The Cracked Board

March  11, 2025 -  🐻🍩 🐻Boardroom Brouhaha  🐻🍩🐻
   - Click here.

Welcome back to another riveting ⚡⚡⚡ edition of The Cracked Board! Don’t worry, we’ll break down the budget💸 in a separate episode because, believe it or not, some things actually matter. But tonight, we’re dedicating this special edition to the drama, the grievances, and the never-ending soap opera that is this board. Buckle up, folks—it’s time for another thrilling episode of Real Board Members of Marlboro.  🍿🔥

The meeting kicked off after an extended executive session (aka secret board drama behind closed doors) with public comments from a concerned citizen—who just so happened to be the husband of a board member. Yep, we’re officially in “family feud” territory 🤯. Mr. Gandhi, husband of Ms. Gandhi, took the mic to call out Ms. Siewert for abusing her position and publicly targeting him—a private citizen and taxpayer—during the last meeting. But wait, it gets worse! Not satisfied with just throwing shade on record, Ms. Siewert allegedly followed up with a personal attack on Ms. Gandhi—cornering her in the school hallway and later in the parking lot. Because what better way to demonstrate leadership than by turning a school board meeting into a high school cafeteria showdown? Her message? That Ms. Gandhi needs to "do better" for the new board members—because clearly, relentless harassment is the gold standard of mentorship.

Mr. Gandhi didn’t hold back, making it crystal clear that he is genuinely concerned for his wife’s safety and that no one signs up for this level of pettiness just to serve their community. He demanded accountability, urging the board to finally address the toxic, middle school drama that keeps unfolding at these meetings. His bigger question: Why are board meetings and parking lots turning into battlegrounds for personal vendettas? His final mic drop? Calling on the board to actually step up, take real action, and put an end to this circus once and for all.

Will they? Probably not. But hey, at least we’ll have plenty of material for next time. Stay tuned! 

Well, it looks like that public comment really poked the bear 🐻, because Ms. Siewert 🐻launched into a monologue that would put Hamlet to shame—minus the literary brilliance. She dramatically framed herself as the real victim🎻, insisting that there are “three sides to every story” (hers, the truth, and whatever alternate reality she’s operating in) and that her totally unprovoked actions were simply reactions to being bullied and antagonized. According to her, the real issue wasn’t publicly targeting a private citizen or confronting Ms. Gandhi in the hallway and parking lot—no, the real tragedy was that people said mean things about her. 😭

She lamented that there has been an “underlying narrative” since her campaign that she isn’t qualified because she chose a trade career over college. And in a plot twist worthy of a bad soap opera, she accused Ms. Gandhi of personally belittling her, claiming Gandhi mocked her lack of a degree by saying she “would have known what the word ‘perfunctory’ meant” if she had finished college—because, apparently, executive session now comes with vocabulary quizzes. 📝📚 Taking things even further, Ms. Siewert 🐻compared being criticized for not having a degree to being called fat (yes, really)🍩🍩 and insisted that both are equally bullying. Bold take. Then came her favorite topic🎻—social media—where she ranted about being bullied, harassed, and cyberstalked, and dramatically lamented that people were talking about her home life. 😱 🐻But the best part? She actually claimed she’s being "silenced"—while delivering a multi-minute, uninterrupted, self-pitying soliloquy. 🎭

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, she wrapped things up with an impassioned PSA to children watching at home (assuming there are kids who voluntarily tune in to this reality show) about following their own paths and not letting anyone make them feel lesser for skipping college. So kids, take notes: it is okay to  throw public tantrums and pick fights in parking lots, you can go as high as you want.

Ms. Gandhi was not having it. After Ms. Siewert’s Oscar-worthy performance of victimhood, Ms. Gandhi fired back with a fact-checking monologue of her own, immediately shutting down the laundry list of baseless accusations. She challenged Siewert’s claims head-on, stating that there is video footage from the school—already OPRA’d, mind you—that proves there was absolutely no interaction between them as she exited the meeting. As for Siewert’s dramatic tales of executive session conversations and campaign-season slights? Pure fiction, according to Ms. Gandhi. Also, why is Ms. Siewert mentioning the executive meetings in public, Mr. Lawyer, can you please chime in.  She firmly stated that she never once mentioned Siewert’s education—not in meetings, not on social media, not ever—and made it clear that defaming her name with zero evidence was going to have consequences. Oh, and she never attacked her as a woman either, thank you very much.

Then, Ms. Gandhi really let loose, calling out Siewert’s habitual misinformation, including false accusations about her “stealing” from the district for not providing a conference summary (which, by the way, was never even required). Things got especially spicy when she exposed Siewert’s apparent late-night vent sessions, revealing that Siewert called a fellow board member at midnight to complain about her (yes, really🤯). And in a final mic drop moment, Ms. Gandhi bluntly stated the obvious: Siewert’s entire tenure has been defined by fixations on social media drama instead of actual work to improve the district. While Gandhi has only been on the board for a year, she reminded everyone that Siewert, after three years, has absolutely nothing to show for it. Gavel drop.

Ms. Mendez, with a totally not political question (wink)🙄, once again raised concerns about potential school funding being tied to executive orders—particularly ones that might require the removal of DEI initiatives from schools.🙄 Citing an email from NJSBA, she expressed curiosity about whether any existing district policies or practices could put them at risk under the shifting political landscape. However, since this falls into "lawyer territory," Mr. Gross quickly redirected the discussion to executive session, emphasizing that legal matters like this are best discussed behind closed doors (probably to avoid any immediate fireworks).

Superintendent Mr. Ballone chimed in, noting that while there's a lot of speculation, there’s still no concrete guidance on what schools will actually be required to do. In other words, there's nothing to act on just yet—but the district is keeping an eye on it. Still, Mendez insisted that the topic be added to the next executive session agenda so the board could get some legal clarity (read: start planning for potential drama). With that, the meeting moved on, leaving the fate of DEI policies hanging in bureaucratic limbo for another day.

Former board member Aldo Patruno 🙄 who just can’t seem to move on, questioned the district’s math on staffing versus student enrollment, subtly implying some shady calculations. He then dramatically declared himself "speechless" over earlier public comments🙄🙄 (despite continuing to talk), claimed to have "countless exhibits" proving community taunting, and played the victim over an ethics complaint against him, lamenting the supposed waste of taxpayer dollars on his defense.  🙄

That concludes our coverage for now. Over the next week or two, we will be providing a detailed breakdown of the budget, ensuring a clear understanding of how it impacts each and every member of our community.

Feb 25, 2025 -  🐻🐻🐻 Boardroom Battles: Don’t Poke the Bear! 🐻🐻🐻
   - Click here.

During a school board meeting, staff members and students were recognized for their contributions. Mr. Joshua Milgazo, a mechanic, received a staff certificate for maintaining transportation despite a shortage of personnel, while various Frank Dugan Elementary School staff were commended for their exceptional support during a family's challenging time. Additionally, Asher Holmes Elementary School's student ambassadors presented their activities promoting kindness, citizenship, and responsibility, receiving certificates for their efforts.🏆🏆

Great Job everyone.  Now onto the other matters.

Board members shared positive messages received from students for World Mental Health Day, expressing appreciation for the encouragement, while Mr. Vincent Palmero and the Chartwell staff were recognized for achieving allergen safety certification, ensuring a safer dining environment for students.  Amazing art show by the Marlboro Memorial Middle School to showcase Lunar New Year.🐉🎨

An Old Bridge resident (because what else is there for someone from another town to do on a Tuesday?) spoke at the school board meeting to advocate for honoring Black History Month and suggested eliminating Pride Month from Marlboro schools, arguing that it imposes values not embraced by all cultures and families in the community.  He tried to use his support for Black History Month as a shield to excuse his blatant homophobia and open hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community, revealing a clear lack of integrity and compassion 🌈🌈🌈.  Several other residents criticized the influence of non-residents at previous meetings and urged the board to prioritize the voices and concerns of Marlboro Township taxpayers.

The board briefly touched on communications with Mr. Ballone confirming he had no updates. Moving swiftly, they reviewed the superintendent’s HIB report noting two incidents between February 7th and February 20th. The next meetings were confirmed for March 11th and March 18th, with budget discussions on the agenda.
The drama picked up when the board moved to the policy development and community relations section, pushing it up earlier in the agenda to address the hot topic of abolishing Policy 5756. Ms. Mendez introduced the first and second readings for various policies, including the motion to abolish Policy 5756, which was quickly seconded.
The real fireworks started when the topic of policy development was pushed up the agenda, bringing Policy 5756 front and center. As has become a theme of the meeting, the attacks against Ms. Gandhi resumed, this time focused on the timing and transparency of policy changes. Ms. Gandhi, clearly prepared for this, defended the current procedure confidently, explaining that sharing policies in advance only happened occasionally in 2024 due to timing constraints—nothing new or sinister.

However, Ms. Siewert and Ms. Mendez 🙄 seemed determined to paint this as a deviation from tradition, pushing back and expressing frustration over what they claimed was a lack of communication. What followed was essentially a game of procedural ping-pong, with Ms. Gandhi calmly batting down accusations and clarifying that the process was unchanged, despite the increasingly passive-aggressive tone from her critics 🙄.

Through a lot of eye-rolling, thinly veiled snark, and a noticeable uptick in childish behavior from certain quarters, the board eventually moved on and voted. Ms. Gandhi’s steady handling of the situation might not have won her any popularity contests with certain board members, but it did make it clear who actually understood the rules.
The board moved quickly through the secretary's report and then dove into committee updates. The Advisory Committee, led by Ms. Mendez, presented a well-prepared charter outlining responsibilities and a selection process for members, which received praise for its thoroughness. The Buildings and Grounds Committee provided updates on various maintenance projects, including HVAC upgrades and playground replacements, all expected to be completed by the end of the school year. The Communications Committee, led by Mr. Hyett, discussed a comprehensive communications plan and the need for clear guidelines on board and district responsibilities. Meanwhile, the Curriculum Committee focused on improving eighth-grade math scores and alignment across grades, as well as updates on physical education and world languages. The Safety and Security Committee emphasized ongoing upgrades and a plan to address polling site security, while the Special Education Committee highlighted the expansion of the ER program and a new reading initiative.

The Technology Committee finally got off the ground with Mr. Lilonsky, Ms. Corraro, and Mr. Hyett as co-chairs, much to the relief of some and the outrage of others. El Presidente clarified that while the committee was approved back in October, it wasn’t seated immediately because he wanted to understand its purpose better. He also mentioned that Mr. Ballone had started working on a technology plan last year, but the work was paused due to the board’s interest in being more involved.

