We're Closely Following the Marlboro Township Board of Education
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NEW May 7, 2024 - Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - More to come soon! click here.
Last night's Marlboro Board meeting left the 'Cracked Board' speechless—and trust us, that's a rarity 🤯. We're still shaking our heads in disbelief 😒. Brace yourselves for our next UPDATE, but for now, we’ll let this absurdity marinate a bit longer 🍿. Stay tuned—and keep your popcorn ready!
April 30, 2024 - In case you want to watch the craziness - click here
🎉 Now for the April 30th edition of the Marlboro “Cracked Board” 🎉
🎉 Now for the April 30th edition of the Marlboro “Cracked Board” 🎉Our especially non-special workshop meeting kicked off when the YMCA strutted in👟, all confidence, boasting about its before and after-school program like they were the only game🎮 in town. A YMCA seasoned pro talked up curriculum📚, homework help📝, and even threw in some snack time🍎🥪 for good measure. The "Y" made sure everyone knew they took safety seriously🔐, with background checks, fingerprinting, and tech-savvy check-in systems🖥️. And let's not forget the promised smooth transition plan📈, like they've done it a million times before (which they probably have). Questions were quelled🤐, concerns conquered🛡️, and costs casually cleared up with a bold, "we're competitive, don't worry about it." But costs aren’t final. But they are final. Confusion abounds!🌀 Well, parents, we’ll have to wait until the menu is finalized📋. They even threw in a tidbit about their partnership with Positive Pathways, making it clear they've got all bases covered, including SEL🧠. Are they working with the Marlboro Educational Foundation on that one? Oh, boy🤦♂️. The presentation ended on a high note🎶, reminding everyone YMCA is not just here for the kids, but for the whole darn community👨👩👧👦. Talk about confidence💪! Then came public comments - round one🎤. Our first speaker got his feathers ruffled🐦 about the state of education in Marlboro Township! Engaged in a fiery speech🔥, one community member fomented about an apparent lack of focus on academic success🎓. He's all about cutting the nonsense and getting down to business💼, demanding that the Board stop with the political circus🎪 and start prioritizing what really matters: the kids' education. With all the subtlety of a bulldozer, he calls out the Board for their lackluster performance and demands they whip the district into shape, pronto. And just in case they missed the memo📜, he throws in a snide remark about preferring education over litigation. Ouch! What a poet though! 🎤🔥 Then came Committee Reports - highlights below📄! One Board member who boasts more degrees🎓 and educational experience than the entire board and administration combined (that’s not saying much for them as a Board!) acknowledged the obvious decline in academic performance📉. What else will it take to pierce through this board's thick layer of complacency😴? Let's hope they pull those scores out of the suburban gutter. Next up the safety and security discussion🔒! They had a riveting chat about staff training👨🏫, making sure everyone knows the drill. After throwing in a round of applause👏 for the Marlboro Township Police Department🚓, they introduced the new security superhero🦸♂️ on the block, ready to swoop in and save the day when security monitors call in sick. In another edge of your seat committee report🛋️, the folks over at the Freehold Regional High School District are getting all hot and bothered🌡️ about budget💸. Seems like the FRHSD Board is in a bind, way behind and willing to make a deal. But that deal might include staff cuts✂️, parents paying for extracurricular activity💰 and staggered start times⏱️. Shout out to the community to call your reps to pump up the funding💪, because the misers in Trenton need to loosen the purse strings so we can teach our kids how to earn a living💼 so they can pay their school tax bill🧾. Now for Old Business... Mrs. Gandhi spoke up with all the flair of a seasoned politician🎩, proposing a motion that's as bold as her fashion choices👗. She's demanding accountability🔍, calling for a thorough review of how the district and the Board handled the recent scandal📰. With a flick of her metaphorical wand🪄, she aims to overhaul crisis management, increase transparency🔎, and bolster community support👏. Her motion reads like a manifesto for change for the greater good, promising to unearth the truth and drag it kicking and screaming into the light💡. And let's not forget her commitment to ethics – it's like a breath of fresh air in a room full of stale bureaucracy🌬️. Since some members of the board are clamoring for more details and maybe a little extra time to digest it all⏳, Gandhi agrees to a pause to give them time to catch up to her brilliance💡, even though - side note here - this was the second reading of Gandhi’s motion, and when the slow readers propose motions on the fly, they expect immediate support and cry about making mountains out of mole hills🏔️. Let's hope three’s the charm and the Board can keep up with Mrs. Gandhi's vision, or at least find a way to stay out of her path to enlightenment🛤️. CUE the peacock 🦚 showing off his feathers... Mr. Patruno drops another bombshell motion💣: let’s SUE the former counsel for malpractice, because one thing Marlboro Township School District lacks is enough litigation⚖️! Mrs. Bellomo predictably jumps on the bandwagon and agrees with her compatriot, seconding the manifesto with gusto. Then begins the classic board dance: should they hash it out in an executive session or air their legal laundry in public👔📢? Patruno’s itching to get on with it. (What’s the hurry the election isn’t for six months!) Interestingly, Mrs. Bellomo isn’t so supportive and wants to chew it over a bit more. Really chomp on it🍔. So with the support and guidance of the boards new temporary legal operative, the board settles on finishing their other agenda items before diving into the debate behind closed doors🚪. Spoiler alert: When they came back from Executive Session - there was NO vote. Hey Mr. Patruno - what happened??? Can you tell or do we have to wait till the next meeting or never🕵️♂️? 🎉 And just what you are all waiting for … on to NEW business. 💼 Enter Mr. Lilonsky, who, with copies at the ready, presents a meticulous plan to terminate the endless communication mishaps bedeviling the board. His grand design? Copy the bigwigs on every email to the school (can you say common sense?). Urgent matters will get the red-carpet treatment🔴, while the rest will languish in the purgatory of "green notes" until the next snooze fest... I mean, meeting. But wait, there's more! Some folks can't resist poking holes in Mr. Lilonsky's life raft, questioning why we're reinventing the wheel instead of just greasing it🎡. Meanwhile, Mr. Lilonsky, our knight in shining armor, clings to his noble quest for a concrete plan🏰. Suggestions fly like confetti🎊, including adding arbitrary time frames and linking this whole charade to another motion that's probably as thrilling as watching paint dry🖌️. Buckle up for another roller coaster ride through the tangled web of miscommunication and why the Lilonsky motion matters... 🎢 Here comes the third installment of the letter and who saw it when. First up, we've got Mrs. Bellomo and Mr. Patruno painting a vivid picture of the timeline, but - hold onto your hats - because Ms. Mendez is still not quite clear on what went down with Mrs. McCormack on Monday. At the last minute, Mrs. Gandhi swoops in to grill Mrs. McCormack, who will surely need aloe and an ice bath after that grilling🔥❄️. Cue the confusion! Mrs. McCormack steps into the spotlight, shedding light on her phone call revelation to Mr. Ballone about an impending parent rally📢. But wait, was it a parent rally or just some upset parents? The terminology matters, apparently🤔. Then we dive into the riveting saga of who-said-what-to-whom. Mrs. Mendez is adamant that she didn't know diddly squat about the infamous letter, despite a few hints dropped her way. Come on, Ms. Mendez, connect the dots🕵️♀️! But hold the phone, folks📞! Mr. Ballone swoops in to save the day, revealing that he did, in fact, spread the news like wildfire to various board members. Cue the collective gasp👥! But wait, there's more! Mrs. Bellomo drops the bombshell that she's been stewing over this "who knew what" debacle and isn't too thrilled about feeling like she was deliberately misled🤐. Cut to Mr. Lilonsky again, opining that his motion will fix what ails the board. Finally, after much debate, confusion, and a fair share of finger-pointing, Mr. Lilonsky’s motion passes! Cue the applause and a collective sigh of relief... until the next episode of "Boardroom Shenanigans" rolls around👏. Is your head spinning yet from all this back and forth🌀? And finally, Mr. Hyett proposes not to propose a motion on policy, because “we clearly haven’t moved past a few things.” I guess that will sit in everyone’s inbox another week📥. Phew. Time now for the riveting recap of the second round of public comment speakers. Get your 🍿 ready because we've got drama, accusations, and a dash of retirement well-wishing🎉. The first speaker took the stage like a seasoned prosecutor👨⚖️, grilling Mrs. Mendez and Mr. Ballone. He didn't hold back, wondering aloud why Mrs. Mendez didn't even bother glancing at the letter, especially when the community was on the verge of a meltdown. His tone dripped with sarcasm, almost as if he couldn't believe they let such an important document gather virtual dust in anyone’s inbox, much less a volunteer board member with a full-time job. Not so for Mr. Ballone, whose inbox management skills didn't escape the speaker's eagle-eyed scrutiny👀, especially since he draws a salary. Point taken. It was a bold move, calling out these slip-ups with the finesse of a reality TV judge on a witch-hunt🧙♂️. Speaker #2 waltzed in with a reality check🕺, pointing out that the real issues are getting buried under this mountain of petty squabbling🏔️. She made a valid point about focusing on important matters like education instead of playing the blame game. Sounds like speaker #2 is all for the Gandhi motion ... " ... when something happens or a mistake was made or [a] big issue arises you have an internal postmortem you figure it out what happened and you provide a plan going forward for if something happens again ..." The final speaker sauntered into the discussion like a wise sage🧙♂️, armed with the kind of practical wisdom you only get from years of dealing with other people's messes. He didn't mince words, pointing out the glaring absence of a basic crisis management plan like a seasoned captain lamenting the lack of lifeboats on a sinking ship🚢. His remarks included reminding the board that it's time to put down the blame game manual and pick up the manual on how to get things done📗.' Well, there you have it! Another riveting episode in the saga of boardroom antics. Tune in next time for more thrilling twists and turns🌀🎭.
