An agreement that would place Class 3 special police officers in Middlesex Borough schools has been on the table for some time, batted back and forth like a proverbial ping pong ball between the mayor and Borough Council, the Board of Education, the attorneys and top staff members of each.
The delay has been characterized in different ways at different times, depending on who is giving the characterization. Frustrated parents and taxpayers who want stepped up school security in perilous times have also weighed in on social media.
It was School Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman’s turn to opine at the Wednesday, Sept. 17 board meeting, with an assist from Board President Danielle Parenti.
Freeman attributed the delay to the board needing certain assurances from the municipality in order to comply with school finance laws. She was clearly annoyed at the impression among some community members that she’s to blame for the Class 3’s not yet being hired.
“It is not Dr. Freeman – as the narrative is trying to be – being difficult,” the superintendent said.
According to Freeman, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two sides has the school district paying the salaries of the Class 3’s with the borough picking up the training and equipment expenses. Borough officials have requested a $50,000 payment from the district up front.
The handling of that $50,000 apparently has been a stickling point between the two sides.
“That $50,000 should have specificity,” said Freeman. “It should be outlined in the MOU what it is being used for. I have requested that information and it was not given.”
Freeman said she’s also requested that the $50,000 should “zero out” at the end of the year,
“We have regulations,” Freeman said, referring to school finance procedures. “$50,000 cannot remain at the borough – it’s for salaries. I’m getting pushback, I should say we are getting pushback and they are not including the language that we would like (in a contract) that the money is zeroed out.”
Freeman claimed she had met recently with Police Chief Matt Geist and that they are in agreement on the proposed language. But the superintendent continued on, expressing certain concerns about municipal government.
“We have issue sometimes with the accounting that happens with the borough,” Freeman said. “It’s important that everything is outlined to a T. It’s very important that that $50,000 deposit…that it’s just not sitting there.”
“We asked them if it was going to be in an interest-bearing account,” Freeman continued. “The answer was no. If it’s not in an interest-bearing account, what are they doing with this money?”
“The response was – Oh, it will be reimbursement for guns, uniforms,” the superintendent said. “That’s not part of the MOU.”
“We are responsible for the salaries of the Class 3’s,” said Freeman. “They are responsible for everything else. So, we can’t have loose language where it would put the Board of Education in jeopardy if it’s not spelled out.”
Parenti noted that the board is audited each year. “These things have to be spelled out so we can protect ourselves and your money,” Parenti told an audience member.
“I want to be clear, that we have been working on this,” Freeman added. “Chief Geist and I, we would have had this done three years ago when I first became superintendent. We understand the importance of this. We are 100% on board to get this done. But there is a legal side of it that we must address.”
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