Then came the fireworks. Ms. Bellomo wasted no time making it clear that she was furious about not being on the technology committee (she thinks being a keyboard warrior makes her qualified for the technology committee 🤣🤣). She aggressively threw around words like "nepotism" and practically demanded an investigation into the seating process, acting like she’d just uncovered the Watergate scandal of school boards. With a tone that dripped with self-importance, she ranted about how her professional background in AI (she can use Chat GPT and Gemini) and technology made her the obvious choice for the committee—as if the entire board would collapse without her expertise.

Ms. Mendez (still bitter over not being President)😡, never one to miss an opportunity for some passive-aggressive jabs, chimed in to back up Ms. Bellomo's complaints. She questioned the transparency of the whole process, hinting that there might be some dark conspiracy behind the scenes to keep them out—because clearly, a local school board's tech committee is where all the real power lies. Mendez's comments were more about stirring the pot than seeking actual answers, but hey, why let facts get in the way of a good grievance session?

She also took issue with El Presidente’s decision to share a draft policy with the tech committee instead of the policy committee first, accusing him of operating behind closed doors like some kind of school board Illuminati. Her performance would have been almost impressive if it weren’t so blatantly transparent—this wasn’t about technology; it was about Ms. Bellomo’s bruised ego and Ms. Mendez's flair for drama.

Amid the chaos and finger-pointing over the technology committee’s seating and transparency, Mr. Lilonsky emerged as the voice of reason. He calmly pointed out that the newly seated committee hadn’t even met yet, let alone started making decisions. His reminder that they still needed to coordinate with Mr. Balone.

When El Presidente calmly explained that the draft policy was just a starting point and not an official document, Ms. Bellomo barely let him finish a sentence before interrupting with even more accusations of secrecy and favoritism. Ms. Mendez backed her up with exaggerated sighs and pointed questions, as if they were auditioning for a reality TV show instead of participating in a school board meeting.

Now back to something important to many parents and students, The Marlboro Scope Special Education PTO presented their efforts to foster partnerships among teachers, parents, administrators, and the community to support students with disabilities. The organization has awarded over $20,000 in grants since the 2021-2022 school year for various resources not covered by the school budget, including sensory equipment, read-aloud pens, and specialized learning tools. They also organize inclusive events and fundraisers, such as painting parties, Bagel-making events, and the annual "Walk for Change." Board members expressed appreciation for Scope's contributions and discussed the importance of promoting their initiatives through district-wide communications and PTO support, noting that grant approvals were scheduled for a vote later in the meeting.

Probably the most important aspect of the meeting was on budget; there was a proposal for a referendum to fund HVAC upgrades at Robertsville and Asher Elementary Schools through debt issuance, allowing the district to receive up to 34% state aid for the project costs. If the referendum passes, the state aid would cover a portion of the expenses, with the remaining cost to be paid from capital reserves, ensuring no new tax increases for residents. Bond counsel explained that issuing debt would make the district eligible for state funding, reducing the burden on local taxpayers. Additionally, the board reviewed a timeline for submitting a resolution and working with architects to ensure the project aligns with the New Jersey Department of Education’s requirements.

Aside from the HVAC project, the board discussed various other budgetary items, including repairs and upgrades such as asphalt and concrete work, flooring replacements, gym floor remediation, security upgrades, and purchasing new equipment for maintenance and snow removal. Rising utility and maintenance costs, as well as a significant $4.5 million increase in health benefits and salaries, were highlighted as major budget challenges. To address these increases, the board considered utilizing bank cap and health benefit waivers. The discussion also covered the need for prudent fiscal management by leveraging maintenance reserves and budget surplus without inflating revenues artificially. The board aims to balance the budget responsibly while minimizing tax impacts on residents, with further discussions and a potential resolution on the referendum expected in the coming meetings.

During the discussion on financial and business operations matters, the board reviewed and approved a range of resolutions, including budget transfers, bills, monthly financial reports, travel approvals, and various operational items like home instruction and out-of-district placements. A notable point of contention was the approval of travel for board members to attend the NJSBA Equity Expo.

Mr. Hyett, Ms. Corraro, and Ms. Gandhi defended the conference, clarifying that it was not focused on DEI or sociopolitical issues as some had claimed but was about providing equitable support for all students to achieve excellence. Ms. Corraro shared a personal perspective on the importance of such conferences, citing her own experiences with neurodiversity and the need for accommodations.

The meeting took a cringe worthy 🙄 turn when Ms. Siewert launched into a dramatic tirade, sounding less like a board member and more like a child who didn’t get their way. She threw a fit over Ms. Gandhi’s supposed hypocrisy, whining that Gandhi’s behavior this year was totally unfair. According to Siewert, Gandhi’s willingness to praise Mr. Cohen for not sharing policy drafts with certain board members was just the worst thing ever—despite the fact that, you know, no one else seemed to care.

But like any tantrum, Siewert’s outburst didn’t stop there. She escalated to full-on conspiracy mode, dramatically listing off names like Nadia Singletary, Michael Cooper, Jada Sinclair, and Roslyn Fero, accusing them of being fake social media profiles created specifically to bully her. In her breathless rant, she even dropped the phrase “deep state,” as if she’d just discovered a new favorite term on a YouTube video.  

Finally, El Presidente, like a weary babysitter, managed to steer the meeting back on track, leaving Ms. Siewert to sulk about how no one understood her or appreciated her bravery. If anyone watching was keeping a bingo card for melodrama and martyr complexes, they definitely hit the jackpot.

The liaison reports highlighted various school activities and achievements, including Freehold Regional High School's plan for a November referendum to address funding cuts and improvements, and Abbott School's successful 100th-day celebrations and food drive. Marlboro Education Foundation promoted a Harlem Wizards vs. MTPS staff fundraiser, while Marlboro Middle School prepared for the musical "Shrek Jr." and a blood drive. Memorial School focused on drug prevention and conflict management programs. Robertsville School raised over $10,000 in a Glow Run and planned a lip sync contest, and Defino School celebrated kindness with challenges and a successful lip sync show. SCOPE and SEPAG collaborated on special education support and inclusion events. 

Two retirements, Mr. Angel Valdez and Rosalyn Wolkowitz.  Mr. Valdez was our Spanish Teacher, who taught at the elementary schools.  Ms. Wolkowitz taught Kindergarten at Abbot for 35 years.   Great job and congrats.  
OK, so after celebrating two amazing teachers, we now go to old business, with grievances.
It must be Fesitvus, as Ms. Gandhi had her list of grievances.  Ms. Gandhi  dismissed the repeated mentions of fake social media profiles and Facebook as irrelevant to the board meeting, subtly implying that the focus should remain on board matters rather than online drama.  Ms. Siewert brings up Ms. Gandhi’s husband, what?? Is he on the board?  Grasping at straws.  

Ms. Gandhi criticized Ms. Siewert for voting against professional development for two board members due to a lack of an agenda, pointing out the inconsistency as she had voted for other professional development without an agenda. She also refuted Ms. Siewert’s claim about requesting a detailed write-up, stating she only requested a photo and a list of sessions attended. Ms. Gandhi defended her previous suggestion about being financially prudent with professional development, comparing it to common corporate practices. Finally, she directed a sharp remark at Ms. Bellomo, sarcastically thanking her for demonstrating how not to collaborate effectively and expressing concern about the influence of such behavior on students.
Ms. Siewert unleashed an emotional and frantic tirade against Ms. Gandhi, desperately accusing her of arrogance, hypocrisy, and immaturity in a flurry of insults that seemed more like a personal vendetta than a professional response. At one point, in a laughably dramatic attempt to assert dominance, she warned Ms. Gandhi, "Don't poke the bear,"🐻😂 as if trying to paint herself as some kind of fearsome force rather than a board member losing her cool.   🤡🤡 

In a rare moment of practicality, Ms. Bellomo suggested reassessing the school lunch program to offer more organic and wholesome options for students. Despite her enthusiasm, Ms. Bellomo's understanding of the RFP process and vendor management seemed a bit shaky. She eagerly suggested exploring new lunch vendors for healthier options, apparently overlooking the restrictions and procedural requirements tied to the National School Lunch Program.
Ms. Mendez formally requested to be swapped from the Advisory Committee to the Technology Committee, wow, abandon your existing committee for something new and shiny.  🙄

At the last public comments of the night, a social worker at the David Abbott Early Learning Center, expressed disappointment at the abolishment of the original transgender policy, fearing it might leave transgender students feeling unsupported. She emphasized the importance of ensuring compliance with New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws to prevent legal challenges. Simmons also praised her retiring colleague, Mrs. Walowitz, highlighting their positive collaboration.

A resident and parent from Marlboro, expressed frustration over the increasing difficulty of attending Board of Education meetings due to the contentious discussions. She inquired about the advisory committee’s formation, its public involvement procedures, and timelines, emphasizing the importance of parent and community input on issues like transportation, security, and special needs. 

And with that, we are done.   Just remember, don’t go poking any bears 🐻😂🐻😂🐻😂!!

Feb 18, 2025 -  🔥🔥🔥 From Frogs to Fearmongering: Climate Change and Manufactured Outrage🔥🔥🔥   - Click here.

Wow, a super “Special Meeting” this week to decide the fate of policy 5756.   

A quick recap: 5756 focused on the rights of transgender students. The last MTPS board took umbridge because (gasp) “parental rights” (awe) and decided to change the policy.  The state got mad and took MTPS to court. The old MTPS Board spent a ton of money and - yada yada yada - after the court gave them permission, the new Board got the chance to decide whether to abolish 5756 or continue the ‘good’ fight. Also, just a week before the special meeting, Ms. Bellomo moved to suspend 5756 right this very minute because it was an emergency, the board, in a 6-3 vote, said - nah, nope, not an emergency - we’re gonna follow the rules instead. 

Super special thanks to Michael Lilonsky for coming up with the idea to add a special meeting to resolve this situation fast, and without breaking any rules or laws. Good job!

🚨 Outsiders Stirring the Pot: Marlboro’s Unsolicited Lecture Series 🎤
The traveling outrage circus rolled into town, featuring a lineup of very concerned speakers who don’t have young kids and don’t even live in Marlboro. The Cracked Board was entertained by a series of dramatic monologues about the dangers of Policy 5756 - secrecy, legal Armageddon, betraying parents - OH MY!!

One speaker gave us a riveting childhood memoir about climbing trees and playing with frogs, apparently under the impression that this was a groundbreaking argument against gender identity policies. Another took a detour into science denial, because why stop at one conspiracy theory when you can toss in climate change skepticism for good measure?