🎉 Now for the April 30th edition of the Marlboro “Cracked Board” 🎉Our especially non-special workshop meeting kicked off when the YMCA strutted in👟, all confidence, boasting about its before and after-school program like they were the only game🎮 in town. A YMCA seasoned pro talked up curriculum📚, homework help📝, and even threw in some snack time🍎🥪 for good measure. The "Y" made sure everyone knew they took safety seriously🔐, with background checks, fingerprinting, and tech-savvy check-in systems🖥️. And let's not forget the promised smooth transition plan📈, like they've done it a million times before (which they probably have). Questions were quelled🤐, concerns conquered🛡️, and costs casually cleared up with a bold, "we're competitive, don't worry about it." But costs aren’t final. But they are final. Confusion abounds!🌀 Well, parents, we’ll have to wait until the menu is finalized📋. They even threw in a tidbit about their partnership with Positive Pathways, making it clear they've got all bases covered, including SEL🧠. Are they working with the Marlboro Educational Foundation on that one? Oh, boy🤦♂️. The presentation ended on a high note🎶, reminding everyone YMCA is not just here for the kids, but for the whole darn community👨👩👧👦. Talk about confidence💪! Then came public comments - round one🎤. Our first speaker got his feathers ruffled🐦 about the state of education in Marlboro Township! Engaged in a fiery speech🔥, one community member fomented about an apparent lack of focus on academic success🎓. He's all about cutting the nonsense and getting down to business💼, demanding that the Board stop with the political circus🎪 and start prioritizing what really matters: the kids' education. With all the subtlety of a bulldozer, he calls out the Board for their lackluster performance and demands they whip the district into shape, pronto. And just in case they missed the memo📜, he throws in a snide remark about preferring education over litigation. Ouch! What a poet though! 🎤🔥 Then came Committee Reports - highlights below📄! One Board member who boasts more degrees🎓 and educational experience than the entire board and administration combined (that’s not saying much for them as a Board!) acknowledged the obvious decline in academic performance📉. What else will it take to pierce through this board's thick layer of complacency😴? Let's hope they pull those scores out of the suburban gutter. Next up the safety and security discussion🔒! They had a riveting chat about staff training👨🏫, making sure everyone knows the drill. After throwing in a round of applause👏 for the Marlboro Township Police Department🚓, they introduced the new security superhero🦸♂️ on the block, ready to swoop in and save the day when security monitors call in sick. In another edge of your seat committee report🛋️, the folks over at the Freehold Regional High School District are getting all hot and bothered🌡️ about budget💸. Seems like the FRHSD Board is in a bind, way behind and willing to make a deal. But that deal might include staff cuts✂️, parents paying for extracurricular activity💰 and staggered start times⏱️. Shout out to the community to call your reps to pump up the funding💪, because the misers in Trenton need to loosen the purse strings so we can teach our kids how to earn a living💼 so they can pay their school tax bill🧾. Now for Old Business... Mrs. Gandhi spoke up with all the flair of a seasoned politician🎩, proposing a motion that's as bold as her fashion choices👗. She's demanding accountability🔍, calling for a thorough review of how the district and the Board handled the recent scandal📰. With a flick of her metaphorical wand🪄, she aims to overhaul crisis management, increase transparency🔎, and bolster community support👏. Her motion reads like a manifesto for change for the greater good, promising to unearth the truth and drag it kicking and screaming into the light💡. And let's not forget her commitment to ethics – it's like a breath of fresh air in a room full of stale bureaucracy🌬️. Since some members of the board are clamoring for more details and maybe a little extra time to digest it all⏳, Gandhi agrees to a pause to give them time to catch up to her brilliance💡, even though - side note here - this was the second reading of Gandhi’s motion, and when the slow readers propose motions on the fly, they expect immediate support and cry about making mountains out of mole hills🏔️. Let's hope three’s the charm and the Board can keep up with Mrs. Gandhi's vision, or at least find a way to stay out of her path to enlightenment🛤️. CUE the peacock 🦚 showing off his feathers... Mr. Patruno drops another bombshell motion💣: let’s SUE the former counsel for malpractice, because one thing Marlboro Township School District lacks is enough litigation⚖️! Mrs. Bellomo predictably jumps on the bandwagon and agrees with her compatriot, seconding the manifesto with gusto. Then begins the classic board dance: should they hash it out in an executive session or air their legal laundry in public👔📢? Patruno’s itching to get on with it. (What’s the hurry the election isn’t for six months!) Interestingly, Mrs. Bellomo isn’t so supportive and wants to chew it over a bit more. Really chomp on it🍔. So with the support and guidance of the boards new temporary legal operative, the board settles on finishing their other agenda items before diving into the debate behind closed doors🚪. Spoiler alert: When they came back from Executive Session - there was NO vote. Hey Mr. Patruno - what happened??? Can you tell or do we have to wait till the next meeting or never🕵️♂️? 🎉 And just what you are all waiting for … on to NEW business. 💼 Enter Mr. Lilonsky, who, with copies at the ready, presents a meticulous plan to terminate the endless communication mishaps bedeviling the board. His grand design? Copy the bigwigs on every email to the school (can you say common sense?). Urgent matters will get the red-carpet treatment🔴, while the rest will languish in the purgatory of "green notes" until the next snooze fest... I mean, meeting. But wait, there's more! Some folks can't resist poking holes in Mr. Lilonsky's life raft, questioning why we're reinventing the wheel instead of just greasing it🎡. Meanwhile, Mr. Lilonsky, our knight in shining armor, clings to his noble quest for a concrete plan🏰. Suggestions fly like confetti🎊, including adding arbitrary time frames and linking this whole charade to another motion that's probably as thrilling as watching paint dry🖌️. Buckle up for another roller coaster ride through the tangled web of miscommunication and why the Lilonsky motion matters... 🎢 Here comes the third installment of the letter and who saw it when. First up, we've got Mrs. Bellomo and Mr. Patruno painting a vivid picture of the timeline, but - hold onto your hats - because Ms. Mendez is still not quite clear on what went down with Mrs. McCormack on Monday. At the last minute, Mrs. Gandhi swoops in to grill Mrs. McCormack, who will surely need aloe and an ice bath after that grilling🔥❄️. Cue the confusion! Mrs. McCormack steps into the spotlight, shedding light on her phone call revelation to Mr. Ballone about an impending parent rally📢. But wait, was it a parent rally or just some upset parents? The terminology matters, apparently🤔. Then we dive into the riveting saga of who-said-what-to-whom. Mrs. Mendez is adamant that she didn't know diddly squat about the infamous letter, despite a few hints dropped her way. Come on, Ms. Mendez, connect the dots🕵️♀️! But hold the phone, folks📞! Mr. Ballone swoops in to save the day, revealing that he did, in fact, spread the news like wildfire to various board members. Cue the collective gasp👥! But wait, there's more! Mrs. Bellomo drops the bombshell that she's been stewing over this "who knew what" debacle and isn't too thrilled about feeling like she was deliberately misled🤐. Cut to Mr. Lilonsky again, opining that his motion will fix what ails the board. Finally, after much debate, confusion, and a fair share of finger-pointing, Mr. Lilonsky’s motion passes! Cue the applause and a collective sigh of relief... until the next episode of "Boardroom Shenanigans" rolls around👏. Is your head spinning yet from all this back and forth🌀? And finally, Mr. Hyett proposes not to propose a motion on policy, because “we clearly haven’t moved past a few things.” I guess that will sit in everyone’s inbox another week📥. Phew. Time now for the riveting recap of the second round of public comment speakers. Get your 🍿 ready because we've got drama, accusations, and a dash of retirement well-wishing🎉. The first speaker took the stage like a seasoned prosecutor👨⚖️, grilling Mrs. Mendez and Mr. Ballone. He didn't hold back, wondering aloud why Mrs. Mendez didn't even bother glancing at the letter, especially when the community was on the verge of a meltdown. His tone dripped with sarcasm, almost as if he couldn't believe they let such an important document gather virtual dust in anyone’s inbox, much less a volunteer board member with a full-time job. Not so for Mr. Ballone, whose inbox management skills didn't escape the speaker's eagle-eyed scrutiny👀, especially since he draws a salary. Point taken. It was a bold move, calling out these slip-ups with the finesse of a reality TV judge on a witch-hunt🧙♂️. Speaker #2 waltzed in with a reality check🕺, pointing out that the real issues are getting buried under this mountain of petty squabbling🏔️. She made a valid point about focusing on important matters like education instead of playing the blame game. Sounds like speaker #2 is all for the Gandhi motion ... " ... when something happens or a mistake was made or [a] big issue arises you have an internal postmortem you figure it out what happened and you provide a plan going forward for if something happens again ..." The final speaker sauntered into the discussion like a wise sage🧙♂️, armed with the kind of practical wisdom you only get from years of dealing with other people's messes. He didn't mince words, pointing out the glaring absence of a basic crisis management plan like a seasoned captain lamenting the lack of lifeboats on a sinking ship🚢. His remarks included reminding the board that it's time to put down the blame game manual and pick up the manual on how to get things done📗.' Well, there you have it! Another riveting episode in the saga of boardroom antics. Tune in next time for more thrilling twists and turns🌀🎭.
April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 1 - In the Beginning.
From the April 16th and April 25, 2024 Meetings
In dramatic Marlboro fashion, we find ourselves in the armpit of school drama season, worrying about everything except education, again. <Sigh> 😔
The characters? The Cracked Board Lawyer, defender of the Board 🛡️, and Jane Doe's Lawyer, the crusading attorney for the parents ⚔️.
The props? The Demand, a mystery letter that started it all 📩, sent by Jane Doe’s Lawyer, and the Denial letter, the missive sent in response from the rogue Cracked Board Lawyer 📜.
The plot? Spoiler: This pop quiz has no answer key. Nobody knows. Many speculate 🤷♂️.
The saga begins when Jane Doe’s Lawyer sent a Demand letter to the Cracked Board Lawyer, asking for a LOT of money 💰💰, even by Marlboro housing price standards, and painted the MTPS District as super-villains 👹 in a tragedy involving an innocent child who was either offensively touched or sexually molested (TBD) by a teacher the child had known for (select one) (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) forever, who was either (select one) (a) just a paid tutor, or (b) just like a member of the family 🤔👨👩👧.
The Cracked Board Lawyer responded to the cheeky Demand for $5,000,000 💸😲 with the Denial letter, which should have said NO, we don’t agree, and NO, we aren’t paying you, and YES, you can have your day in Court ⚖️. But that would have been too easy! Instead, the Cracked Board Lawyer had to add a dash of something EXTRA EXTRA stupid 😡. Ignoring every ounce of common sense, he tossed a grenade and pulled the pin, blaming the parents for whatever happened to their child 🤦♂️. Dummy. What were you thinking?
Who on the Board is qualified to second guess their hired Legal Eagle? Well, pretty much everyone 👨🏫👩⚖️. In damage control mode, the Board decided their current Cracked Board Lawyer was about as useful as a 🫖 chocolate teapot 🍫🫖 ✔ so they’re bringing in special Cracked Board counsel to clean up this mess. Hallelujah!! 🙌 They’re also shopping for new general counsel for the 24-25 school year. Double Hallelujahs! 🙌🙌
Seems that even a Board that throws tons of shade on social media during election season couldn’t stomach the combative tone taken towards a parent, no matter how much that parent demanded for this (a) offensive touch OR (b) sexual molestation 🛑.
The characters? The Cracked Board Lawyer, defender of the Board 🛡️, and Jane Doe's Lawyer, the crusading attorney for the parents ⚔️.
The props? The Demand, a mystery letter that started it all 📩, sent by Jane Doe’s Lawyer, and the Denial letter, the missive sent in response from the rogue Cracked Board Lawyer 📜.
The plot? Spoiler: This pop quiz has no answer key. Nobody knows. Many speculate 🤷♂️.
The saga begins when Jane Doe’s Lawyer sent a Demand letter to the Cracked Board Lawyer, asking for a LOT of money 💰💰, even by Marlboro housing price standards, and painted the MTPS District as super-villains 👹 in a tragedy involving an innocent child who was either offensively touched or sexually molested (TBD) by a teacher the child had known for (select one) (a) one year, (b) two years, (c) three years, (d) forever, who was either (select one) (a) just a paid tutor, or (b) just like a member of the family 🤔👨👩👧.
The Cracked Board Lawyer responded to the cheeky Demand for $5,000,000 💸😲 with the Denial letter, which should have said NO, we don’t agree, and NO, we aren’t paying you, and YES, you can have your day in Court ⚖️. But that would have been too easy! Instead, the Cracked Board Lawyer had to add a dash of something EXTRA EXTRA stupid 😡. Ignoring every ounce of common sense, he tossed a grenade and pulled the pin, blaming the parents for whatever happened to their child 🤦♂️. Dummy. What were you thinking?
Who on the Board is qualified to second guess their hired Legal Eagle? Well, pretty much everyone 👨🏫👩⚖️. In damage control mode, the Board decided their current Cracked Board Lawyer was about as useful as a 🫖 chocolate teapot 🍫🫖 ✔ so they’re bringing in special Cracked Board counsel to clean up this mess. Hallelujah!! 🙌 They’re also shopping for new general counsel for the 24-25 school year. Double Hallelujahs! 🙌🙌
Seems that even a Board that throws tons of shade on social media during election season couldn’t stomach the combative tone taken towards a parent, no matter how much that parent demanded for this (a) offensive touch OR (b) sexual molestation 🛑.
April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 2 - What did they know and When did they know it?
From the April 16th and April 25, 2024 Meetings
Here’s the 💸💰 $5,000,000 questions 🔍 galvanizing the Marlboro audience for the past few days –
Did anyone on the Board or in Administration 👩💼🧑💼 know about Denial 📝 before it was sent by the now fired Cracked Board Lawyer 🚫👨⚖️? Who knew about it before the April 16th BOE meeting 🗓️?
