Overdue

Government often moves very slowly. There are plenty of examples. At what point does a snail’s pace become embarrassing for officials and equate to a dismissive attitude toward constituents?

Middlesex Borough has not arrived there yet, but is on the verge, in relation to the proposed hiring of Class 3 special police officers to work in its pubic schools. The latest explanation for an exceedingly long-running delay was given by School Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman at the board’s Wednesday, Jan. 21 meeting.

Freeman gave a brief update, explaining that language in a proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Education and Borough Council does not accurately reflect the terms the two sides have agreed upon. Among the issues not specified to the district’s satisfaction, she said, involve funding and which side is responsible to pay for certain items.

Now that Freeman has given her version, it’s a good bet there will be further comments at next Tuesday’s session of the mayor and Borough Council.

Class 3’s are retired law enforcement officers who are hired by the police department and complete specialized training in school security. The Middlesex Police Department would hire and train Class 3 officers. Related discussions between school and town officials were begun long ago, well over a year, possibly two. 

With the year-end holidays and other matters sitting on the respective plates of the board and council, not much was said about Class 3’s at public meetings late in 2025. The lack of mention may have led some constituents to wrongly believe the two sides had pretty much wrapped up the memorandum.

Freeman’s latest comments make it clear that’s not so. What is the hold-up? The picture that’s been painted by various officials’ past comments is one of wording and counter-wording periodically bouncing back-and-forth between the respective attorneys who represent the two governing bodies.

If that’s the only snag, it’s unacceptable that it should halt finalization of the MOU for months. At this point, it’s irrelevant if one party is 60% or even 95% responsible for the delay. Neither looks good with the document still not signed. Someone needs to take the wheel to make the MOU acceptable to both parties.

No one should need reminding what’s at stake. In an often-perilous era, putting Class 3 officers in the schools will improve security for students, staff and perhaps even parents who might stop in their child’s building for some reason. Heaven help the officials who have to explain to the community why the MOU was never finalized if a tragedy occurs.

During the past year, the board struck a new contract with its teachers’ union, ending a lengthy dispute. The council approved new contracts with several municipal unions and key department heads. Why not make this another negotiating matter that needs resolution?

Have the respective attorneys find a mutually agreeable time, block out an hour or two, meet in person or via Zoom, and hammer out the MOU’s final language. The lawyers have been working on this long enough that they should have a strong sense of what’s acceptable to their client.

In late August, officials were quoted in a press release issued by the Middlesex Police Department. It announced that a shared services agreement was being finalized between the school district and municipality to allow for the hiring of Class 3 officers.

That release may have raised parental hopes that security would be stepped up in borough schools relatively quickly. Even if the MOU is finalized soon, it would likely still be months before Class 3’s are on the job due to time needed to hire and train them.

One district mom commented on social media this week that “every parent is over it,” with regard to the MOU delay, seemingly fed up with the lack of movement on the matter. They shouldn’t have to feel that way when it comes to confidence about their child’s safety while at school.

If true, it’s regrettable that parents harbor those feelings, but understandable. Municipal and school officials need to get the agreement done. It’s long past overdue.

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