Of course, the usual buzzwords were thrown around—secrecy! Parental rights! Lawsuits!—because fear-mongering about “irreversible decisions” that never ever ever happened in any actual elementary school anywhere is the bestest most perfect way to end this crazy saga. 
Look, we get it—some people just love inserting themselves into other districts' policies to score political points. But maybe next time, they can save the theatrics for a town where they actually pay taxes? Marlboro’s got enough real business to handle without this traveling roadshow of nonsense. 🚀

But it wasn’t all nuttiness overload. One common sense filled speaker backed abolishing Policy 5756 but refused to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon. Instead of fear-mongering, he called out the misleading narrative that teachers and administrators are secretly scheming against parents. The message? Enough with the drama—let’s move forward, focus on education, and stop using this issue as a political battlefield. A rare moment of sanity in an otherwise chaotic discussion. 👏

Now onto the vote:

Ms. Siewert’s First Reading: The Emotional Opening Act 🎭
Ms. Siewert took center stage to formally introduce the first reading of Policy 5756’s abolishment—and made sure we all knew just how deeply emotional this moment was for her. Fighting back tears (or maybe just dramatic pauses?), she powered through the reading, reminding everyone that this was a big day for the community.
But of course, no speech would be complete without a nod to social media drama. She hopes this repeal will put an end to the “fake profiles bashing people” online, because clearly, that has been the real tragedy of this whole ordeal.

Roll Call Drama: The 9-0 Vote to Abolish Policy 5756 🎭📜
The board took its long-awaited vote on abolishing Policy 5756, and let’s just say, the performances were Oscar-worthy. Here’s how it went down:
🗳 Dr. Miśkiewicz – YES
Simple and to the point. No monologue, no theatrics. Just a vote. Refreshing.
🗳 Ms. Bellomo – YES
Oh boy. She kicked things off with a dramatic speech thanking the real heroes (obviously herself and former Board Members, especially Mr. Patruno), while also issuing a call to arms for parents to stay vigilant. If we didn’t know better, we’d think she was launching a new political campaign.
🗳 Ms. Corraro – YES
Took a slightly different angle, condemning the division that the policy has created. Emphasized that schools should be safe and inclusive, regardless of what’s written in policy books. Basically, a lesson in how to repeal something without fear-mongering.
🗳 Ms. Gandhi – YES
Pulled out a full-blown legal takedown, roasting the previous board for not abolishing the policy in 2022 and lamenting the taxpayer dollars wasted on lawsuits. Oh, and a not-so-subtle dig at last week’s failed "emergency suspension" stunt, reminding everyone what a real emergency actually is. Spoiler: It’s not this policy.
🗳 Mr. Hyett – YES
Kept it short and focused. Wants the community to move on and actually start talking about education again. Imagine that!
🗳 Mr. Lilonsky – YES
Another straightforward vote with minimal commentary. Sometimes, less is more.
🗳 Ms. Mendez – YES
A heartfelt thanks to every parent, past and present board member, and the entire cast of the Policy 5756 Saga™. Reminded everyone that this fight has been ongoing since June 2023, and made sure to get a roll call of who stood by the policy amendments. Dramatic? A little.
🗳 Ms. Siewert – YES
Took a victory lap, thanking the real trailblazers—herself included—who dared to challenge this policy. One part celebration, one part grievance list.
🗳 Mr. Cohen – YES
El Presidente wrapped things up with an eloquent reflection on how everyone can arrive at the same conclusion from different perspectives. We get it, sir. You are wise. After announcing that the real final vote happens at the next meeting, he officially declared the unanimous 9-0 vote. 🎉

2nd Round of Public Comments
Most speakers took turns thanking the board for abolishing Policy 5756, but let’s be real—none of them were particularly concerned about students. 

The first speaker cared about education, expressing relief that this exhausting debate was finally over so the district could focus on academics instead of controversy. Others used their time to celebrate the policy’s repeal, while another speaker asked why a second vote was necessary—because, you know, laws exist. A former special ed teacher rounded things out by citing studies on parental involvement (as if that was ever in question) and making it clear they were just here to push the same anti-trans agenda.  

Mr. Paturno, former Board Member, went full rage mode and attacked Ms. Gandhi for her comments. He ranted about how the delay was an unforgivable risk, throwing around accusations and even shaming Ms. Gandhi for daring to suggest that legal procedures should actually be followed. He dramatically claimed that the district could have been liable if something-something-something had happened in the two-week gap (huh - like what, actually?), and insisted that parental notification was just as urgent as sick leave and FMLA (because those are totally the same thing 🙄).  Unlike raging Paturno, Ms. Gandhi remained composed and didn’t take the bait. She stood firm, reminding everyone that good leadership means acting responsibly, not emotionally. Instead of engaging in the theatrics, she let last weeks 6-3 vote speak for itself, because normal people know what an emergency looks like, and following the law and making informed decisions always wins over performative outrage.

And with that, we are done.  

Feb 11, 2025 -  ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ I Want It NOW!!!❄️ ❄️ ❄️   - Click here.

The meeting started with a wonderful and sweet gesture by El Presidente, having the children do the pledge, and gratitude for attendees.  

The main act 🎭? The never-ending saga of Policy 5756, which has been hanging around like an uninvited houseguest. With a recent appellate court ruling, the Board was left with three choices:
          1️⃣  Keep the 2015 version (throwback edition 📜)
          2️⃣ Tweak it again (because that’s worked so well before 🙃)
          3️⃣ Kill it once and for all (RIP, Policy 5756 ⚰️)
They chose Option #3—abolition—kicking off a dramatic two-part finale, with the first reading on February 25th (oh wait, that’s been changed to February 18th).

Board members took a moment to pat themselves on the back 👏, emphasizing community input (which they’ll mostly ignore), legal guidance (which they kinda had to follow), and all the hard work that got them to this moment (cue inspirational music 🎶).

And with that, the public was escorted out while the Board vanished into executive session, presumably to discuss top-secret 🕵️‍♂️ Board things—or just enjoy the peace and quiet.

A former Board Member spoke in public comments, as he commended the legal team.  He wanted to know if the Board really had to follow the rules when abolishing a policy or if they could just fast-track it and call it a day 🚀.

Enter Mr. Gross, the Board Attorney—you know, the guy who actually knows the law—who patiently (and probably with a deep sigh) confirmed the obvious: abolishing a policy requires two votes over two separate meetings 🗳️🗳️. Because, shocker, you can’t just wipe things out on a whim—this isn’t some Wild West school board where rules are optional.

So, for those in the back still hoping for an instant policy purge, let’s spell it out again: you can’t just abolish things ASAP because it’s inconvenient to wait. You need to follow the process. You need to follow the law. The LAW requires PUBLIC NOTICE. The PUBLIC has a right to know what the Board is about to DO. No stealth attacks. No super secret abolitionist movements behind closed doors. Are ya’ll still with me here? Good. No surprises allowed, unless it’s a REAL emergency! And most importantly, you need to not rack up more lawsuits on the taxpayers' dime. Marlboro’s legal bills are already high enough—no need to add “Board ignored basic procedures” to the next invoice.

Budget Time: The Balancing Act of Taxes, HVAC, and Special Ed—Let’s See How This Plays Out
The main event kicked off with Vincent Caravello delivering the much-anticipated budget updates and proposals 📊. Here at The Cracked Board, we’re all crossing our fingers that taxes don’t skyrocket 🚀💰, but hey, we also like schools that function and students that get the support they need—so let’s see what the Board cooks up.

The Big Budget Talk: 2025-2026 Edition
The hot topics (besides the lack of air conditioning) were HVAC improvements, curriculum funding, and special education investments. The Board was presented with four thrilling options for HVAC upgrades:
      1️⃣ A second-question referendum that would be 40% funded by the state (basically free money—well, sort of).
      2️⃣ Fully funding the upgrades through the district's budget, spread over one to two years (aka, brace for impact).
      3️⃣ A five-year equipment lease with interest payments (because who doesn’t love paying extra? 🙃).
      4️⃣ Financing through the Monmouth County Improvement Authority, which sounds fancy but still involves debt.

Board members seemed to favor the referendum option—because why wouldn’t you take state aid when it’s up for grabs? Also, this would avoid an immediate tax hike, which is always a crowd-pleaser. 🎉

Curriculum & Special Education: Where’s the Money Going?

The curriculum budget had some savings in textbook costs and curriculum writing, but professional development and online services saw an increase 📚💻. Meanwhile, special education spending is going way up, thanks to rising enrollment and the growing need for more instructional aides.

To cut down on those ridiculously expensive out-of-district placements, the Board plans to expand in-district ERI (Emotional Regulation Impairment) programs. New ERI classrooms will be created (finally) along with higher preschool tuition, because someone’s gotta pay for it 🤷‍♂️.
Board members were surprisingly unified in supporting the ERI expansion—because it actually makes sense both financially 💰 and for the students 👏.

The convo wrapped up with a collective nod toward exploring the referendum route further—but not before consulting bond counsel, because nothing says fiscal responsibility like bringing in the lawyers ⚖️.

So, where does that leave us? Well, The Cracked Board is eagerly awaiting the next move from our esteemed Board and its leadership dream team 🏆. Will they deliver a balanced budget that pleases everyone? Or will they end up blaming Trenton for their problems? Stay tuned—because this budget season is just getting started. 🍿

Travelgate: The Board Debates Conferences Because… Of Course They Do ✈️🎟️

In most districts, approving conference travel for board members to improve their leadership skills would be a routine, no-drama vote. But not in MTPS! Here, even professional development becomes a political battlefield 🎭.

First up, board members complained about being waitlisted for conferences despite applying on time. The Board tossed around potential fixes, like pre-approving conference attendance or allowing members to pay upfront and seek reimbursement later—because navigating bureaucracy is apparently harder than solving algebraic equations.

And then came the real fireworks. 💥 A board member took issue with the Equity Expo Conference, clutching her pearls because, after all, does anyone really think it's a good idea to ensure that all students feel included and have equitable opportunities? That idea is just way too woke and radical for some board members. Their main gripe? The conference featured sessions on sociopolitical awareness and equity plans for elementary schools (oh, the horror! 😱).

The board unanimously approved an equivalency application to fast-track Marlboro Township's evaluation under the new NJDOE QSAC (Quality Single Accountability Continuum) formula a year early. Why? Because the current state science test is tanking scores across NJ—a state that, ironically, is ranked #1 (or 2 or 3) in education every year. 🏆 Yet, 75% of districts are "failing" in Instruction and Program under the outdated model.