Who knew the family 👨👩👧👦 was going to the April 16th meeting to live-stream their emotionally charged claims 🎥😭, and share the video 📹 with the media and all-over social media 📲, along with a copy of Denial? Remember the stream? Were these parents who were the picture of cooperation 🤝, eager for a truthful investigation 🔍, offering to help every step of the way? Or were these parents who demanded a LOT of money 💸 before the investigation was completed, then came to April 16th meeting after receiving the Denial to play the 'it’s not about the money' card 💳 on live stream, talking about peace 🕊️ (olive branches actually), while telling the district to prepare for war ⚔️, right before three days of bomb threats 💣 against our schools and kids. Talk about playing nice, right?
Oh, and lest we forget, did y’all notice what wasn’t shared? The Demand letter 💌 that sparked the Denial that led to all the outrage 🤬. Why wasn’t it all over social media like the Denial? Why did the parents hold it back? Hmm 🤔.
Let’s peel back more layers… Ashlee McCormack. McCormack was the early bird 🐦 who caught the hot tip from a “community member” 🕵️♂️ on Monday morning, a whopping 32 hours before the 4/16 meeting. Detective McCormack tells us she learned about a "parent rally" 📣 planned for 4/16 over pesky Denial and immediately hightailed it over to the Board Office for the juicy deets 🏃♀️💨. She met Mr. Ballone, ever the accommodator, who tried to read Detective McCormack Denial, until the sleuth who binge-watches BOE meetings for fun 🍿👀 made him STOP READING 🛑📖 because she couldn't grasp the legal JARGON 🤯. A self-proclaimed policy aficionado who uses words like TORT doesn’t understand legalese? Who believes that Detective McCormack raced to the Board Office but intentionally left empty-handed 🤲🙄? PLEASE! Anyone with a smidgeon of common sense is rolling their eyes 🙄 at this one. Are we right??????
Still, McCormack DID say she called the Board president 📞, to give her a heads up about the parent rally brewing. Or did she spill more beans 🌱 we haven’t heard yet? Stay tuned for the scoop on what Mrs. Mendez says she knew or didn't know 🕵️♀️📰.
Aldo Patruno. Patruno got the lowdown from Bellomo the day of the Board meeting—more juicy details on Bellomo’s timeline later 🕓👂. Unlike McCormack, Patruno went to the Board Office with Bellomo and read every bit of legal JARGON with his own eyes 👓👁️, from beginning to unsavory end. Shocked and appalled 😲🤦, Patruno left the office and called Cracked Board Lawyer instead of the Board President. WHAT??? WHY??? 🤷♂️ He claimed he thought he was the last to know. Oh boy. That was wrong. Maybe 🤔.
Later, despite the whirlwind of emotion and confusion 🌪️❄️🧊 that froze even the most hardened of hearts 💔, Patruno called for the firing 🔥 of the Cracked Board Lawyer on the spot, because no Legal Eagle should ever craft such a harsh letter without consulting the clients 📜✂️!
Then, after two meetings and plenty of time to cool down ❄️, consult with competent lawyers 👨⚖️🤝, and THINK THINK THINK 🤔🤔🤔, Patruno continued to air his outrage in public on April 25th, making sentient Marlboro citizens wonder whether Patruno wants the district to hand out large sums of money because he’s mad 😤💬. Does MTPS have a secret trust fund or pot of unused gold 🪙🤑 we don’t know about? If we do, there’s a few potholes that need attention 🚧🕳️.
Annette Siewert. Siewert, tears at the ready whenever we need a good sob story 😢🎭, claimed she didn't see the Denial Letter or know the parents were coming to the April 16th meeting. Or did she? 🧐🎶
Cue the suspenseful music and let's roll into Bellomo’s timeline 🎬!
Danielle Bellomo. The award for the most consistent memory 🏅 goes to Danielle Bellomo! Her recollection and timeline are spot on, so far. So, what gems 💎 can we unearth from her memory bank?
Bellomo tells us, and Mickiewicz confirms, that they both caught wind of some brewing trouble 🌬️🌩️ from Mr. Ballone during a Curriculum meeting on April 16th at 12:30. Siewert was there virtually, but it’s a mystery whether she really grasped what Mr. Ballone was flag-waving about 🚩, since she left this episode out of her very terse comments so far.
The clarity of what exactly went down in Mr. Ballone’s office, with Dr. Gross in attendance, remains murky 🌫️👥, but both Mickiewicz and Bellomo were asked to call certain one or two colleagues each to let them know that parents would be at a BOE meeting, as shocking and unexpected as that might be 😲📞. Surprisingly, neither one was asked to call the BOE President, Mendez. WHAT!!!!!! 🤬🚨
After leaving the office, suspicious and intrigued, Bellomo decided to go back to read the Denial Letter, and asked Patruno to join her. Then they decided to call Cracked Board Lawyer 📞🔍.
Side note – during their meeting, Mr. Ballone assured both Bellomo and Patruno that he had already clued in Mendez and Siewert 🗣️👥. The question remains, did he brief them on the upcoming storm at the meeting, or just casually discuss the weather and dinner plans 🍽️☔?
Aditi Gandhi. Gandhi missed the April 16th meeting—lucky her 🍀. At the April 25th meeting, Gandhi reveals that she took a page out of McCormack’s book and watched the whole spectacle on YouTube 🎥🍿. Was this a live thriller or a recorded rerun 🤷♀️? Who knows, and frankly, who cares 😏?
Gandhi shared that she was in the dark about the letter before the meeting on April 16th and didn’t get to see it until it was shared with all the Board members after the meeting 🌚🔦. Like Patruno, she’s now itching to know what everyone else knew and when, and called for a transparent investigation of the BOE and Administration 🕵️♂️✨, thwarted temporarily by procedural rules 📚🚫. Stay tuned to see if Gandhi’s motion passes with the backing of the Board 🗳️✅.
Valentina Mendez - Board President. You’d think the Board President would be the first to know about all of this, right? Apparently, maybe not 🙈. Mendez said she was blindsided on April 16th 😱. Mendez also says she didn’t authorize the Denial Letter, and Cracked Board Lawyer said he didn’t share it beforehand, yet comments from Bellomo suggests that might not be true 🕵️♀️💬.
Mr. Ballone (not Dr.) confirmed he was copied on Denial on April 12th. Shouldn’t he have shared it with the Board President and Vice President, along with other Board members 🤔👥? While she said she didn’t pre-authorize the Denial Letter, Mendez never actually says she didn’t see or know about it before the April 16th meeting. Did Mr. Ballone share it with her before the meeting, or not 🗣️💼? No one has said.
Who does Mendez think blindsided her 🤷♀️👓? Cracked Board Lawyer? Mr. Ballone? Mr. Caravello? McCormack, Bellomo, or Patruno? Or maybe it was all of them 🤔🎲? Or is this just a game of Clue 🕵️♂️🔎 where we must wait until someone wins to learn the truth? Michael Lilonsky - Board Vice President. We know the least about what Lilonsky knew 👓🗃️. Seems like everyone kept him out of the loop 🚫🔄! On April 16th he said he had no prior knowledge of the Denial Letter or the parents attending the meeting. He also missed the April 25th meeting due to a family tragedy 😔🖤. Odd, for the VP, no? Yes 🤨!
Dr. Susanne Miskiewicz. Miskiewicz got the heads-up that something was amiss early on April 16th 🌄, but as for the specifics or clarity—well, that's another story 📚🔍. Miskiewicz knew parents were planning to show up at the meeting, and guessed they wanted to discuss “the incident.” She wasn't present when Bellomo and Patruno later read the Denial Letter, and says she didn’t know anything about it before the meeting on April 16th 🤷♀️💔. And when Miskiewicz asked why she wasn’t called about the letter, Bellomo’s simple response was enlightening: “I didn’t have your phone number.” 📱🚫.
The Cracked Board is willing to put together a contact list of the board, at a discount rate of $150/hour, plus expenses. In the meantime, it looks like they will have to communicate either via email or carrier pigeon 🐦✉️. It's 2024, ladies 🗓️👩💼.
Chad Hyett. Hyett stated at both meetings that he was clueless about the Denial Letter before the meeting, and with thanks to Mr. Grant, our barometer of truth, Hyett's perplexed and confused look seems to signal he’s telling the truth 😕🏅. Congratulations, Mr. Hyett, you’ve won the Grant Award for Appearing Honest 🎖️👏. But here’s the thing, Miskiewicz did call Hyett, according to their comments, and they both simply thought nothing incendiary would come of this 🤷♂️🔥? I guess they needed the letter??
So, here we are, with everyone denying they were in the loop before the Denial Letter went out, and fingers pointing every which way but right 👈👉. Is someone lying 🤥? Covering up 🧐? Or is everyone just playing dumb 🙄?
Here’s the 💸💰 $5,000,000 questions 🔍 galvanizing the Marlboro audience for the past few days –
Did anyone on the Board or in Administration 👩💼🧑💼 know about Denial 📝 before it was sent by the now fired Cracked Board Lawyer 🚫👨⚖️? Who knew about it before the April 16th BOE meeting 🗓️?
Who knew the family 👨👩👧👦 was going to the April 16th meeting to live-stream their emotionally charged claims 🎥😭, and share the video 📹 with the media and all-over social media 📲, along with a copy of Denial? Remember the stream? Were these parents who were the picture of cooperation 🤝, eager for a truthful investigation 🔍, offering to help every step of the way? Or were these parents who demanded a LOT of money 💸 before the investigation was completed, then came to April 16th meeting after receiving the Denial to play the 'it’s not about the money' card 💳 on live stream, talking about peace 🕊️ (olive branches actually), while telling the district to prepare for war ⚔️, right before three days of bomb threats 💣 against our schools and kids. Talk about playing nice, right?
Oh, and lest we forget, did y’all notice what wasn’t shared? The Demand letter 💌 that sparked the Denial that led to all the outrage 🤬. Why wasn’t it all over social media like the Denial? Why did the parents hold it back? Hmm 🤔.
Let’s peel back more layers… Ashlee McCormack. McCormack was the early bird 🐦 who caught the hot tip from a “community member” 🕵️♂️ on Monday morning, a whopping 32 hours before the 4/16 meeting. Detective McCormack tells us she learned about a "parent rally" 📣 planned for 4/16 over pesky Denial and immediately hightailed it over to the Board Office for the juicy deets 🏃♀️💨. She met Mr. Ballone, ever the accommodator, who tried to read Detective McCormack Denial, until the sleuth who binge-watches BOE meetings for fun 🍿👀 made him STOP READING 🛑📖 because she couldn't grasp the legal JARGON 🤯. A self-proclaimed policy aficionado who uses words like TORT doesn’t understand legalese? Who believes that Detective McCormack raced to the Board Office but intentionally left empty-handed 🤲🙄? PLEASE! Anyone with a smidgeon of common sense is rolling their eyes 🙄 at this one. Are we right??????
Still, McCormack DID say she called the Board president 📞, to give her a heads up about the parent rally brewing. Or did she spill more beans 🌱 we haven’t heard yet? Stay tuned for the scoop on what Mrs. Mendez says she knew or didn't know 🕵️♀️📰.
Aldo Patruno. Patruno got the lowdown from Bellomo the day of the Board meeting—more juicy details on Bellomo’s timeline later 🕓👂. Unlike McCormack, Patruno went to the Board Office with Bellomo and read every bit of legal JARGON with his own eyes 👓👁️, from beginning to unsavory end. Shocked and appalled 😲🤦, Patruno left the office and called Cracked Board Lawyer instead of the Board President. WHAT??? WHY??? 🤷♂️ He claimed he thought he was the last to know. Oh boy. That was wrong. Maybe 🤔.
