but it must be especially heartbreaking when the candidate realizes that they deserve the job but they are a victim five individuals who don't deserve to be on the board.
We can fix this. Vote 1,2,4.
Isn't it a shame when the lives of our children are entrusted to such people of poor character and integrity?
Remember when we had BOE members whose sole agenda was our kids, not political hacks like Aveta and Bennett ( isn't his father, John Bennett,chair of the Monmouth County Republican party? ) If it smells rotten. it is rotten !
Maybe the state legislature should support legislation that makes certain educational and character requirements mandatory for ANYONE serving on a BOE. That would disqualify the political wannabees whose only motivation is politics.
Our children are at the mercy of this kind of political scum. Our children are the pawns of these creeps !! And never forget that Middletown's TC backed the very people that are that voting block discussed here, and some of the blame also rests there with the TC.
Remember when you vote for TC positions also to choose carefully because the politics runs deep and dirty in the backrooms of Middletown republican politics!!!
This is all about the control of the money...in our schools.in our library,in the TOMSA, everywhere and before you pull any lever, REMEMBER WHAT and WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR.
The time has come for honesty and integrity and that is absent in government in this town today !!!
Anon 12:18
To answer your question - No, John Bennett's father is NOT Monmouth County GOP Chairman, John Bennett.
Thanks Mike. I stand corrected.
The rest of my sentiments remain the same and feel sorry for the kids in this town today.
My own kids got a decent education in this town when the BOE was comprised of intelligent individuals of character who cared about the education our kids.
Politics in Middletown is a sorry, sick situation currently and it has been now for quite a few years.
Can only pray voter apathy does not allow it to continue.
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