Marlboro, of course, would pass QSAC either way (because, obviously, we’re great 💅), but the new calculation method gives us two extra points and ensures we stay ahead of the curve as NJ transitions to more realistic assessment standards. Since Marlboro’s QSAC review literally happened that same day, the board moved at warp speed 🏎️ to get the application in for county and state approval—because if you can pass with bonus points, why wouldn’t you? 🎯

Lastly, while the ❄️ snow was piling up outside and fellow board members were held captive inside, Ms. Bellomo made her final grandstands to her hostages and the audience at home.

First, she tried to bypass the proper procedure outlined just minutes earlier, and called for an emergency 🚨 suspension of Policy 5756, arguing that since over 40 districts had already ditched it, it was an emergency that Marlboro restore parental rights right this very minute because I say so!

But here’s the thing—this wasn’t an emergency, and the rest of the board knew it. Other members rightly pushed back, noting that the policy had just been discussed in executive session, where a clear process was already agreed upon for its repeal at the next meeting. Some board members expressed frustration over the theatrics 🎭, musing that this should have been brought up earlier, instead of being dropped like a political stunt in open session ensuring maximum chaos, while others reminded everyone that following the law matters ⚖️—and this Board should not be rushing into bad decisions (again) that could backfire.

Despite heated debate 🔥, sanity prevailed. The board opted to table the motion and moved back into executive session for actual legal advice 📜. When they returned, they voted 6-3 against the emergency suspension, reinforcing that procedures exist for a reason. While the policy is still set to be repealed at the next meeting, the board refused to take a reckless shortcut just to score political points 🎯. Crisis averted—at least for now.

Still on fire 🔥, Ms. Bellomo also ranted about the as-yet-unseated Technology Committee, the same one that was created last year but - wait for it - was never seated. Here’s the thing though. On January 21st, El Presidente  told the board he needed to give this committee more thought and he was working on it. Unfettered because now it was three whole long weeks later, Ms. Bellomo insisted he had plenty of time to build out an entire committee and define its responsibilities, because, you know, nothing says effective governance like rushing headfirst into a committee with no structure, no plan, and a Google search’s worth of research 🧐. What does she think this is - a Board that thinks before making decisions? Pssst. Why bother?

✈️ FlYinG bY tHe SeAt Of YoUR PaNTs IS WaaYyY MoRE FUn. 🤡
Here’s a wild idea 🤯: maybe, just maybe, let’s first figure out what the committee is actually supposed to do before throwing bodies into it for the sake of appearances. Maybe create a real foundation, and—stay with me here—actually use logic 🧠 instead of emotion-fueled, performative outrage 🎭.

With that, thank you for reading the Cracked Board.

January 21, 2025 -  🔥🔥🔥Teamwork or Me-Work? The Art of Self-Congratulation🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Before we get started on the latest from the Cracked Board, we’d like to remember Ms. Wanda Arango, a beloved educator who dedicated over 37 years to Marlboro Township Public Schools. Known for her passion for teaching Spanish, her joyful and nurturing classroom, and her commitment to fostering global awareness and compassion ❤️ through initiatives like "Community of Caring," Ms. Arango left a lasting legacy of excellence and care that touched generations of students and families. The Board extended heartfelt condolences 🕊️ to her family and observed a moment of silence in her memory.❤️❤️

The Marlboro Township Board of Education meeting featured heartwarming moments 💕 as staff and students were recognized for their efforts in fostering respect 🤝 and community health. Teachers Traci Kracoff and Erin Allutto received accolades 🏆 for going above and beyond, while the Healthy Futures Club at Marlboro Middle School showcased their impactful work, including organizing a blood drive that saved 180 lives last year. With a goal to exceed that success, the students enthusiastically invited the community to participate in this year’s drive on March 1st , emphasizing the life-saving impact of blood donations. Go out and donate, people! 💪The meeting continued with the talented students 🎨 of the David C. Abbott Early Learning Center, guided by the wonderful Caroline Bullock, who have been busy creating delightful winter masterpieces. Awesome work, kids! 👏

Now onto the Cracked Board: Where are Ms. Siewert and Ms. Gandhi? 🤔Skipping the first full meeting of the year—bold move, ladies! Maybe they’ve started their own secret club .
Ah, the committee shuffle, first major duty by El Presidente Mr. Cohen.  Fresh off forming the new board committees, hopefully Mr. Cohen sought feedback from his Boardmembers. Excitingly, the assignments were announced as everyone is trying to figure out their position. 

Here’s the lineup: Mr. Cohen and Ms. Mendez are co-chairing the advisory committee, will it be a collaboration or a competitive filibuster? Stay tuned! Buildings and Grounds went to Ms. Bellomo, you could almost feel the applause she imagined in her head 👏🎭.Mr. Hyett snagged communications—let’s hope he says more words this year than in all the past ones combined. Dr. Miskiewicz is gracefully balancing both curriculum and special education with the skill and dedication of a true champion. Ms. Gandhi has been named the new policy chair—let’s hope the policies are ready to lead themselves, just in case!  Mr. Lilonsky, our steadfast safety and security guru, is on the job—because who better to oversee things than someone who remembers when "closing the stable door" was a literal safety concern 🐎.

Meanwhile, the tech committee remains unseated🤖, proving once again that tech lags behind everything else, even pickleball court construction. And in case you missed it, January is New Jersey School Board Recognition Month—cue the polite claps 👏👏👏for current and former members who serve our education system. Let’s hope this year’s committees bring their A-game to the court and don’t hit too many balls out of bounds!

Public Comments, oh boy, what do we have in store. One parent proposes a cell phone ban🚫📱—or at least a discussion about one—highlighting their impact on mental health and classroom dynamics. Their sentiment? “Cell phones are bad.” Let’s rewind to the simpler days of abacuses and rotary phones, where the only thing distracting kids was passing notes on loose-leaf paper.

Another community member asked why ESY is moving, a good question, looking forward to the reason.  

The Marlboro Education Foundation (MEF) graced the Board with a presentation celebrating 25 years of raising over $650,000 and funding 250+ grants for the schools. A true powerhouse, they shared how they’ve modernized with a new digital application process and collaborated with administration to fund projects the budget just can’t handle. The new Board showered them with praise (as they should), which is a refreshing change from the previous administration, who seemed to think the MEF was a rogue operation and demanded bylaws like it was a Congressional hearing. Thankfully, the MEF is getting the love and respect it deserves, so Marlboro students and teachers can continue to benefit from their innovative grants. Oh, and don’t miss their Wizards fundraiser—it’s sure to be magical! 🧙‍♂️✨
And now, the moment we've all been waiting for—the audit presentation! 🎉 Nothing gets the blood pumping quite like fund balances and internal controls. The big news? The district got a shiny, clean audit with no major findings (woohoo, gold star for the finance team! ⭐).The budget💰 discussion was a thrilling deep dive into numbers, funding strategies, and the eternal struggle between fiscal responsibility and keeping kids from melting in overheated classrooms. 
The big-ticket item? HVAC upgrades for Robertsville and Asher Schools. The Board debated whether to ask taxpayers for more money via a second ballot question, drain reserves, or take on a lease with interest—all while lamenting the fact that some students still rely on inefficient window units (because nothing says "modern education" like 1970s cooling methods).

Meanwhile, the bus driver crisis continues, and the district is considering a $5,000 signing bonus and a $2,500 referral bonus to lure new drivers. Fingers crossed this works better than the current strategy of wishful thinking and "Help Wanted" flyers.

On the technology front, there were concerns about cybersecurity (because hackers don’t take budget breaks), and teachers are still waiting for laptop upgrades—apparently, a Chromebook won’t cut it when running a classroom. Security updates were also a hot topic, with discussions on cameras, lobby guard tech, and other upgrades to keep schools safe.

And of course, the ultimate question—how much will this cost taxpayers? No one knows yet, but the Board has promised a full breakdown next meeting, so get your calculators (or stress balls) ready. One thing is certain: deciding how to spend millions of dollars is almost as complicated as explaining the Common Core.

The board swiftly moved through financial and business operations matters, approving everything from bills, audits, and home instruction changes to district donations and the disposal of old vehicles (RIP to some well-worn school buses). A minor correction was made to home instruction dates, and a few board members had to abstain from voting on travel expenses since, well, they were the ones doing the traveling. 

With that wrapped up, they moved on to curriculum matters, including an amendment to the Extended School Year program’s location, which was up for discussion next, they just need more space, nothing really earth shattering.
Essentially,  the Extended School Year (ESY) program is moving to a new location, and parents can expect clear communication, applications, and transition plans—especially for younger students—to help ease the change. 

After years of dedication and service, the district bids a heartfelt farewell to three outstanding individuals: Elaine Hill, who shaped young minds at Asher Holmes for 23 years (and kept her classroom at a toasty 82 degrees); Gregory Kishinevsky, a committed and reliable bus driver ensuring students’ safety for six years; and Surekha Vernekar, a warm and supportive instructional assistant making a difference for over two decades. We wish them all the best in their next adventures👏👏👏—whether it’s traveling, relaxing, or perfecting new recipes!

The board lawyer dusted off the ancient, unchanged-for-decades school ethics rules and gave a much-needed refresher on how not to embarrass themselves online. Turns out, board members can’t act like social media influencers stirring up drama, shouldn’t strong-arm the superintendent for personal favors, and actually have to work together (shocking, I know). Bonus lesson: if you’re going to rant online, at least slap on a disclaimer so the school ethics police don’t come knocking.

The board approved the school calendars for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 after the usual thrilling debate over which days kids should actually be in school. A lively discussion ensued about possibly swapping out Election Day closures for a day off on Veterans Day. Dr. Miskiewicz gave a great reason why students should stay in school to celebrate veterans. The superintendent was tasked with crunching the numbers in case the county ever decides to move voting out of schools. 

A community member asked some solid questions about bus driver shortages, special needs transportation, and the fate of old Chromebooks (spoiler: they get shuffled down to younger students until Google declares them obsolete). Another resident got up and “gasp” pointed out the obvious: some schools still don’t have air conditioning, because apparently, learning in a sauna builds character. He then took a moment to roast the town for endlessly whining about the school board but never actually showing up to meetings—though, to be fair, maybe people prefer watching from the comfort of their air-conditioned homes or just skimming the latest edition of The Cracked Board for the highlights. Not everyone has the time to sit through the bureaucratic Olympics, after all.