Later, despite the whirlwind of emotion and confusion 🌪️❄️🧊 that froze even the most hardened of hearts 💔, Patruno called for the firing 🔥 of the Cracked Board Lawyer on the spot, because no Legal Eagle should ever craft such a harsh letter without consulting the clients 📜✂️!
Then, after two meetings and plenty of time to cool down ❄️, consult with competent lawyers 👨⚖️🤝, and THINK THINK THINK 🤔🤔🤔, Patruno continued to air his outrage in public on April 25th, making sentient Marlboro citizens wonder whether Patruno wants the district to hand out large sums of money because he’s mad 😤💬. Does MTPS have a secret trust fund or pot of unused gold 🪙🤑 we don’t know about? If we do, there’s a few potholes that need attention 🚧🕳️.
Annette Siewert. Siewert, tears at the ready whenever we need a good sob story 😢🎭, claimed she didn't see the Denial Letter or know the parents were coming to the April 16th meeting. Or did she? 🧐🎶
Cue the suspenseful music and let's roll into Bellomo’s timeline 🎬!
Danielle Bellomo. The award for the most consistent memory 🏅 goes to Danielle Bellomo! Her recollection and timeline are spot on, so far. So, what gems 💎 can we unearth from her memory bank?
Bellomo tells us, and Mickiewicz confirms, that they both caught wind of some brewing trouble 🌬️🌩️ from Mr. Ballone during a Curriculum meeting on April 16th at 12:30. Siewert was there virtually, but it’s a mystery whether she really grasped what Mr. Ballone was flag-waving about 🚩, since she left this episode out of her very terse comments so far.
The clarity of what exactly went down in Mr. Ballone’s office, with Dr. Gross in attendance, remains murky 🌫️👥, but both Mickiewicz and Bellomo were asked to call certain one or two colleagues each to let them know that parents would be at a BOE meeting, as shocking and unexpected as that might be 😲📞. Surprisingly, neither one was asked to call the BOE President, Mendez. WHAT!!!!!! 🤬🚨
After leaving the office, suspicious and intrigued, Bellomo decided to go back to read the Denial Letter, and asked Patruno to join her. Then they decided to call Cracked Board Lawyer 📞🔍.
Side note – during their meeting, Mr. Ballone assured both Bellomo and Patruno that he had already clued in Mendez and Siewert 🗣️👥. The question remains, did he brief them on the upcoming storm at the meeting, or just casually discuss the weather and dinner plans 🍽️☔?
Aditi Gandhi. Gandhi missed the April 16th meeting—lucky her 🍀. At the April 25th meeting, Gandhi reveals that she took a page out of McCormack’s book and watched the whole spectacle on YouTube 🎥🍿. Was this a live thriller or a recorded rerun 🤷♀️? Who knows, and frankly, who cares 😏?
Gandhi shared that she was in the dark about the letter before the meeting on April 16th and didn’t get to see it until it was shared with all the Board members after the meeting 🌚🔦. Like Patruno, she’s now itching to know what everyone else knew and when, and called for a transparent investigation of the BOE and Administration 🕵️♂️✨, thwarted temporarily by procedural rules 📚🚫. Stay tuned to see if Gandhi’s motion passes with the backing of the Board 🗳️✅.
Valentina Mendez - Board President. You’d think the Board President would be the first to know about all of this, right? Apparently, maybe not 🙈. Mendez said she was blindsided on April 16th 😱. Mendez also says she didn’t authorize the Denial Letter, and Cracked Board Lawyer said he didn’t share it beforehand, yet comments from Bellomo suggests that might not be true 🕵️♀️💬.
Mr. Ballone (not Dr.) confirmed he was copied on Denial on April 12th. Shouldn’t he have shared it with the Board President and Vice President, along with other Board members 🤔👥? While she said she didn’t pre-authorize the Denial Letter, Mendez never actually says she didn’t see or know about it before the April 16th meeting. Did Mr. Ballone share it with her before the meeting, or not 🗣️💼? No one has said.
Who does Mendez think blindsided her 🤷♀️👓? Cracked Board Lawyer? Mr. Ballone? Mr. Caravello? McCormack, Bellomo, or Patruno? Or maybe it was all of them 🤔🎲? Or is this just a game of Clue 🕵️♂️🔎 where we must wait until someone wins to learn the truth? Michael Lilonsky - Board Vice President. We know the least about what Lilonsky knew 👓🗃️. Seems like everyone kept him out of the loop 🚫🔄! On April 16th he said he had no prior knowledge of the Denial Letter or the parents attending the meeting. He also missed the April 25th meeting due to a family tragedy 😔🖤. Odd, for the VP, no? Yes 🤨!
Dr. Susanne Miskiewicz. Miskiewicz got the heads-up that something was amiss early on April 16th 🌄, but as for the specifics or clarity—well, that's another story 📚🔍. Miskiewicz knew parents were planning to show up at the meeting, and guessed they wanted to discuss “the incident.” She wasn't present when Bellomo and Patruno later read the Denial Letter, and says she didn’t know anything about it before the meeting on April 16th 🤷♀️💔. And when Miskiewicz asked why she wasn’t called about the letter, Bellomo’s simple response was enlightening: “I didn’t have your phone number.” 📱🚫.
The Cracked Board is willing to put together a contact list of the board, at a discount rate of $150/hour, plus expenses. In the meantime, it looks like they will have to communicate either via email or carrier pigeon 🐦✉️. It's 2024, ladies 🗓️👩💼.
Chad Hyett. Hyett stated at both meetings that he was clueless about the Denial Letter before the meeting, and with thanks to Mr. Grant, our barometer of truth, Hyett's perplexed and confused look seems to signal he’s telling the truth 😕🏅. Congratulations, Mr. Hyett, you’ve won the Grant Award for Appearing Honest 🎖️👏. But here’s the thing, Miskiewicz did call Hyett, according to their comments, and they both simply thought nothing incendiary would come of this 🤷♂️🔥? I guess they needed the letter??
So, here we are, with everyone denying they were in the loop before the Denial Letter went out, and fingers pointing every which way but right 👈👉. Is someone lying 🤥? Covering up 🧐? Or is everyone just playing dumb 🙄?
April 25, 2024 - A VERY SPECIAL MEETING - Part 3
The Cracked Board - April 25, 2024 - Special Meeting
Ah, the pièce de résistance of this melodramatic saga – the April 25th meeting 🎭, where the Board planned to zip their lips tighter than a snail's shell 🐌🤐.
The spectacle kicked off with parents shedding tears 😭 and singing praises 🎶 for the Teacher, the alleged star 🌟 of this drama, painting a picture of academic utopia shattered by pesky accusations unbecoming a teacher 📚❌.
Then, enter the proxy with a bone to pick 💀 about the Board's aversion to airing their policy laundry in public 📢. The speaker calls out BOE members who prefer to keep their honest opinions behind closed doors 🚪🔒, safely hidden from view 👀.
Next up, a passionate speaker dives headfirst into the legal mess 🏊♂️, calling out the big shots for their apparent cluelessness about the infamous letter 📨❓. Resignations and legal smackdowns are demanded, because what's a scandal without a good old-fashioned scapegoat hunt 🐐🎯?
Next, the Board broke its vow of silence 🤫, opening Pandora's box of grievances 📦💢, so Patruno could purge his angst in a comedy of errors performed by legal amateurs 🎭🤦♂️.
Finally, with a sigh of relief 🤧 and stifling a sneeze 🤧, Gandhi swoops in like a sheriff in a dusty western town 🤠✨, demanding an independent review and adult supervision for the bumbling Board 👀👶. Can we get a round of applause for the voice of reason in this circus 🎪👏?
In the second act of public comments, a former board member wistfully recalls the good old days of selective information sharing 🔄🙄, because who needs transparency when you can have secret handshakes 🤝 and closed-door deals 💼? He advised keeping the inner circle tight because too many cooks spoil the broth 🥣👥. Nothing to see here 🙈🙉.
Meanwhile, a parent mourns the town's plummeting vibe 📉💔, begging everyone to stop treating Marlboro like a reality TV set 📺 and start focusing on making it great for the kids 🏫👧👦. We’re in for that, thanks. Get on it 👍🚀.
And let's not forget the parent who gave a pep talk on leadership 🗣️💪, reminding the Board that sometimes you need an outsider to point out the obvious, like the fact that there are weeds in their garden of governance 🌿👀.
Finally, after their secretive huddle 🤐🤫, the Board emerges with a flourish 🌟✨, axing their incompetent legal eagles 🦅⚔️ and crowning a new firm with promises of professionalism and, shockingly, legal compliance ✅🤵♂️. All for the low, low price of $150 per hour – a steal compared to your neighborhood plumber, but maybe with fewer leaks 💸🚽.
And just like that, the meeting ends faster than a rumor on Marlboro's Facebook pages 🗣️💨. Bravo, everyone, for a masterful performance 👏🎬. Until next time, keep those legal chairs spinning! 🔄😉
The spectacle kicked off with parents shedding tears 😭 and singing praises 🎶 for the Teacher, the alleged star 🌟 of this drama, painting a picture of academic utopia shattered by pesky accusations unbecoming a teacher 📚❌.
Then, enter the proxy with a bone to pick 💀 about the Board's aversion to airing their policy laundry in public 📢. The speaker calls out BOE members who prefer to keep their honest opinions behind closed doors 🚪🔒, safely hidden from view 👀.
Next up, a passionate speaker dives headfirst into the legal mess 🏊♂️, calling out the big shots for their apparent cluelessness about the infamous letter 📨❓. Resignations and legal smackdowns are demanded, because what's a scandal without a good old-fashioned scapegoat hunt 🐐🎯?
Next, the Board broke its vow of silence 🤫, opening Pandora's box of grievances 📦💢, so Patruno could purge his angst in a comedy of errors performed by legal amateurs 🎭🤦♂️.
Finally, with a sigh of relief 🤧 and stifling a sneeze 🤧, Gandhi swoops in like a sheriff in a dusty western town 🤠✨, demanding an independent review and adult supervision for the bumbling Board 👀👶. Can we get a round of applause for the voice of reason in this circus 🎪👏?
In the second act of public comments, a former board member wistfully recalls the good old days of selective information sharing 🔄🙄, because who needs transparency when you can have secret handshakes 🤝 and closed-door deals 💼? He advised keeping the inner circle tight because too many cooks spoil the broth 🥣👥. Nothing to see here 🙈🙉.
Meanwhile, a parent mourns the town's plummeting vibe 📉💔, begging everyone to stop treating Marlboro like a reality TV set 📺 and start focusing on making it great for the kids 🏫👧👦. We’re in for that, thanks. Get on it 👍🚀.
And let's not forget the parent who gave a pep talk on leadership 🗣️💪, reminding the Board that sometimes you need an outsider to point out the obvious, like the fact that there are weeds in their garden of governance 🌿👀.
Finally, after their secretive huddle 🤐🤫, the Board emerges with a flourish 🌟✨, axing their incompetent legal eagles 🦅⚔️ and crowning a new firm with promises of professionalism and, shockingly, legal compliance ✅🤵♂️. All for the low, low price of $150 per hour – a steal compared to your neighborhood plumber, but maybe with fewer leaks 💸🚽.
And just like that, the meeting ends faster than a rumor on Marlboro's Facebook pages 🗣️💨. Bravo, everyone, for a masterful performance 👏🎬. Until next time, keep those legal chairs spinning! 🔄😉
April 21, 2024 - Facts Matter
The Cracked Board - April 21, 2024 -
We believe that facts matter … What we know from what we read:
Incident Details: A 13-year-old child was originally believed molested at school by a teacher on March 13, 2024, and the incident was observed and reported by another teacher at the school. The school took immediate action to investigate.
