‘Not public dialogue’

A new public information website has been unveiled by Middlesex Borough school officials, but they continue to face questions about their response policy on meeting comments.

The launch of the new site, named “The Board Corner,” was announced by the Board of Education at its Tuesday, Oct. 15 meeting.

Earlier, School Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman again defended the response policy during a sort-of debate with Greene Avenue resident Laura Thomasey.

A former district teacher and past Borough Council member, Thomasey has attended several recent board meetings, asking about various topics. She has also pointedly questioned Freeman about her response method. The superintendent typically answers meeting questions several days later via email.

Thomasey said she serves as the voice for other borough residents who share her opinions but refrain from speaking out publicly due to fears of retaliation against themselves or their children.

“Many of them feel intimidated from speaking up about what’s on their mind,” Thomasey said. In the past, voters have supported current board members who spoke of “transparency,” she continued.

“Unfortunately, we have been disappointed that the promises have not been kept,” Thomasey noted.

Thomasey went on, asking why a new Hazelwood School principal was “honored” with a breakfast event, while other principals were not. She also questioned if the district budget is filled with wants instead of needs.

Her inquiries continued. Thomasey asked why Principal-on-Assignment Rich Gianchiglia was not assigned to Woodland School to temporarily fill in for a principal on maternity leave. Instead, the board appeared ready to hire an interim principal at a $500 per diem, according to a meeting agenda that had been posted online.

Board members sat silent. Freeman did not reply to the inquiries. At one point, Thomasey addressed the superintendent as “Roberta.”

“And we talk about respect?” Freeman shot back.

Thomasey told Freeman that she does respect her, and addressed the superintendent by her first name because she has signed emails with it.

“Why don’t you answer me?” Thomasey asked.

“You know this is the procedure,” said Freeman. “This is not public dialogue.”

Thomasey asked when she would receive a reply. “That’s not part of a board meeting,” Freeman responded.

“This is not a back-and-forth,” interjected Board President Danielle Parenti. “We would be here forever.”

The board’s policy restricts public comments to two topics covering three minutes each. Freeman noted that Thomasey had been allowed to speak for eight minutes.

“You can come back tomorrow and finish your statement if you’d like,” Parenti told Thomasey. The board had an action meeting scheduled for the following evening.

The Board Corner could be construed as the district’s answer to audience dissatisfaction with the response policy. At a recent meeting, Thomasey noted that when a constituent’s meeting question receives an email response, others who attend the session are not privy to it.

The site will post meeting questions and answers for non-personnel-related topics. It already contains inquiries and responses from the Middlesex board’s Sept. 17-18 meetings. The Board Corner also has a link to the New Jersey School Boards Association’s web site.

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