Board members finally figured out how to streamline updates—progress! Schools are thriving, PTOs are working overtime, and the board generously extends thanks to all the teachers, parents, and students making it happen. But wait, let’s pause everything for a Very Important Acknowledgment—Ms. Bellomo 👏👏made absolutely sure she got her well-earned thanks 🙌, even if it meant helpfully interpreting the liaison report to squeeze it in. Truly inspiring teamwork🤔! One has to wonder: is she playing for Team Board or Team Me? Maybe a quick refresher on kindergarten lessons about sharing and taking turns would help. Either way, Ms. Bellomo, The Cracked Board would like to extend our sincerest thanks—for… well, something. We’ll figure it out later.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

The board dove into new business, tackling urgent issues like a bus driver incentive plan. The consensus? Desperate times call for cash bonuses—up to $5,000 per driver to keep the wheels turning. Naturally, concerns about payout timing, clawbacks, and potential loopholes were raised, because no one wants a revolving door of drivers collecting checks and ghosting. Meanwhile, a board member brought up New Jersey's decision to lower testing requirements for teachers, prompting reassurances that Marlboro wouldn’t be watering down its hiring standards—because, apparently, expecting educators to actually pass exams is still a thing here. With that, the board wrapped up and shuffled into executive session for a closed-door discussion, reassuring the public that nothing of consequence would happen afterward.

With that, we are done, finally…

January 7, 2025 -  🔥🔥🔥A Fresh Start and New Leadership🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Here’s another edition of Cracked Board: Marlboro Township’s Finest Drama Series! 🎭 Thankfully, this one’s a quick read—you're welcome. 🙃

Big news! We’ve got two new board members! 🎉 Brian Cohen and Jenna Corraro have joined the circus (oops, I mean Board) after November's election, alongside returning champ Danielle Bellomo. The trio participated in the oh-so-ceremonial oath of office 👏.

Now officially seated, our freshly minted board members are ready to dive headfirst into their glamorous new roles of late-night meetings, endless policy debates, and—let’s be real—the occasional spicy public comment session. 🍿 Here’s hoping they packed some thick skin and a sense of humor. They'll need it! 😏

And then the real entertainment kicked off: the Game of Thrones—oops, I mean the nomination and appointment of the Board President. 👑 The burning question: Who will it be? 🔥

In a twist worthy of a reality show, Dr. Miskiewicz nominated brand-new board member Brian Cohen. Yep, the guy who literally just sat down in his chair. 😲 Dr. Miskiewicz gushed over Cohen's extensive leadership chops, education experience, and supposedly encyclopedic understanding of board operations (from his whopping 15 minutes of tenure). 🕒

Cohen was hailed as a visionary—cue dramatic music—who apparently possesses the mystical powers needed to guide the district with brilliance and finesse. ✨ Let’s hope the fresh perspective isn’t so fresh that it’s still unwrapped! 🎁
In a plot twist absolutely no one saw coming 🙄, Mrs. Siewert nominated Valentina Mendez. 🎤 She sang Ms. Mendez’s praises, citing her leadership skills, marathon-level professional training sessions 🏃‍♀️, and magical ability to make board members play nice with each other (most of the time). 🤝  Mrs. Siewert must have conveniently forgotten all the barbs Ms. Mendez hurled at the community—not to mention how she effectively muzzled three board members in 2024. 
The BOE’s version of a talent show kicked off as the nominees stepped up to pitch why they should be the board’s supreme ruler. 👑Ms. Mendez, started off as she leaned on her track record as the already reigning board president. 🏅 She stressed her dedication to fairness, collaboration, and her overachiever-level professional development streak. 📜✏️ Ms. Mendez threw a subtle warning shot, suggesting that leadership might be a bit too much, too soon for the new guy on the block. 🚸 She made her case for continuity and professionalism, reminding everyone that a steady hand at the wheel is better than reinventing it. 🚗✨

Mr. Cohen came out swinging, boasting his 30+ years of experience in education and government, his top-tier leadership chops, and a commitment to all things collaboration. 🤝 He pointed to his election as the community’s cry for change and vowed to unify the board while carrying the district’s vision forward. 🚀 Bold promises, folks—we’ve heard those before. Let’s hope this time we don’t end up with a burnt bridge instead of a better board. 🔥🛤️

Breaking news! In a shocker (or maybe not), the Board decided that unseasoned leadership was the way to go over seasoned experience. 🫣 Yep, the rookie, Mr. Cohen, snagged the presidency over the incumbent, Ms. Mendez. 🏆 Ouch!!  Here’s hoping Ms. Mendez can put her sharp remarks about Mr. Cohen and his wife behind her and actually collaborate.  Clearly, something went majorly sideways during her reign—just check our previous posts for a refresher on the drama. 🐾🚨

So, untested over experienced it is! 🤷‍♂️ Fingers crossed this current Board knows what they’re doing and work with Mr. Cohen and not divide the Board even further.  Let’s just hope this gamble doesn’t backfire. 🤞🤦‍♀️
Next up, the Vice President nomination showdown! Dr. Miskiewicz, clearly on a roll this week, threw Chad Hyett’s name into the ring. Wait, who? 🧐 Oh yeah, the guy whose best skill is mastering the art of silence while others duke it out. 🤐 On the other side, Mrs. Siewart stayed loyal to her bestie Ms. Mendez. 💕 Must be tough riding on someone else’s coattails—maybe now she’ll buddy up with Mr. Cohen? 

 Fresh off her presidential loss, Mendez wasn’t ready to fade into the background just yet. 🪩 So, naturally, she accepted the nomination for VP, perhaps as a way to stay somewhat in the game. 👑 Because if you can’t rule the kingdom, at least snag the second-in-command seat, right? 😉

In yet another surprise twist, Mr. Hyett emerged victorious! 🎉 Apparently, his stellar leadership skills and talent for uniting the community carried the day. 🗳️ Here’s hoping he graces us with more than a few words this year and works with Mr. Cohen to bring back sanity, respect, and success to the Board.  

As for Ms. Mendez… yikes. 😬 Let’s just say this wasn’t her day. Losing both the top and second-tier seats? That’s a tough one. The people have spoken, last year was a circus, and she had her fingerprints all over the chaos.  We need to do better for this town and for our children.

After all the pomp and ceremony, it was time for public comments. One community member stepped up to the mic 🎤 and called out the outdated elementary phonics program, urging the Board to consider something more comprehensive (hello, modern education!). She also asked for clarity on proposed changes to the gifted and talented program—because, apparently, transparency is still on the district's wish list. 🎁. Good points, solid concerns… but whether the Board actually listened or just nodded politely remains a mystery. 🕵️‍♀️ Fingers crossed, folks! 🤞
And now, for the highlight of the evening:  The number 1 mother of Marlboro, Ms. Bellomo’s children announced to the room that her reign as Queen Mom was still intact.  

And with that, the meeting wrapped up in under an hour! 🎉 We’ll count that as a win for everyone’s sanity. 🕒👏

December 17, 2024 -  ❄️❄️❄️Happy Holidays❄️❄️❄️ - Click here.

In the December edition of the Cracked Board, yet another Board meeting that was more “Bored” than anything else. 💤 Great recognition of MTPS from grateful parents—Marlboro truly has a fantastic school system, so let’s keep it that way. 🙌 Amazing work by the children from David C. Abbott as they demonstrated what it means to be good community members, with Mrs. Udon’s class showcasing this beautifully. 👏 Shout-out to Asher Holmes for their STEAM-focused event 🔬🎨, and kudos to Dugan and the YMCA for their collaborative artwork, which highlighted teamwork, gratitude, and the holiday spirit. 🖼️🎄

And then, we endured an hour-long executive session that dragged on and on. ⏳ You’d think they’d plan these sessions better so the public isn’t left sitting around twiddling their thumbs. 🤷‍♀️ But does the Board care about us? Who knows. 🙄Shockingly, there were NO public comments. 😱 Maybe Marlboro is just too tired or busy preparing for the holidays 🎅🎁, but we definitely missed the usual ramblings of the community. 

President Ms. Mendez brought up Board self-evaluations—a great initiative that will finally allow the Board to assess their own performance. 🧐 Mrs. Siewert chimed in to praise the initiative—wow, pucker up! 😘 While it’s a step in the right direction, we at the Cracked Board wish this had been done earlier. Maybe then they could have evaluated their yearlong theatrics 🎭 and the embarrassment they’ve caused the community. Here’s hoping they’ll share the results with us and something productive will come out of it. But let’s be real—we won’t hold our breath. 😤

Mr. Ballone presented the proposed 2025–2026 school calendar, sparking some spirited debate (because what else would happen?). 🔥📅 The discussion focused on syncing with Freehold Regional’s calendar, tweaking spring break, and dealing with single-session days. The Board made a big show of emphasizing transparency and communication with the community—wait, transparency and communication? 🤔 Who are these people, and what have they done with the usual Board? 

Now, for the pièce de résistance: voting booths in schools. 🗳️ Or rather, the hot topic of getting them out of schools. The grand plan was to send emails to the local government to get the ball rolling. And guess what? Drumroll, please...nothing. Nada. Zip. Emails weren’t sent. 🙄 Who needs follow-through when you can just talk about it for another year? Priorities, folks. Priorities. 🤦‍♂️

The 2025–2026 budget discussion was on full display, covering revenue projections, department reviews, and the usual anxiety over state funding (surprise, surprise). 😬 Highlights included plans for HVAC updates at two schools (finally), new curriculum resources like math textbooks  and G&T program supports, and some tech upgrades, including Chromebook refreshes and beefed-up security systems. Sounds good on paper, but let’s hope the Board applies more "rigor" in vendor selection than they did with that infamous after-school program debacle. 🙄 Fingers crossed, right? 🤞

Then came the fun part: proposed state legislation that could allow districts to raise the tax levy beyond 2% to cover rising costs and underfunding. 🤑 Translation? More taxes! 💸 But hey, at least we’ll get… um, what exactly are we getting for these tax hikes? A new sense of mystery? 🤷‍♀️ A warm, fuzzy feeling knowing we’re contributing? The suspense is almost as thrilling as the Board’s budgeting process. 🧐

The meeting concluded with a heartfelt tribute to retiring custodian Michael MacDonald for his 48 years of service—truly well-deserved recognition. 🎉

And finally, Mr. Ballone took a moment to “graciously” recognize outgoing members Ashlee McCormack and Aldo Patruno for their "contributions"—or, let’s be real, lack thereof. 😂 But hey, the good news is they’re officially being put out to pasture. 🐄🌾 Rest easy, Marlboro—these two are now harmless spectators, unable to inflict further damage on the school system. 🙌 Here’s hoping their legacy of mediocrity fades quickly! ✌️