"The incident involved offensive touching over the clothes by the teacher upon the student in a hallway of the school. It was witnessed by another staff member."
Background: The parents hired the teacher, at least a year earlier, as a tutor for their other children. This is where the child first met the teacher.
Teacher's Current Status: The teacher has been on leave since the incident. School officials stated that she would not be returning to the school.
Legal Proceedings: This matter is clearly a legal, criminal, and HR issue and must run its course.
On April 19, 2024, misdemeanor charges were filed. According to police, this is a petty disorderly person’s offense. Before bringing charges, the police conducted interviews, reviewed security video, and took written statements.
The teacher’s attorney has stated that the teacher will be pleading not guilty and suing for defamation.
Board of Education's Involvement:
Legal Correspondence: The parents' attorney sent a letter to the Board demanding a $5 million payment for injuries to their child. This letter was sent sometime between March 13 and April 12, the date the Board’s former attorney responded to the allegations and rejected the demand for payment. Based on statements made during the April 16th Board meeting, no one on the Board saw the letter before it was sent.
Board Meeting Dynamics: At the April 16th Board meeting, three Board members admitted that during the days and hours leading up to the meeting, they had heard about and then read the letter the Board’s former attorney sent to the parents. They also admitted that they knew of the parents' plan to attend and speak during the public comments. Meanwhile, other Board members were unaware of the letter, and would be justified feeling that they were set up or sandbagged by these developments.
Confidentiality Breaches: The identities of both the child and the teacher were kept confidential by MTPS, as required by law, even in the attorney's letter. However, during public comments, the parents disclosed their thirteen-year-old daughter’s name and the name of the teacher publicly. The media, most likely alerted by the parents, covered but did not publicly repeat either of the names in their reports.
Response from Superintendent: In a statement issued on April 18th, Mr. Ballone implied that all Board members were aware of the allegations when initially reported on March 13th, including the Board President. What the Board actually knew is unclear, but it was evident that at least 5 of them did not see the lawyer letters before the meeting but three Board members did.
Community and External Reactions:
Social Media Turmoil: The community's reaction has been intense, with social media platforms becoming hotbeds of speculation, emotional outpourings, and misinformation. This has been compounded by two bomb threats made to the town over consecutive days, escalating the tension.
Impact on Education: The ongoing controversy is delaying school operations, significantly distracting students, and impacting their educational environment.
Here is how the Cracked Board Sees Things Now …
There is unanimous agreement that the child is a victim on many levels. However, opinions diverge on the parents' handling of the situation, particularly their decision to bring a 13-year-old into the public spotlight and the potential long-term impacts of this revelation.
Despite claims from the parents that they are not seeking financial gain, the timing of the lawyer's settlement letter for $5 million raises questions. Remember when agreeing to a settlement disclosure ends. That stops justice and talking about what happened. Why didn’t the parents wait until the investigation was complete? Which was their priority - truth, justice or $5 million dollars?
There are growing demands for action against the teacher, the superintendent, and possibly board members, though it's not clear why, other than speculation and emotion, these demands are being made. Is this a witch hunt for the sake of social media, or because they did something wrong? Shouldn't an investigation and findings be the first step, or should the Board act without information and risk being sued by another party?
Is this debacle going to lead to more litigation, diverting more funds away from our kids and schools?
With these facts, as we know them, in front of you, you decide if this has been a rational town/community response.
Incident Details: A 13-year-old child was originally believed molested at school by a teacher on March 13, 2024, and the incident was observed and reported by another teacher at the school. The school took immediate action to investigate.
"The incident involved offensive touching over the clothes by the teacher upon the student in a hallway of the school. It was witnessed by another staff member."
Background: The parents hired the teacher, at least a year earlier, as a tutor for their other children. This is where the child first met the teacher.
Teacher's Current Status: The teacher has been on leave since the incident. School officials stated that she would not be returning to the school.
Legal Proceedings: This matter is clearly a legal, criminal, and HR issue and must run its course.
On April 19, 2024, misdemeanor charges were filed. According to police, this is a petty disorderly person’s offense. Before bringing charges, the police conducted interviews, reviewed security video, and took written statements.
The teacher’s attorney has stated that the teacher will be pleading not guilty and suing for defamation.
Board of Education's Involvement:
Legal Correspondence: The parents' attorney sent a letter to the Board demanding a $5 million payment for injuries to their child. This letter was sent sometime between March 13 and April 12, the date the Board’s former attorney responded to the allegations and rejected the demand for payment. Based on statements made during the April 16th Board meeting, no one on the Board saw the letter before it was sent.
Board Meeting Dynamics: At the April 16th Board meeting, three Board members admitted that during the days and hours leading up to the meeting, they had heard about and then read the letter the Board’s former attorney sent to the parents. They also admitted that they knew of the parents' plan to attend and speak during the public comments. Meanwhile, other Board members were unaware of the letter, and would be justified feeling that they were set up or sandbagged by these developments.
Confidentiality Breaches: The identities of both the child and the teacher were kept confidential by MTPS, as required by law, even in the attorney's letter. However, during public comments, the parents disclosed their thirteen-year-old daughter’s name and the name of the teacher publicly. The media, most likely alerted by the parents, covered but did not publicly repeat either of the names in their reports.
Response from Superintendent: In a statement issued on April 18th, Mr. Ballone implied that all Board members were aware of the allegations when initially reported on March 13th, including the Board President. What the Board actually knew is unclear, but it was evident that at least 5 of them did not see the lawyer letters before the meeting but three Board members did.
Community and External Reactions:
Social Media Turmoil: The community's reaction has been intense, with social media platforms becoming hotbeds of speculation, emotional outpourings, and misinformation. This has been compounded by two bomb threats made to the town over consecutive days, escalating the tension.
Impact on Education: The ongoing controversy is delaying school operations, significantly distracting students, and impacting their educational environment.
Here is how the Cracked Board Sees Things Now …
There is unanimous agreement that the child is a victim on many levels. However, opinions diverge on the parents' handling of the situation, particularly their decision to bring a 13-year-old into the public spotlight and the potential long-term impacts of this revelation.
Despite claims from the parents that they are not seeking financial gain, the timing of the lawyer's settlement letter for $5 million raises questions. Remember when agreeing to a settlement disclosure ends. That stops justice and talking about what happened. Why didn’t the parents wait until the investigation was complete? Which was their priority - truth, justice or $5 million dollars?
There are growing demands for action against the teacher, the superintendent, and possibly board members, though it's not clear why, other than speculation and emotion, these demands are being made. Is this a witch hunt for the sake of social media, or because they did something wrong? Shouldn't an investigation and findings be the first step, or should the Board act without information and risk being sued by another party?
Is this debacle going to lead to more litigation, diverting more funds away from our kids and schools?
With these facts, as we know them, in front of you, you decide if this has been a rational town/community response.
April 19, 2024 - Blindfolded Darts with Accusations
The Cracked Board - April 19, 2024 -
The Facebook fracas unfolding on the Marlboro Residents page is less heart-to-heart dialogue and more wild witch hunt—minus the witch 😈🧙♀️. Everyone’s tossing their two cents in, though it seems most are scraping the bottom of the barrel for a clue 🤡💡, morphing the comments section into a digital broken telephone game 📞💥. These so-called 'concerned' citizens are flinging accusations with all the precision of a blindfolded darts player at a bar 🎯🙈.
They're banging the drums for justice with a mob mentality 🥁👥, eager to roast procedures, protocols, and the school board on a bonfire of fury 🔥📜, all the while blissfully unaware of the full story. What we’ve got is a bona fide social media circus 🎪🤹♂️, where Marlboro’s finest, armed with snippets of scandal and a full load of bias, are doing a grand job of whipping themselves into a frenzy of self-righteous indignation 😤💬. What's the outcome? A parade of keyboard warriors 🎉🖥️, marching to the erratic rhythm of the rumor mill and cooking up half-baked truths 🍰🔍.
Switching over to the Marlboro NJ Schools and Friends page, a post smartly points out the discrepancies in the timeline of when certain board members received that infamous letter, suggesting some knew more than they let on, sparking allegations of sneakiness and sandbagging 🕵️♂️📅.
The commentariat choir is in full throat, each clamoring louder than the last for clarity, decisions, and—preferably—some heads on platters 📢🍽️. The discussion is a rich tapestry of outrage 😠🧵, wild guesses, and the odd splash of sanity 🌊👀, all stewing together in a cauldron of community angst 🥘😵💫. Snarky? Absolutely. But beneath the snide comments bubbles a pot of genuine concern that no sarcastic quip can quench 🍲💔.
Meanwhile, over on the Community page...
One commenter leaps into the fray, torch and pitchfork in hand 🏃♂️🔦🔱, ready to shame anyone who dares victim-blame, branding them as part of the very problem they decry. Another is practically penning a resignation speech for the attorney who lobbed this hot potato into their laps with his inflammatory letter 📜🔥.
This thread is nothing short of a microcosm of a community in turmoil, sailing through a storm of anger and moral grandstanding 🌪️🚩. Some are cloaked in the robes of righteousness, while others might as well be twirling their villain mustaches 🦹♂️👺. So grab your popcorn 🍿— the truth is buried somewhere under this delicious mess of indignation and finger-pointing 👉🍴.
They're banging the drums for justice with a mob mentality 🥁👥, eager to roast procedures, protocols, and the school board on a bonfire of fury 🔥📜, all the while blissfully unaware of the full story. What we’ve got is a bona fide social media circus 🎪🤹♂️, where Marlboro’s finest, armed with snippets of scandal and a full load of bias, are doing a grand job of whipping themselves into a frenzy of self-righteous indignation 😤💬. What's the outcome? A parade of keyboard warriors 🎉🖥️, marching to the erratic rhythm of the rumor mill and cooking up half-baked truths 🍰🔍.
Switching over to the Marlboro NJ Schools and Friends page, a post smartly points out the discrepancies in the timeline of when certain board members received that infamous letter, suggesting some knew more than they let on, sparking allegations of sneakiness and sandbagging 🕵️♂️📅.
The commentariat choir is in full throat, each clamoring louder than the last for clarity, decisions, and—preferably—some heads on platters 📢🍽️. The discussion is a rich tapestry of outrage 😠🧵, wild guesses, and the odd splash of sanity 🌊👀, all stewing together in a cauldron of community angst 🥘😵💫. Snarky? Absolutely. But beneath the snide comments bubbles a pot of genuine concern that no sarcastic quip can quench 🍲💔.
Meanwhile, over on the Community page...
One commenter leaps into the fray, torch and pitchfork in hand 🏃♂️🔦🔱, ready to shame anyone who dares victim-blame, branding them as part of the very problem they decry. Another is practically penning a resignation speech for the attorney who lobbed this hot potato into their laps with his inflammatory letter 📜🔥.
This thread is nothing short of a microcosm of a community in turmoil, sailing through a storm of anger and moral grandstanding 🌪️🚩. Some are cloaked in the robes of righteousness, while others might as well be twirling their villain mustaches 🦹♂️👺. So grab your popcorn 🍿— the truth is buried somewhere under this delicious mess of indignation and finger-pointing 👉🍴.
April 16, 2024 - A break from our traditional approach
The Cracked Board - April 16, 2024 -
Like the entire Marlboro community, we struggle to convey the sorrow and outrage we felt after hearing allegations of a child being harmed in a place where children should be safe—our schools. The fact that the alleged perpetrator is a teacher, a figure of trust and guidance, only magnifies this horror.
As a community, we must wrap this child and her family with our collective compassion. We must offer our support and commitment to ensure that every child can learn and thrive in an environment free of harm and overseen by those who are worthy of this responsibility. There can be no compromise when it comes to the safety of our children!
