Stalled out

Tensions between two Board of Education factions that have apparently been simmering behind the scenes, boiled over into the open on Wednesday, July 15 and might have staffing consequences for the Middlesex Borough school district.

Only seven board members attended the session. Three of those present – Jeremiah Carnes, Martin Quinn and Justine Decker – abstained from voting on a series of personnel motions. Despite “yes” votes from the other four members, the motions did not get formal approval because the support did not constitute a quorum of the entire nine-member board.

The two absent board members were Thomas Thornton and Patricia Reynolds.

After the vote, the board went onto other business. Later in the meeting, Board President Danielle Parenti gave her thoughts on the earlier stall out of the personnel motions. That led to tense moments during the discussion.

The stymied personnel motions included contractual appointments, hourly positions, substitutes, extra-curricular stipends, a leave of absence, three resignations and a transfer within the district. Also affected were Community School summer camp staff hirings, a memo of understanding with the Middlesex Education Association on summer secretarial hours, and a revision to an elementary STEM teacher job description.

It was noted that hires coming from other districts were likely waiting for board approval before giving notice to their current employer. Those intended hires and others might take jobs elsewhere, since they don’t yet have a formal Middlesex district hiring, officials said.

The Middlesex Board of Education is not scheduled to meet again until Aug. 18 and 19.

Parenti said she found her three colleagues’ abstentions “disappointing,” but acknowledged it was their right to do so. She asked why there were no inquiries about the personnel motions at the board’s Committee of the Whole session the prior evening.

The board president also questioned if the three board members were really opposed to only a few of the motions. Parenti suggested they were camouflaging their specific concerns by abstaining on all of the personnel moves.

It was mentioned that board members receive a meeting packet on the Saturday prior to a Wednesday session. School Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman said board members are free to contact her with questions before a board meeting.

Quinn said, “I was very surprised when I got the packet.” He did not elaborate.

“But you didn’t reach out to me,” Freeman replied. 

At another point, Quinn said he abstained on the entire set of motions so as not to air concerns about specific staff members in public. Freeman has cautioned against doing so in the past.

Like Parenti, Freeman acknowledged that Carnes, Quinn and Decker had the right to abstain, but added, “You’re withholding the business of the district.”

Carnes revealed that he had asked to be moved from the board’s personnel committee to a different committee. He called the personnel group a “toxic environment,” alleging he had been “ignored” in its decision-making.

The abstentions and subsequent debate were sandwiched around another discussion about revising the board’s meeting livestreams. The board is considering implementing a brief video delay that could be used if any detrimental staff comments or private student matters get mentioned by an audience member.

Carnes briefly questioned livestream changes noting the public’s expectations of official transparency. Freeman responded that the board should have another concern.

“I thought we were about the kids,” Freeman said. “It shouldn’t be a place for people to come and complain.”

“Everything is about the child in the chair,” Freeman added. “That’s a fact. Not what people write on Facebook.”

(Copyright 2026 Dave Polakiewicz. All Rights Reserved)

Reminder

Subscribe to Inside – Middlesex. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It is absolutely free.