November 19, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting, Where's The Drama?🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Before we start our edition of the Cracked Board, we want to offer our heartfelt condolences to the Galia family on the passing of Mr. Julio Galia. ❤️ Ms. Valentina Mendez did a wonderful job reflecting on Mr. Galia and his contributions to MTPS. 🙏  
We now return—the unofficial after-show summary of the MTPS Board of Education’s finest hits (or misses, as the case usually is). 🎭 This episode was surprisingly normalesque, with a focus on public schools and—are you seated?—actual school-related concerns. 📚 Wild, right? Almost like people finally read the script on how a School Board meeting should work. 🧐For once, we didn’t have anyone threatening the superintendent, Board members campaigning mid-meeting, or the community rightfully yelling about how wonderfully inept the Board has been. 🤷‍♀️ It’s been years since we’ve seen this level of calm—and dare we say, competence? Of course, The Cracked Board will sleep with one eye open. 👁 After all, the community has been waiting for this plot twist for two seasons. 🎬 Here’s hoping the drama stays where it belongs: in reruns, not reality. 📺
The meeting continued with a heartwarming tribute to respect and kindness. 🥰 Because occasionally, this Board remembers to celebrate the good stuff. Staff members Theodore Hall (Buildings and Grounds) and Ryan Collins (Marlboro Middle School) were honored for their above-and-beyond contributions. 👏 Proving that some superheroes don’t wear capes—they rock tool belts and whistles instead.  Kudos to them!Over at Robertsville Elementary, student ambassadors showcased their impressive efforts to spread respect through peer-led lessons and activities. ✨ Meanwhile, the "Robertsville Runs on Respect" campaign featured a student-designed shirt that basically screams, "We’re in this together (and we’re stylish too)!" 👕🫶 Honestly, the Board could take a page—or chapter, or the whole damn exemplum 📖—from these kids’ playbooks. They’ve already nailed teamwork and mutual respect, which seems like a novel concept in these meetings. 🤔
Before a quick coffee break ☕, Mr. Ballone stepped up with updates that kept the good vibes rolling. Marlboro Elementary’s third annual Book Character Pumpkin Contest 🎃 brought families together to create their favorite characters, reminding everyone that books—and pumpkins—are way more fun when you’re in it together. 📚 Maybe the Board could take notes from this exercise in collaboration—it’s amazing what happens when people work together with a little imagination and focus on shared goals instead of squabbles. ✍️✨
The Board tipped its hat 🎩 to the newly elected Board of Education members—Danielle Bellomo, Brian Cohen, and Jenna Carraro. 🎉 And guess what? No Aldo Patruno. 😏 Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. 🎅 Congratulations to Brian, Jenna, and Danielle! 👏 The trio will officially join the fray in January, being sworn in at the reorganization meeting on January 7th. 🗓️The Board also gave a collective pat on the back to its members who sacrifice their time—even on birthdays 🎂—like the ever-dedicated Dr. Miskiewicz, who got a round of applause and, hopefully, some cake. 🎉🍰 Well, it seems most Board members make the time and sacrifices—so where was the president of the Cracked Board, Annette Siewert? 🤔 Hmm, must’ve had something far more important to do. Priorities, right? 🫠
During public comments, a long-time Marlboro resident delivered a pointed critique of the Board, celebrating the blessed end of the chaotic election season 🎭 and expressing pride in events like Community Unity Day and the quality education his daughters were receiving.  But he didn’t stop there—he took the gloves off 🥊, laying bare his embarrassment over the Board’s behavior. From name-calling to personal attacks to a glaring lack of grace, he spared no punches. His message was clear: stop the petty drama, focus on the students, and remember that you're supposed to represent the community—not your egos. 💬💥
The Board's responses were predictably unpredictable—a scatter of defense and performative agreement. 🙄 Ms. Mendez nodded along with the critique, agreeing the election season was toxic (as if she wasn’t part of the show 🙃) while making sure to remind everyone of the Board’s “behind-the-scenes” work. (Pro tip: when you have to keep explaining how much work you're doing, maybe it’s time to reevaluate the output. 🤷‍♀️) Ms. Bellomo chimed in with a spotlight on her constant volunteering, reminding everyone yet again of her selfless contributions. 🥱 She pivoted to a safe topic—teaching respect to children—oh, the irony. 🙃
The Board Secretary gave the lowdown on October’s payroll report—standard stuff. 🗂️ Over in the Special Ed Committee, they got into the ESY program feedback. Parents were mostly into the 4-day schedule (90% approval 🫡), and the Staff? Totally loving it—100% satisfied. 😊 To make things easier, ESY dates will drop earlier next year so families can plan ahead. Smart move. 🗓️✍️ Plus, the ED development program is heading to Marlboro Middle in 2025–2026 🏫, and Mrs. Tirone’s about to break down test scores soon. 📊 Overall, moving forward and making it work! 💪
During the Policy Committee update, the Board revisited the never-ending soap opera 🎭 that is Policy 5756, now bogged down in yet another court showdown. This time, the appeal of the injunction took center stage in Newark, with our district teaming up with Manalapan, Middletown, and Hanover to, apparently, make sure everyone knows how much time and taxpayer money 💸 we’re willing to burn. Ironically, only a few board members took paid time off (we assume they all work) to attend the anticlimactic court hearing. 🙃 Congratulations Mrs. Bellomo, Mr. Patruno, and Mrs. Mendez! We do hope you billed the miles back to the board. 🚗💰
More policy updates were on the docket 📄, though nothing too exciting until we actually get to see the details. Then came the headliner, the "it" topic everyone's buzzing about: Artificial Intelligence (AI). 🤖 Yes, MTPS is finally dipping its toes into the AI pool—starting with a policy. Early discussions hit on buzzworthy topics like AI "hallucinations" 🌀, staff training 📚, monitoring, intellectual property, responsible use, and updates to policies like plagiarism and the code of conduct. ✍️As for action? Don’t get too excited—no big moves just yet. 🛑 The committee decided to pass the baton to the incoming board members 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ for this important conversation. Let’s hope the fresh faces can elevate the discussion, given that the outgoing members didn’t exactly leave behind a legacy of groundbreaking insights. 😅
The board dove into the long-overdue discussion about substitute rates, tackling two key areas: long-term substitutes and daily nurse subs. Spoiler alert: the current rates are low, and the district wonders why qualified people are skipping town. 🙄💼 To fix this, the board proposed raising the rate for all long-term substitutes. 📝 After all, these subs are doing the full teacher workload—lesson plans, grading, parent calls—so maybe it’s time we paid them like it. 💸As for daily nurse subs, the situation isn’t much better. 🩺 Unsurprisingly, no one’s lining up for these gigs. 🙃 Both changes are set for a December vote, with the hope of rolling out the new rates by January 1. 🗓️ While the board congratulated itself for tackling these glaring issues, you have to wonder why it took this long to address something so obvious. 🧐 Still, there was unanimous agreement that paying people decently is a step in the right direction—finally. 🎉
Then we had the Superintendent's updates and submissions for approval. These are the ones that tend to drift by without much fuss or fanfare—nothing to spark a spirited debate, just business as usual. 🫠 Try to contain your excitement.Superintendent Ballone gave a heartfelt tribute 🫶 to both Mrs. Laura Blake and Mrs. Tina Delaglio, who are retiring after amazing careers. 🎓💐
Following the Liaison reports from the schools—which were a mix of updates, shoutouts, and the usual highlights—it’s time to close out this edition of The Cracked Board! 🪩 Shockingly, our Board isn’t looking too cracked these days. 🪶 Could this be the start of something promising for 2025? Here’s hoping we stick with drama-free Board meetings, productive discussions, and just the right amount of mild entertainment. 🎬 Stay tuned for what’s next—fingers crossed the good vibes continue! 🤞🌟

October 15, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Showdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Wow, what a Board Meeting! 🤯 Marlboro really knows how to entertain. 🎭 More entertaining than an episode of Dallas. We had it all—great performances by our students 🎶, recognition for our wonderful teachers 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫, police reports 🚔, campaigning 🗳️, arguing 🤬

It started out amazing—it was a celebration of respect (hopefully the Board members were paying attention 👀), creativity 🎨, and dedication within the school community. To honor the Year of Respect , students and staff who exemplified respect were awarded certificates. 🏅 The Frank Defino Central Elementary School choir sang two songs, “Humble and Kind” and “Respect,” delighting the audience with their talent. 🎤👏

The meeting also showcased artwork projects, including a school-wide portrait mural at Defino that has grown since 2013, symbolizing community and connection over time. 🖼️💞 Additionally, Robertsville Elementary School’s Y Kids program celebrated cultural heritage and creative expression with projects like heritage flags and ice cream crafts. 🇺🇸🍦

Finally, long-serving staff members with 25+ years of dedication were honored for their commitment to the district. 🙌 

And now, on to the drama... 🎬

Parents at the Board meeting made it clear they’re not exactly thrilled with the switch from Champions to the YMCA aftercare program. 😤 Apparently, Marlboro parents have been sending emails to the Board with their concerns, but the Board was acting like this was all news to them. 📨🤔 It’s almost like we’ve entered a parallel universe 🌌 where parents’ emails magically disappear before they reach the Board. Are the parents making this up? Or is the Board sitting on a pile of unread emails 📥 and crossing their fingers no one notices? Because surely this Board would never keep anything from the public. Nope, not this one. 🙄

Then a parent came up and decided it was time for some brutally honest feedback on how the Board is perceived. 😬 Spoiler alert: the community doesn’t exactly see them as visionary leaders. Instead, they’ve noticed a few things—like the Board’s knack for stirring up division and negativity 🌀 and making every meeting a five-star drama series. Apparently, these deep-rooted concerns about the Board’s role in fostering this unique climate are common knowledge—except, of course, to the Board itself. 🙈

And then came the plot twist of the century... Brace yourselves: A Board member (Aldo Patruno) allegedly got violent with the Superintendent. 😱 Yes, you read that right. Violent. Like, police-called, emotions-all-over-the-place, can’t-hold-it-together violence. 🚨 Are we running a school district here or a soap opera?  Because apparently, we’re now in the “police intervention” chapter of the Board saga. And somehow, we’re supposed to pretend this is normal behavior? Just your everyday, totally professional, completely respectable Board member moment… 👏