We must allow our elected officials, law enforcement, and legal experts the time to investigate these serious and egregious allegations. We must trust in the process and not place obstacles in the way of justice by unintentionally sharing rumors disguised as facts, especially those meant to influence public opinion. We should avoid the temptation to speculate and balance the need for open discussion with a responsible sharing of information. We must guard against the spread of misinformation which can cloud judgment and block the path to justice.
We must commit to the responsible use of social media. Social media should amplify voices that foster a collective demand for transparency and accountability. It should also hold anyone who tries to exploit this family's tragedy to serve their own agenda accountable.
Let’s stand in unison, demanding answers, and demanding justice. Let’s find out what was done right, what was done wrong, and learn from both. Let’s ensure this innocent child and her family receive the justice and support they deserve.
The Cracked Board
Like the entire Marlboro community, we struggle to convey the sorrow and outrage we felt after hearing allegations of a child being harmed in a place where children should be safe—our schools. The fact that the alleged perpetrator is a teacher, a figure of trust and guidance, only magnifies this horror.
As a community, we must wrap this child and her family with our collective compassion. We must offer our support and commitment to ensure that every child can learn and thrive in an environment free of harm and overseen by those who are worthy of this responsibility. There can be no compromise when it comes to the safety of our children!
We must allow our elected officials, law enforcement, and legal experts the time to investigate these serious and egregious allegations. We must trust in the process and not place obstacles in the way of justice by unintentionally sharing rumors disguised as facts, especially those meant to influence public opinion. We should avoid the temptation to speculate and balance the need for open discussion with a responsible sharing of information. We must guard against the spread of misinformation which can cloud judgment and block the path to justice.
We must commit to the responsible use of social media. Social media should amplify voices that foster a collective demand for transparency and accountability. It should also hold anyone who tries to exploit this family's tragedy to serve their own agenda accountable.
Let’s stand in unison, demanding answers, and demanding justice. Let’s find out what was done right, what was done wrong, and learn from both. Let’s ensure this innocent child and her family receive the justice and support they deserve.
The Cracked Board
April 13, 2024 - Social Media Edition
🎉 Welcome to "SurveyGate" where Marlboro’s social media crusaders battle the evils of anonymous school surveys. 🎭 Sit back, loyal Cracked Board readers, for a wild ride through the melodramatic madness of pre-election season, featuring the same baffling, angry and overstated outrage we’ve come to expect. 🍿🎢
🌟 Today's episode features Marlboro’s self-anointed parental rights warriors on a quest to outrage Marlboro parents over a harmless survey. 🔊 Cue the dramatic noise and grab your popcorn as a whopping dirty dozen (+/-) dive into their heated debate while the rest of us watch as they attack the survey creators and each other. 🥊👀
🎭 Debra Venedam-Dajka kicks off the show with a theatrical lament about how a survey for "parents and community" somehow ended up in kids' hands. Oh, the horror! Cue the gasps and clutching of pearls. 😱💔
👟 Enter four of Marlboro’s CRACKED-R-JACK Board members, one less than a quorum (phew!), chewing into the dialogue with apoplectic fervor as if it's their last piece of gum, debating whether the average well-educated Marlboro parent can read and understand emails written for a fifth grader. 📚💬
🛡️ Annette Siewert (elected - not appointed), defender of the realm, claims that all was clearly communicated, and parents had plenty of time to opt their children out, because who doesn’t read school emails like breaking news? 🔥📩
📹 Ashlee McCormack (appointed, not elected), formerly known as the parental rights notification Grand Poohbah, chimes in with "we told you so" vibes and receipts in the form of a video recap. 🎥✅
💥 Meanwhile, Danielle Bellomo (also appointed, not elected) is having none of it. In a move that’s perfectly timed for election season, Danielle fueled the flames 🔥 with incendiary digs and disclaimers louder than a smoke detector, 🚨 accusing her former bffs of bad faith and turning their backs on transparency and parental rights. Cheers to the transparent campaign pitch stretching all the way back to ROB 1.0! Can someone say, “vote for me!” 🗳️📢
🎭 Then there's Aldo Patruno, the last remaining elected ROB 1.0 alum left standing (because the other two resigned), bewildered yet bold, adding to the fireworks with his constant confusion, alleging deceptive survey semantics as he backs up his likely ROB 2.0 running mate. Can anyone beat Aldo channeling his inner Hamlet while worrying over the State of Denmark in an election year? We shall see! 🤔🇩🇰
🔥 Let's not forget Craig Marshall, the BOE election's perennial runner-up, unsubtly nudging board members about their political debts while stirring discontent like the well-known master pot-stirrer that he is. 🥄👹
🛡️ And then there were the new crusaders for data privacy who worried about Denmark's nefarious plans for our children's anonymous survey data. Because, you know, Denmark is just waiting to steal our fifth graders' secrets. 🕵️♂️👶
😂 Alas, instead of discussing real problems during public meetings, these CRACKED-R-JACK board members and their band of hapless community crusaders choose the sport of social media warfare, turning democracy into a meme faster than you can say "like and share." 📲🔥
🎭 Stay tuned, Marlboro, because the election drama is just getting started, and even hotly anticipated anonymous surveys are not safe from becoming Shakespearean level tragedies. Enjoy – or not – the spectacle of democracy at its finest! 🌟👏
March 19, 2024 Meeting - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here
✨🎬 Marlboro’s Board of Education meetings: The binge-worthy series we didn’t know we needed! 🍿📺 Missed the latest episode on March 19th? Don’t worry, we've got the deets! 🕵️♂️🔍
🌊 Kicking Off with Kids Making Waves: Marlboro Middle School's new Health Futures Club is out here showing us up. These kids aren’t just about bandaids; they’re running a blood drive like pros 🚑🩸. Their enthusiasm? So infectious, it almost makes you forget the whole needle thing 💉😱. Sign up and stick out your arms, for the kids 🙌👧👦.
🎨 Our Kids Can Teach Us All a Lesson: Over at Defino, students are dropping cultural vibes with their Hamsa art project 🌟✨. It’s more than art; it's a masterclass in unity, tolerance, and acceptance 🤝❤️. Marlboro students are also tearing up the scene in art contests and shows 🏆🖼️. And don’t even get us started on the Marlboro Middle School math team. Those math stars blitzed through the CBA math tournament, nabbing victory with their lightning-fast problem-solving skills 🧮⚡️⭐️.
🎙 Round One of Public Comments: A spectacle to behold, making "Groundhog Day" and "Parks and Rec" look like documentaries 🎥😂.
✨🎤 The first hopeful local strutted up to the mic to lay it down for the Board: Changing committee names has the monumental impact of dedicating a school after a forgotten pop band 🎸🚫. His plea? For the love of all things educational 📚❤️, aim for more than just a cosmetic rebranding 💄🔄. While we're over here making busy work with meaningless name changes, our neighbors are making actual strides in education 🚶♂️🎓. It's about quality, not quantity, folks 🌟👌.
💬 The next speaker, one brave soul, raised concerns about the Board scrubbing away specific and inclusive language faster than you can clear your browser history 🖥️🔥. But kudos were given to the Board/Policy Committee’s President for her open mind — as open as a 24/7 diner — and her speed-of-light reaction to the policy blunders 🌪️👍. This sparked a lively debate, with the board turning into community feedback aficionados 📢👂. Because, of course, we all dream of decoding legal gibberish without a law degree 📜👩🎓.
🔍 Board Members Wake Up 💤💤😴😴: Realizing they might need to understand the policies they approve. Turns out, their policy overhauls are actually outsourced to the same vendor that's been feeding districts the essential nature of Policy 5756 lie, leaving us with a legal bill that screams "we've been had" 💸🤦♂️.
👩🏫 Tribute to a Retiring Teacher: A moment that brought us back to earth, reminding us why we're all here 🌍❤️. But heads up, Marlboro – our class sizes might just rival concert crowds if we don't attract new talent soon 📚👨🏫👩🏫.
🎉🔥 Next up - Committee Reports 📜✨🎉
🤐✨ The Communications Committee decided discussing substance abuse over coffee should be as hush-hush as a secret society 🕵️♂️☕ - no recordings, 'cause what's said in Marlboro, stays in Marlboro 🤫. But hey, they threw us a bone by agreeing to post the police presentation afterwards. 🦴👀
🎢📚 The Curriculum Committee took us on a wild ride through the thrilling landscapes of ELA progress and the lit choices shaping our future Einsteins 🧠🚀. Don't fancy a book? Marlboro's got your back with an escape hatch 🚪🏃♂️. Mommy & Daddy's veto power ensures the education's coming from school bus chitchats 🚌, YouTube, Snap Chat, or Tik Tok - basically anywhere but a book! 🚫📖😜
🛡️💻 The Safety and Security Committee channeled their inner Guardians of the Galaxy, teaming up with digital wizards to shield our cyber castle 🏰✨. Dazzled by techno-jargon (aka PowerPoints), they decided an epic saga (Board policy) draft was the next big move 🚀📝.
🗑️♻️ Then, the Board dived into the 2024-2025 budget approval with the gripping intensity of Saran Wrap and lets not forget the garbage and recycling bins - edge-of-your-seat stuff, folks!
🏅🌸 Over in Curriculum Matters, it was like the Olympics but for school sports - spring edition. 🎉
🤰🔒 Personnel Matters dished out retirements, resignations, and the tear-jerking goodbyes, alongside disability retirement and maternity leaves shoutouts. But really, spotlighting staff on maternity leave like it's concert lineup time? Ever heard of privacy, folks? 🙈🎤
☕😩 The Policy Committee's report was longer and more torturous than a Monday sans coffee. Buckle up for the highlights:
🔙📚 Discussion on Policy 5750 got kicked down the road, waiting for a debate on bringing back those oh-so-crucial deletions like African American History, Holocaust, Genocide, and all those protected classes we cherish.
🤷♂️📱 Mrs. Siewert was all shock and awe over the antisemitism whispers thanks to policy term removals. Shocked? Really? Given her history of loose cannon comments on public platforms, should've seen it coming. Ah, the everlasting impact of a social media footprint, lingering like gym locker odors 🧦💨.
🍩💤 Then, the Board discussed a pile of policy resolutions that were so exciting, everyone’s eyes were glazing over like a Krispy Kreme donut.
🎩🚫 Things got a bit 🎲 dicey 🎲 when the discussion turned to Policy 1140. What’s with the Board’s decision to pull a Houdini 🎩✨ and make the list of protected classes 🚫 disappear from so many policies and replace them with a vague reference to some state law’s citation? 📜😒 Magic trick? More like tragic trick 😬. The Board debated adding all the protected categories 🔄 back into the Policies, because teachers aren’t lawyers 🏫👩⚖️ and protected classes really do matter 🌈💪. Let’s see where this goes in second reading 🤓🔍.
✨🔥 Next up in the Boardroom Brawl 🥊💥: a heated debate on the word "shall" vs. "may" in Policy 2411. Watching this was like observing a showdown over whether water is wet 💦😂. And oh, it gave some Board members their golden moment – drumroll please 🥁 – to chant their sacred mantra: “parental rights” 📣👨👩👧👦. Because, really, who wouldn't jump at the chance to hoard more brownie points than a Girl Scout troop at cookie season? 🍪🏆
The Board’s convo on student referrals and parental notification vs. a student’s right to privacy turned the room into a virtual minefield, akin to navigating the prom dance floor in the dark 🕺💃🚷. Buckle up and stay tuned as we see how they pirouette out of this predicament without stepping on any toes (or mines) 🎭📜🔒
Just when you thought the meetings couldn't get any more 🍿 popcorn-worthy, Mr. Patruno dropped a 💣 bombshell in Old Business, unveiling a masterful plan to convert the exclusive policy committee into a “committee of the whole,” promising to take policymaking into prime time 🌟 and allowing democracy to unfold live 🎥, giving transparency a starring role 🌈✨ and guaranteeing that no Board Member would be able to dodge the spotlight of accountability 🔦.