But it goes deeper than that—who knew about the incident? Transparency? 🤔 When a concerned citizen asked if the Board president, Valentina Mendez, ever thought about cluing in the rest of the Board on the details, Ms. Mendez responded with what we’ll call “The Case of the Missing Information” defense, saying she just didn’t think it was worth mentioning that the Superintendent might have felt a tad unsafe. 🤷‍♀️

Not one to let such golden responses go unchallenged, the speaker poked at the Board’s commitment to "transparency," prompting Mendez to double down. “Transparency?” Mendez seemed to say, “Who needs it when we’ve got... um... everything under control?” 🙄

Oh, but there’s more. So much tension! 😤 Now the Board members are discussing the ‘incident’ or ‘police report.’ Before Ms. Mendez could defend her handling of the situation, Danielle Bellomo, through teary eyes 🥺, managed to speak up, her voice quivering: "We all just sat here, clapping for those beautiful children 👏, singing about being humble and kind... and then... we get anonymous tips... and calls to the media?" She sniffled, trying to hold back the tears. 😢 "It just seems like the exact opposite of... humble or kind…”

Alright, after that… whatever that was… let’s try to regroup. 🙃

So, Ms. Mendez is in full defense mode, explaining that she and Mr. Lilonsky were informed that everything was all sunshine and rainbows 🌈 and “resolved,” so naturally, no need to tell anyone else on the Board. Makes perfect sense, right? 🤦‍♀️

Well, enter Mrs. Gandhi (surprise, surprise) , who expressed her frustration over—get this—a “lack of transparency.” She even suggested that maybe, just maybe, everyone else on the Board would’ve liked a heads-up. 🤷‍♀️

After a lot of back and forth, the Board continues to show their dysfunction. 🤦

OK, now back to the adults in the room.  A concerned parent and community member stepped up, clearly frustrated with the Board’s ongoing “mystery novel” 📖 approach to transparency. He highlighted the familiar tune: Board members, parents, and the entire community are left with endless questions ❓ and far too few answers, fostering a climate of speculation instead of clarity. 💡He also noted that after two hours into this Board of Education meeting, there had been exactly zero discussions about actual education. 🏫📚 Wow, what a novel idea—to focus on schools during a school board meeting! 🙄

Ah, we’ve made it, folks! The “Cracked Board” got an official shoutout from Annette Seiwert herself. 🥳 Who knew we’d be the hot topic of the night? Annette took a moment to express her frustration with the “negativity on social media,” giving us a little wink by calling out our beloved group. 👀 Apparently, the irony of people in our group calling for “accountability and kindness” while posting some not-so-kind words really caught her attention. 🤔 But she didn’t stop there—oh no, she went on and on, calling out members of the community while defending her inability to make a difference. 🤷
Yet another community member took the mic 🎤, waving around his campaign shirt like a true showman 🎭, throwing some thinly veiled threats toward the Superintendent, and campaigning openly. Because, obviously, what better use of time at a school board meeting? 🗳️

With the meeting dragging on halfway through, the board’s lawyer took a moment to remind everyone they could say whatever they wanted—just as long as they were ready for the consequences, of course. 😶 And Mr. Ballone, likely tired of the finger-pointing, clarified that he hadn’t called the cops, thank you very much. 🙅‍♂️

Yet again, more people stepped up to remind the Board just how embarrassing they've been—especially on social media. Seriously, folks, maybe log off Facebook for a minute? 📱✋ Surely you’ve got better things to do... like, I don’t know, focusing on education for once? 🤷

This never-ending back and forth is getting old—yet here we are, with Board Members getting all pugnacious toward the very community they're supposed to serve. How charmingly professional of them! 👏

Oh, here we go again—Marlboro’s self-proclaimed Greatest Mother has graced us with her heartfelt reminder that she’s a mother (in case we forgot 👩‍👧), loves the community (of course 💖), and her heart drops at the thought of thinking of April 16, again using an unfortunate event to their advantage. Truly inspiring. 😐

And now, a Board Member tries to sprinkle in some levity, only to be drowned out by the peanut gallery squawking away—bawk bawk bawk! 🐔

Ah, the parade of community members continues, each one highlighting just how spectacularly dysfunctional this Board has become. 🤦 Meanwhile, we’re over two hours into the meeting, and guess what? Still zero talk of education, schools, or—dare we dream—actual policies. 📖

But wait! Improving schools finally made it onto the agenda…courtesy of a 19-year-old former Marlboro High School student. 👏 Because clearly, amidst the 'adults' in the room, it takes a teenager to come up with an actual plan or idea. Bravo, Board. Truly setting the bar high. 🎉

Oh, will this meeting ever end? More chatter, more complaints about the switch from Champions to the YMCA. 🏊 But wait—weren't there supposed to be no concerns about the Y? That’s what they said, right? Wrong. Very wrong. 🚨 The concerns are big, folks. Huge. And yet, here we are, acting like it’s all fine. Classic. 😤

Finally, after three hours—yes, three hours—we actually talk about schools! Can you believe it? 🏫 Lowest HIB numbers in six years, folks. Incredible. Amazing. Maybe, just maybe, the Board should take a page from these kids. 📘 They clearly know how to behave better than the so-called 'adults' running this show. Sad!

Assistant Superintendent Ms. Gross treated everyone to a whirlwind tour of the 2024 NJSLA results, showcasing academic progress and opportunities for improvement. 📊 The highlights? Grade 3 and Grade 6 saw impressive gains (kudos to the teachers and data specialists 👏), while Grade 8 math dipped… Science scores? 🧪 Top in the region!! Marlboro’s success even has neighboring districts knocking on its door for tips. (Impressive, right?)

Mrs. Ali Mortar outlined the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment for special education students with significant needs. 🌟 Most students excelled, proving the test is hitting the mark. Advanced learners are being re-evaluated to potentially tackle general assessments—a nice nod to progress. 🧠 The extended testing window? A thoughtful touch, allowing assessments to match students’ readiness. Overall, it’s a small but promising piece of the district’s broader focus on improvement. ✅

And then we trudged on to the usual business—nothing groundbreaking, just the usual. Oh, except for one small thing: our kids spent the month focusing on respect. 👏 Imagine that—learning from the children! Meanwhile, the Board managed to clock in four hours of infighting, dysfunction, and cringe-worthy moments. 😬 Thankfully, our stellar students and administrators are out here doing the real work and salvaging what little dignity we have left. 

👏 Bravo to them for making us look semi-functional. 🙌

September 10, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Meltdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Welcome to election season and any chance for candidates to embarrass themselves! 

The September Marlboro Board of Education meeting was less of a gathering and more of a circus 🎪🤡—and not the fun kind. What should’ve been a snooze-fest 😴 turned into a full-blown witch hunt 🧙‍♀️🔍 against Dr. Miskiewicz, and it was as tragic as a slow-motion car crash 🚗💥 you can’t look away from.

So here’s how it went down: the meeting kicked off with the usual fluff—roll call 📋, some overly enthusiastic student report 👨‍🎓🎉, and hollow praise for a “perfect” bullying report 🏆 (school just started, folks; let’s take it down a notch 🧘‍♂️). You could almost hear everyone checking their watches 🕒—until chaos erupted 💥.

Dr. Miskiewicz: The Only One Making Sense While Everyone Else Lost Their Minds 🧠💥🙃Flashback to the previous meeting 🔄: Dr. Miskiewicz dared to suggest the district celebrate all students 🎉, not just the top tier 🥇. Cue a collective meltdown 😱 from the Special Education Parent Advocacy Group (SEPAG) 😤. Somehow, they twisted her comment about “not just the cream of the crop” 🍦 into an attack on special ed kids 👦👧. Newsflash: That’s not what she said 📢. But who needs facts when you can launch a DEFCON 1 assault 🚨🚀 on the one board member who’s actually advocated for these kids? 🤔 Rational people are left scratching their heads like, “Huh?” 🤷‍♂️Let’s not forget that SEPAG isn’t flying solo ✈️; they’re clearly channeling the Bellomo-Patruno School of Bad Board Behavior 🏫🤡.

The Dynamic Duo: Bellomo and Patruno’s Clown Show 🤡🤹‍♀️Speaking of which, let’s dissect Bellomo and Patruno’s performances 🕵️‍♂️. Bellomo had the audacity to accuse Dr. Miskiewicz of “attacking” parents 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 for pointing out who requested her resignation 🚪👋. Oh really? 🤨 You want to talk about silencing? 🤐 From where we’re sitting, it looks like Bellomo was auditioning for the role of boardroom dictator 👑, trying to gag anyone with a dissenting opinion 🤫. Was she pulling the strings behind this SEPAG drama? 🤔 We’d love to know 💬. Maybe it’s time for a good look in the mirror, Mrs. (Bellomo) “I Don’t Want Board Minutes for Policy Meetings” 🔍🪞.
And Patruno? One minute he’s supporting Dr. Miskiewicz 🤝; the next, he’s tossing passive-aggressive barbs 🎯 like he’s in a competition 🥊. Isn’t this the same guy who takes instruction from unelected community members? 🤷‍♂️ The one who can’t follow basic board decorum? CUE THE TROLLS 🙄 Step aside and let the adults handle things 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦.

Siewert’s “Minor Goals” Bomb: How Did That Slip Through? 💣😲Meanwhile, while everyone was busy grilling Dr. Miskiewicz 🍖🔥 for a comment she didn’t make, they ignored the real shocker 😳: Mrs. Siewert suggesting we set “minor goals” for students with special needs 🤦‍♀️. Excuse me, what?! 😡 These kids work hard 💪, and their achievements aren’t “minor” 🏅! Where has she been for the last two years? 🕰️ And where was the outrage for that little gem? 😠 You’d think she’d be the one facing a public backlash 📣🚫. Hypocrisy, much? 🤨

Mendez: Leading From the Sidelines (Again) 🏴‍☠️🛑And let’s talk about Mendez 🙇‍♀️, who somehow managed to preside over this trainwreck 🚂💥 without lifting a finger ☝️. Did she try to calm the chaos? 😶 Nope. Did she even pretend to steer the conversation? 🚫 Not a chance. Did she add fuel to the fire? 🔥 Of course she did, because, why not? 

🤦‍♂️ Pro-Tip: Sitting back and watching the board implode 💣 while you fan the flames 🔥 isn’t leadership 👎. Neither is letting a dumpster fire 🔥🚮 rage.
Final Thoughts: This Meeting Was a Hot Mess 🥵🔥
What should’ve been a straightforward moment of clarification 🔎 turned into a public execution ⚰️ of Dr. Miskiewicz, a woman who’s dedicated her life to advocating for students with special needs ❤️📚. If anyone should be reconsidering their role on this board, it’s Bellomo, Patruno, and Mendez 👎👎👎. They’ve shown they can’t handle the job 🛑—and certainly can’t uphold basic standards of civility 🙅‍♂️🤦‍♀️.