But hold the applause 👏, because not everyone was buying front-row tickets 🎟️ to Mr. Patruno’s utopian dream. Questions loomed large. More meetings? ✅ Check. Public spectacle? ✅✅ Double check. The Board scratched their heads 🤔 over the logistical nightmare of scheduling, teasing the possibility of turning meetings into sleepovers 🛌. Let’s face it, tweaking the policy book in public under the public’s watchful eye for hours and hours on end would have all the excitement of watching paint dry 🎨💤.
Others, worried about airing the Board’s dirty laundry for all to see 🧺👀. Most concerned were the Board’s transparency champions, Mrs. Bellomo, Mrs. Siewert, and Mrs. McCormack. Before this proposal, they’ve been known to preach transparency like it's the new gospel 📖✨, but when faced with the option of showing their cards on policy edits in public, slow down! ⚠️ Apparently, committing to a committee of the whole or capturing real thoughts in committee minutes was as appealing to our transparency warriors as peeling back the curtain to reveal the wizard (or lack thereof) behind the chaos they signed up for 🧙♂️🚫. Who would have guessed that? Say it with us! ME ME ME!!! 🙋♂️🙋♀️🙋
With that, the Board agreed to table the vote until next time ⏳. For now, Mr. Patruno’s dream of a fully democratized policy-making process is on pause ⏸️, but not out ❌.
So there you have it Cracked Board junkies, another meeting bites the dust 💨. Stay tuned for the next episode – it's bound to be a thriller! 🎬👀
Special Edition - Agenda for March 19, 2024 Meeting - Read the Agenda Here
Step right up, folks 🎪, to the not-so-greatest show on earth: the Marlboro Township Board of Education Meeting 🤡, set to hit the stage on March 19th at 6 pm ⏰.
Brace yourselves for an evening of misdirection and confusion 🌀 as the Board attempts to dazzle us with a staggering lineup of 20 policy updates 📜. The crackerjack Policy committee, including Valentina Mendez (Chair) 👩⚖️, Danielle Bellomo (appointed - not elected) 🙄, Michael Lilonsky, and Aldo Patruno, will be performing in the center ring 🎩. In ring #1, we have 13 policies up for first readings 🍼, so fresh they're practically still in diapers, and another, 7 grizzled 2nd read veterans 🧓 ready to roll onto the books in ring #3.
But here's the kicker: amidst this policy palooza 🎉, you won’t find a single policy aimed at the Board's supposed core mission – Educational Excellence and Student Success 🎓. Seems like the Board has their priorities in a twist 🔄.
Prepare to be "amazed" 🤨 as policies ranging from "Notification of Juvenile Offender Case Disposition" to the high drama of "Parent Organizations" take the stage. Watch "Vandalism" get a makeover 💄, and "Equal Access of Student Organizations" grab the spotlight 🌟. Oh, and let's not overlook the "Code of Ethics" and "Bilingual Education," both struggling for a scrap of dignity 🤦♂️. And then there's the "Comprehensive Equity Plan," hoping against hope to make a difference 🤞. But wait – the fun doesn't stop there! Enjoy the added bonus of "Board Committees," a gripping tale of bureaucracy and red tape 📚 that's sure to have you on the edge of your seat 🪑.
Meanwhile, important issues like Holocaust and African American History are shown the door 🚪 because who needs history when you've got "Secret Societies" and "Sportsmanship" to sort out? 🕵️♂️ Notice something else missing? Parents are in, but legal guardians? Not so much 🚫.
So mark those calendars 📆, because you wouldn't want to miss this policy-packed extravaganza 🎊. Come for the chaos, stay for the spectacle, and leave pondering the mysteries of democracy in action 🤔.
The Marlboro Township Board of Education Meeting: where turning educational policy into performance art is just another day at the office 🏢. See you there – if you dare 😈.
March 5, 2024 - Watch the Meeting Here
🎪 Step right up, ladies, gentleman, and gentlepeople of Marlboro, it’s time for a thrilling recap 🗣 of the March 5th Marlboro Township Board of Education meeting. We know you were watching and waiting, so here it comes!!!
The fun began when Mr. Ballone defined what an "MTPS graduate" looks like. Wow, this is groundbreaking stuff! Molding students into pros for real-world opportunities. 🏆 🏅And guess what? They want feedback! 📢
Cue the suspenseful music 🎵 🥁 because someone’s professional journey was terminated 🔚. So long, farewell, mystery person. 👀
Next up were public comments, which began with the sound of crickets 🏏. But hold onto your hats, or bats, as the floodgates 🌊 opened and dutiful citizens 🏃 stepped right up to microphone. 🎤 An emissary 👸 from SEPAG heaped praise 🙏 on the board for postponing the vote for ESY. Spoiler alert, the ESY schedule didn’t change, but everyone did an excellent job keeping ESY parents on the edge of their 🪑 seats waiting for the final schedule. That’s what makes a saga a saga after all. 📽 Then we heard from everyone’s favorite good citizen 👌 who urged the BOE to GO TO CAP 🎓 because good results cost money 💵, and the community needs good results.
Get this! There was a not-so-shocking jump from virtually none to a lot of HIB reports! Enter Dr. Miskiewicz, never the silent type 🤫, with a riveting request for more details behind the rising HIBs. However, is it legal to disclose more information to the board? Only those in the super-secret executive session chamber will know‼️
Mr. Caravello once again entertained budget questions. Apparently, we hit the jackpot with a 7% increase in state funding 👏👏👏 and the district is practically swimming in cash. Will there be new Chromebooks for the staff?! Nothing says "education" like shiny new gadgets. But is there enough money? Will we go to cap? We do have legal bills 💵 to pay after all. A lot of legal bills, we hear. 💰💰💰🏧
Enter Mrs. McCormack 🚶, financial Sherlock Holmes 🕵 and self-anointed pre-school pricing 💲 expert to question a $600 tuition hike for pre-K. 🏫 Mixing 🍎 apples, 🍊 oranges, and a sprinkle of Middletown, she's got us all wondering what Spotswood has to do with MTPS 🧐. But wait, there's more! Aldo Patruno has questions❓ questions ❓ questions ❓ and wants to know about expanding preschool programs. At least Ashlee agrees the program is excellent. It must be true: You get what you pay for. It also appears that pre-K is not immune to rising costs 💰 and Marlboro is not Spotswood.
There’s more drama because what would a BOE meeting be without the mention of that three-letter word M-E-F?! In a twist that left everyone scratching their heads, Mr. questions❓ questions ❓ questions ❓ Patruno spent an excruciating 3½⏰ minutes trying to ask whether the M-E-F handed over its bylaws, only to find out that the answer is NO 🚫 By-laws, just like M-E-F promised at the last 1, 2, 3? meetings. Who saw that coming - said no one paying attention. 😜 Looks like a quick Google search 🔎 might be the only way out for this skipper. In the meantime, Madame President 👑 assures us that all the legalities will be sorted out in super-secret executive session. 💼
And so, dear gentlepeople 😚 of Marlboro, just when you think it couldn't get any more thrilling, the BOE retired to super-secret executive session, and our time together comes to another close. ⏱ Stay tuned for next time, folks. We just can't wait. 👋
The fun began when Mr. Ballone defined what an "MTPS graduate" looks like. Wow, this is groundbreaking stuff! Molding students into pros for real-world opportunities. 🏆 🏅And guess what? They want feedback! 📢
Cue the suspenseful music 🎵 🥁 because someone’s professional journey was terminated 🔚. So long, farewell, mystery person. 👀
Next up were public comments, which began with the sound of crickets 🏏. But hold onto your hats, or bats, as the floodgates 🌊 opened and dutiful citizens 🏃 stepped right up to microphone. 🎤 An emissary 👸 from SEPAG heaped praise 🙏 on the board for postponing the vote for ESY. Spoiler alert, the ESY schedule didn’t change, but everyone did an excellent job keeping ESY parents on the edge of their 🪑 seats waiting for the final schedule. That’s what makes a saga a saga after all. 📽 Then we heard from everyone’s favorite good citizen 👌 who urged the BOE to GO TO CAP 🎓 because good results cost money 💵, and the community needs good results.
Get this! There was a not-so-shocking jump from virtually none to a lot of HIB reports! Enter Dr. Miskiewicz, never the silent type 🤫, with a riveting request for more details behind the rising HIBs. However, is it legal to disclose more information to the board? Only those in the super-secret executive session chamber will know‼️
Mr. Caravello once again entertained budget questions. Apparently, we hit the jackpot with a 7% increase in state funding 👏👏👏 and the district is practically swimming in cash. Will there be new Chromebooks for the staff?! Nothing says "education" like shiny new gadgets. But is there enough money? Will we go to cap? We do have legal bills 💵 to pay after all. A lot of legal bills, we hear. 💰💰💰🏧
Enter Mrs. McCormack 🚶, financial Sherlock Holmes 🕵 and self-anointed pre-school pricing 💲 expert to question a $600 tuition hike for pre-K. 🏫 Mixing 🍎 apples, 🍊 oranges, and a sprinkle of Middletown, she's got us all wondering what Spotswood has to do with MTPS 🧐. But wait, there's more! Aldo Patruno has questions❓ questions ❓ questions ❓ and wants to know about expanding preschool programs. At least Ashlee agrees the program is excellent. It must be true: You get what you pay for. It also appears that pre-K is not immune to rising costs 💰 and Marlboro is not Spotswood.
There’s more drama because what would a BOE meeting be without the mention of that three-letter word M-E-F?! In a twist that left everyone scratching their heads, Mr. questions❓ questions ❓ questions ❓ Patruno spent an excruciating 3½⏰ minutes trying to ask whether the M-E-F handed over its bylaws, only to find out that the answer is NO 🚫 By-laws, just like M-E-F promised at the last 1, 2, 3? meetings. Who saw that coming - said no one paying attention. 😜 Looks like a quick Google search 🔎 might be the only way out for this skipper. In the meantime, Madame President 👑 assures us that all the legalities will be sorted out in super-secret executive session. 💼
And so, dear gentlepeople 😚 of Marlboro, just when you think it couldn't get any more thrilling, the BOE retired to super-secret executive session, and our time together comes to another close. ⏱ Stay tuned for next time, folks. We just can't wait. 👋
February 20, 2024 - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here
📚🕰️ The Feb. 20, 2024, Marlboro Township Board of Education meeting felt longer than a Tolstoy novel. 📖 The hot topic was Policy 9191, with a side of budget woes 💸 and a cautionary tale about cyber security 🛡️.
Several community members pleaded with the Board not to mess with the relationship between the Marlboro Education Foundation (MEF) and MTPS schools and students 🏫💰, beneficiaries of $30k-$50k in annual donations, just because the Board wants MEF to hand over its bylaws, which are publicly available to anyone who looks for them, and even though they serve no useful purpose to the BOE 📜✋.
Others jumped in, wondering why the BOE raced through this policy change like there’s a fire sale on common sense 🔥🧠, wishing that the BOE would hold hands and find a middle ground where the MEF keeps funding our future Nobel laureates 🏆 without the Board acting like peeping Toms into an independent entity they would like to control but can’t, no matter what their lawyer told them 👀🚫.
A trustee or two of MEF spoke passionately, begging the Board to work with them, but eventually telling the BOE that it was ok if they did what they wanted, because MEF will just find someone else to dance with, hinting at a breakup more dramatic than a season finale of "The Bachelor" 💔🌹.
Then, in a twist no one saw coming (except everyone), the Board played the "we value our foundation partners" card 🃏, insisting the drama over document disclosure was just a big misunderstanding. They’re all about transparency and compromise, they said, if it involves getting what they want 👐.
Another community member grilled the BOE about cyber security preparedness because hackers might be lining up to steal more than just the MTPS lunch menus 🍽️🕵️♂️. The Board, caught off guard, promised to whisper sweet nothings to each other, in a private setting, and promised to report back to the community. We’re all waiting 🤔💬.
Meanwhile, other parents were wondering why no one told them about changes to the (ESY) extended school year schedules 📅 ❓Finally, after much discussion, the BOE paused the vote, deciding that talking to stakeholders really was important, as long as the stakeholders aren’t the MEF trustees 🛑🗣️.
And there you have it, folks: a Board meeting where the most excitement came from discussing bylaws and cyber security 🔒📚. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we find out if the Board and the MEF can swipe right on a compromise, or if it’s time to call in relationship counseling 💔👩❤️💋👩, and we hear whether MTPS really is cyber ready 🖥️🔒.
#Policy9191 #Cybersecurity #MTPSBOE #BudgetWoes
February 6, 2024 Part 1 (The Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here
📣🔔Part 1 - The Interviews 👑🏆On February 6th, the community had the chance to watch candidates audition to fill an empty seat on the MTPS BOE 🎭. They've laid out a riveting plan where each candidate was grilled with the same four super-secret questions 🔍 in a time slot tighter than your favorite pair of skinny jeans 👖.
Given the backgrounds and qualifications of the eight candidates vying for the vacancy, we thought the community might appreciate a deep dive into a comparison of their credentials against the Board's final decision.🥁
Cheryl Scourzo, came fresh off the campaign trail 🏃♀️ that saw her defeated in November. Mrs. Scourzo brought with her an impressive blend of community service 🌟, educational advocacy 📚, and practical initiatives to enhance the learning experience 📈. In a plot twist worthy of a daytime soap opera 📺, the Board overlooked her decades of experience in education. Perhaps they thought her binder solution to online learning was too analog in our digital age 💾🚫.
Adam Pollock offered a cocktail 🍹 of community involvement and professional expertise, mixed with a dash of superior and proven negotiation skills 💬. It seems, however, that the Board wasn't buying what he was selling, possibly fearing his passion for compromise and budget management skills 💸 would mean less fancy office chairs 🛋️.
Dr. Sesha Sridevi Alluri offered up extensive research 🧪 and higher education experience 🎓, a desire for updated curriculum, and a lofty vision of integrating technology in classrooms 🖥️. Alas, her promising credentials and academic prowess was apparently deemed too highbrow for the nitty-gritty of a K-8 education 🏫.
Nirav Kadakia, his children’s favorite volunteer coach, presented a resume glittering with leadership 💼 and budget management skills 💰, practically a financial wizard 🧙♂️ with a wand poised to work hard on balancing the books and leading the district back to excellence 📊. But it appears the Board wasn't ready for Mr. Kadakia’s vision and passion ❤️.
Brian Cohen stepped up with a law degree 📜 and heavyweight belt 🥊 in educational management, policy, and technology 💡. His experience on not-for-profit boards and working in the c-suite 🏢 with tech leadership over systems you would expect to find in a large university, is unmatchable by anyone in the MTPS or on its Board 🔝. Yet, in a surprising move, his vast experience was left in the corner, gathering dust 🕸️. Maybe the Board feared his expertise, or worried that he would replace them with more efficient AI counterparts 🤖.
Jamie Crystal offered a unique perspective as a school counselor 🧑🏫, ready to tend to the Board's emotional and psychological needs ❤️🩹. However, it seems the Board wasn't ready to embrace their feelings, or perhaps feared too many group hugs 🤗.
Ashlee McCormack clinched the title with her relentless attendance at board meetings 📅 and a fierce dedication to budget scrutiny 🔎. It's as if the board was swayed by the sheer force of her will to sit through their meetings. Or perhaps they just wanted someone who would not propose any new ideas to rock the boat 🚣♀️.
Roger Resnikoff came armed with a passion for inclusivity 👫, advocacy, and security 🔒. It seems, however, that his vision for a safer, more inclusive school didn’t sway the decision makers.
In a split 5-3 vote, the majority voted to appoint Ashlee McCormack. McCormack's self-education and dedicated binge-watching of Board meetings 📺, while commendable, paints a picture of someone who fits neatly into the majority. In a classic case of choosing the devil they knew over the devil who knows more 😈 the majority opted in favor of Mrs. McCormack’s proven ability to stay in her seat and nod along without ruffling their feathers 🐦.
While each candidate brought their unique skills to the table, the Board's choice reflected a preference for continuity over innovation 🔁, and attendance over experience 🎭. It's like picking vanilla ice cream 🍦 at an artisanal gelato shop—safe, reliable, but oh-so-predictably bland.
#MTPSBOE #MeetingRecap
February 6, 2024 Part 2 (After the Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here
🧩♟️🔔Part 2 🔔🎉Once the new Board member was sworn in on February 6th the meeting continued.
🧐 Ethics Training: After Ashlee McCormack was sworn in, the Board's attorney took everyone back to school with a lesson on the New Jersey School Ethics Act. He highlighted the shocking revelation that school officials should work in the best interest of the school district and avoid conflicts of interest. Groundbreaking, right? 🤯 He went through the dos and don'ts, emphasizing teamwork and the protection of school personnel. Also, he dished out advice on social media etiquette for board members, hinting that posting about school matters might not be the best move. 📱
💰 Budget Presentation: The financial wizards began to unveil their grand plan for the 2024-2025 budget, boasting a cool $99 million funded mostly from local taxes. Maybe it's time to start baking cookies for your neighbors? 🍪 They're dipping into the cap to avoid cuts, aiming to keep Marlboro as the place to be for top-notch education without bumping up class sizes or skimping on programs. They plan to throw more textbooks at the curriculum and bring some students back in-house with shiny new programs. Despite the looming shadow of rising costs, they're promising to do their financial gymnastics to keep the ship afloat. Keep the faith but be prepared to open your wallets a bit wider. 🤸♂️💰
🤔 New Business Discussions: Aditi, the new kid on the board, shook things up by questioning why the Board vacancy filling process felt more like a secret society initiation than a team effort. 🕵️♀️ Apparently, the executive branch thinks the super-secret, pure vanilla, totally predictable interview questions could get leaked to the candidates, so they’re kept hush hush until show time. 🥄
The meeting wrapped up with the team skipping another executive session, everyone eager to hit the road and get ready for a new day. 🚗💨
#MTPSBOE
January 16, 2024 - Watch the 2 hour Meeting Here
🎪 In a royal proclamation at the January 16th, 2024, MTPS BOE meeting, the court announced the departure of Christina Russotto, who relinquished her throne effective January 3rd, after a mere four months, securing her spot as the shortest reigning monarch in recent memory. As the Court Jester spun her praises and loyal subjects engaged in wistful recollections of their two-year-long crusade, Mrs. Russotto’s untarnished reputation remained intact, with nary a whisper of wasteful spending, preening for the media in pursuit of controversy, or ethical concerns. With Mrs. Russotto’s exit, the realm now prepares for the appointment of a new knight, announcing that the quest for a suitable successor will take center stage with a grand public audition scheduled for February 6th. 🏰🎭
📜 Drama Over Policy 9191 - In an eyeroll inducing presentation no one really believed, the Board proudly presented a first reading of a policy directed at educational foundations with the audacity to fundraise to support our financially strapped district without expecting anything in return. The new policy requires that foundations perform an annual ritual of seeking blessings from the superintendent, provide VIP tickets to its trustee meetings, and graciously hand over copies of their organization documents like they're party favors. According to the Board, this move was sparked by the dissolution of the Marlboro Education Foundation (MEF) – except that MEF never actually dissolved. 🤷. The controversial policy was the Board's not-so-subtle plot to keep a vice-like hold on any foundation (meaning MEF) that would dare to entertain the wild idea of serving Marlboro schools and kids. Hey, nothing says let’s work together in a collaborative partnership like a leash, right? 🎭💼
🍕 Coffee Chatter – The BOE announced that the subject of the next not-so-well attended coffee chat would be THE BUDGET because that's the kind of family fun kids can really get behind. Thanks to Anthony from Red Tomato, attendees will be able to tackle the budget over slices of pizza, while kids are occupied with movies and crafts. Meanwhile, the community was left to wonder if Anthony had to hand over his bylaws before the chat hosts could accept his scrumptious slices.
🗣 Public Comments: The floor opened to a spirited debate, with opinions split between applauding the district's resilience and critiquing the board's attempt to micromanage MEF. The debate swirled with concerns of overreach and nostalgia for open dialogue and fair collaboration with all stakeholders.
❄️ Snow Day Strategies - The board strategized on handling snow days with all the seriousness of military generals, emphasizing parental discretion for sending kids to school in iffy weather.
💼 Financial Fables - The district's auditor took the stage with a financial report more soothing than a bedtime story, reassuring everyone that despite a mid-year scare, the district's finances were back on track.
⏳ Budget Talks - The board hosted another episode of budget discussions with the excitement typically reserved for viral TikToks. The topic this time was transportation, technology, and security. While it wasn’t edge of our seat, Hollywood-level drama, the suspense was enough to keep us tuned in, and there’s more to come. So, grab a cup of tea and a cozy blanket – the budget drama will continue over the next few meetings, and we're all in it together! ☕💼
🚌 Transportation Twists and Turns - The transportation budget discussion was a rollercoaster, with the district adding out-of-district placements and waiting on elusive stabilization aid.
💻 Tech Budget Takes Off - With the ESSER Grant gone, the board is back to budgeting for 600 Chromebooks, in what seems to be a dart-throwing decision-making process.🔒 Vague Security Ventures - The security department's budget was cloaked in mystery, with a thrilling (to some) investment in a new badge printer and hush-hush discussions on cybersecurity measures.
Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment from the Marlboro Township Board of Education – where coffee chats are code for family fun night, power plays are the real MVPs, and budget discussions are the latest binge-worthy drama. 🎬🍿💼
#MTPSBOE
January 2, 2024 - Watch the 30 Minute Meeting Here
🔔At the January 2nd, 2024 MTPS BOE meeting, the New Year was kicked off with a bit of patriotism and a reminder that there is no smoking or vaping allowed, just in case anyone forgot there’s no smoking in school. 🚭🇺🇸
✔️Election Results: In what was surely a nail-biter, 26,368 votes were cast, and the winners and newest BOE members are Dr. Susanne Miskiewicz (4,733 votes), Chad Hyett (4,515), and Aditi Gandhi (4,461). Congrats, or condolences to the successful candidates. 🏆👀📚Oath Taking: The new BOE members were sworn in and promised to uphold a lot of important stuff. Also, a special shoutout to every family member known to mankind. If you missed your name, you probably weren't listening hard enough. 📜👨👩👧👦
🤖Refreshment Break: Because nothing says "serious business" like cookies and water. Stay hydrated, folks. 💧🍪
🔔 Reorg/Board Positions: Valentina Mendez was chosen as the new Board President, and Michael Lilonsky snagged Vice President. We're expecting great and big things from our new Pres and VP. Or at least, more efficient snack breaks. 🍩👑
📋 Resolutions Galore: From attendance officers to banking signatories, the BOE covered it all, because everyone loves a good New Year’s resolution. ✔️
🎤Public Comments: A moment for the community to shine, with congratulations and good vibes all around. We're all about that positive reinforcement. 🎤💖
🏃♂️💨 Adjournment: Until the next meeting. Stay tuned for more riveting updates in the months to come. Until next time, keep those pencils sharpened. ✏️
#MarlboroBoardOfEd #MeetingRecap #CivicDutyWithASideOfSarcasm #MTPSBOE