This board is not cracked, it's completely broken! 🚨 Time for a full overhaul 🛠️: less drama 🎭, more sense 🤓, and maybe—just maybe—an ounce of professionalism 💼. Until then, we’re all stuck watching this never-ending sideshow 🤹‍♂️🎬

August 20, 2024 - 📚 Curriculum and Committee 💥 Calamity. - Click here.

Welcome to the August 20th Marlboro Township Board of Education meeting!🎉
We slogged through hours of tedium so you don’t have to. Trust us, you missed nothing—except maybe a few 💤. Hang tight; we’ll try to keep you awake. 😴
📋 **Committee Reports:**
📚 **Curriculum Committee** was up first!
Dr. Miskiewicz kicked things off by patting everyone on the back for their “hardcore” 💪 summer curriculum update work. It was like summer school for adults—everyone split the grunt work, then pow-wowed to bring you the finished product.
But was it, though? Finished? Ms. Siewert claimed the committee did a “thorough” review, while Ms. Bellomo argued they only reviewed the measly state standards. Apparently, there was also a mix-up about who reviewed what—with Ms. Bellomo saying she reviewed K-5 Math and ELA 6-8, while Dr. Miskiewicz insisted she was the one who tackled ELA 6-8. So, who really did their homework? 📚 Maybe ELA 4-5 got a bit neglected.
Ms. Siewert, ever the overachiever, even reviewed the health curriculum—despite it not being on the agenda this year. Good news: it’s unchanged! 😅 Phew.
Ms. Bellomo, who’d been ranting about curriculum woes on Facebook, had nothing substantial to add during the meeting. So where was the “terrifying” content she was so worked up about? 😱 We tuned in expecting some scandalous revelation. Instead, we heard crickets. 🦗 Did the lack of a keyboard cause laryngitis?
🔍 **Side note** – our editors have heard that parents think the district’s health curriculum is just fine, so maybe it’s time to retire the Chicken Little act about a mythical sexualized curriculum. 🐔
Dr. Miskiewicz went on to address the “shocking” news that students will read books this year. 📖 Ms. Bellomo clarified that the committee only looked at book titles, not content. We guess the titles weren’t terrifying either. Like the health curriculum, if parents have concerns about content, they can opt out and a new book will be selected. Revolutionary. 🚀
In actual education news, new online textbooks 📘 let teachers customize readability. Cool, right? Let’s hope this doesn’t send the technophobes into a tailspin. 🤯 Imagine how much better school would’ve been with this tech, whether you were in class 10, 20, or 50 years ago!
But hold on—just when it seemed the curriculum report was over, Mr. Petruno had to ask if last year’s health curriculum changes were still in effect. Seriously, Aldo? Did you zone out during the entire report? 😑
🚨 **Safety and Security Update:**
Mr. Lilonsky announced that the Board is reviewing crisis response, safety, and security plans in a super-secret 🕵️‍♂️ executive session. No details will be shared because the public’s not invited. They’ve got this—or not. We’ll never know. 🤷‍♀️
🎓 **Special Education:**
Dr. Miskiewicz gave a rundown on special education services and curriculum development. They also discussed the new emotional regulation impairment program at Mar El. Impressive, but will it bring kids back from out-of-district placements? What about staffing and professional development? We’re on standby. ⏳
📜 **Policy Committee Update:**
Ms. Mendez delivered the Policy Committee’s thrilling report, including the addition of “culture” to student discipline considerations and a new, less subjective HIB policy. Students will get reminders about these policies twice a year. Groundbreaking. And as we’ve never learned, policies don’t really prevent bullying and harassment. Ever. 😔
Next, Mr. Ballone and the board gushed about their outreach to community leaders in the name of enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on hate and bias. They were all really-really-really impressed with their fantastic training and were looking forward to future sessions. Wait … They’re calling for more DEI training? Or don’t they know they just described DEI training? 🤦‍♂️ Hey Board, you’re now WOKE! Welcome to the 21st century. 🌍
💬 **Multi-Language Learners:**
The board provided a detailed overview of how multilingual learners are identified and tested. Proactive and engaging. ✅
🎯 Finally, we got to the discussion about Board Goals and Milestones:
The board congratulated themselves on last year’s goals (or lack thereof) and set new ones. They decided to focus on stakeholder engagement and student achievement—because apparently, learning is still important.📚
When discussing student achievement, Dr. Miskiewicz told the Board that “I do hope that we include special needs children and children that are not necessarily the top, the cream of the crop, … I'd like other children to be able to be recognized for … their achievements … in art 🎨 … in music 🎶 … let's get everybody involved.” And just like that, they decided to celebrate all forms of success, especially in special education. How progressive. 🎉
They vowed to promote a safe and respectful environment, turning the “Week of Respect” into a “Year of Respect.” So, more than just assemblies, right? Let’s hope. ✊
💰 Fiscal responsibility was discussed—spend wisely, be transparent, and maybe look for extra cash.🤑
Policy development was on the table, with a plan to make committee minutes more accessible. Let’s hope they actually follow through this time. They (again) toyed with the idea of exploring different policy providers. We seem to recall this being an ask for months now, but yes, let’s stop talking about it and get it done, ok? 📝
📚 Professional development for board members was debated. Some thought it essential; others weren’t keen on making it a formal goal. Funny how this didn’t come up for teachers, who, by all accounts, could use more support. 🤔
Finally, the board decided to tweak their goals for future approval and update them on the district website—months after the fact. School starts in two weeks, folks. What’s the hold-up? 🕰️
🔄 **Old Business:**
Ms. Bellomo pushed for an advocacy committee, but board members weren’t sold, except for Mr. Patruno, of course, always on board with his running mate. The Board questioned the arbitrary limits on participants. They rightly questioned how this random selection process would work and whether this committee would be just another super-secret exclusive club operating behind closed doors. The debate quickly spiraled into whether the committee should involve everyone, like a "committee of the whole," because apparently, some people like their meetings to be even longer and more chaotic. 😵
In the end, Ms. Bellomo stripped down her grandiose plan, and the advocacy committee became a standing committee with nary a detail on how it would work IRL. All board members blindly agreed, except for Ms. Gandhi, who refused to sign off on something so undefined. 😤
While we’re asking questions, did you see the hypocrisy here? When Ms. Gandhi proposed a motion for a transparent review of board action, the same members who rammed through this advocacy committee idea were clutching their pearls, insisting they needed more time and details. When asked to explain, Ms. Bellomo tossed in a random comment about the FBI, which begs for an explanation we’ll never get, while Ms. Mendez said she voted NO because she wanted what was said in executive session to remain secret. Selective transparency is the name of the game. 🎭 We’ll know what they want us to know.
Oh, and we’re pretty sure the board violated Policy 0131 which says that any new or revised bylaws, policies, and regulations must be submitted to the Superintendent first for review before the board even gets a look at them. And where was this vote on the meeting agenda? Oh yeah, it wasn’t. Why let a little thing like rules get in the way when you can just make them up as you go along to make a few select board members happy? 🙄
Finally, Ms. Mendez suggested creating a technology committee. Debate ensued about whether to make it exclusive or open it up. Or should it be part of the communications committee? Why, who knows. In the end, they opted for the technology committee—because apparently, digital relevance is a must to avoid getting left behind in the digital dust. 🖥️
🗳️ **Polling Locations in Marlboro Schools:**
The board revisited the issue of polling locations in schools. Ms. Mendez proposed forming a subcommittee, but it’s a moot point for 2024. The board debated if schools could override municipal and county decisions. Spoiler: Probably not, per the legal eagle, but they decided to keep discussing anyway. After all, it sounds pretty good in an election year. 🗳️
**Closing**:As the meeting wrapped up, they threw in a reminder to keep things classy on social media, because apparently, they need to be told that during election season. 💻

NEW August 13, 2024 - CRICKETS - Click here.

The Marlboro Township Board of Education special meeting on the YMCA before and after school care kicked off with the usual roll call 📝 and a snooze-worthy executive session 😴 before diving into the main event: a presentation by the YMCA 🎉.
The YMCA's Vice President of Child Achievement 🌟 gave a sales pitch on their before and after school programs, complete with a rundown of registration options 🗂️, some costs 💸, and drop-in care 🚶‍♂️. She proudly pointed out the "benefits" like a free youth membership 🏊 and detailed their rigorous staff training 📚. The board asked some softball questions ⚾ about registration, staffing, and special ed accommodations, with the YMCA assuring everyone they’d handle it all perfectly 👌.
But here’s the kicker: despite all the buzz and community outrage 😡 over the higher cost of the YMCA compared to the previous provider, Champions, there was no mention of that pesky concern 🧐. Not a peep about why parents are paying more 💰 for what seems like the same or less flexible service. So, if you were hoping for answers, tough luck—you didn’t get them 🤷‍♀️.
But wait, we found a resource 🔍. Go to this Facebook post 📱 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1fj1dvjs7g6waS6X/ to see the price difference for yourself. The YMCA price was higher 🚀, and the Board knew it 🤫, but for reasons no one knows, that seems to have been a deep, dark secret 🕵️‍♂️. Transparency it’s not.
When it was time for public comments 🎤, a resident dared to question the board’s secretive process in picking the YMCA, grilling them on how they evaluated the bids 🔥. Spoiler alert: the board admitted there wasn’t any real scoring system 🤷‍♂️. It was more of a “we liked this one” kind of deal, with price being just one of many vague factors.
After that, the board quickly moved to close public comments 🚪 and offered families the chance to chat with YMCA reps in private 🤐—because why address concerns publicly when you can shuffle them off into a side room? 🤔

July 16, 2024 - 137 days late and no one is paying attention!  - WE ARE AND YOU SHOULD TOO!   Click here.

🎭👏 Welcome to the Marlboro Township Board of Education meeting, where the only thing more elusive than common sense is a timely form submission. Read on folks, Read on! 
🎉👋Board VP Michael Lilonsky kicked things off sitting in the big boy captain's chair this month and reminding everyone that public comments were limited to three minutes. How generous. ⏳

First up was a local, inspired by Middletown, bravely fighting the tyranny of cell phones in school like a modern-day superhero armed with data and a disdain for outdated policies. 📱🦸‍♂️ Because clearly, parents need a reminder from the superintendent to do their job, right? But hey, Mr. Lilonsky says the policy committee is on it, right after they finish their coffee chat. 🤪☕️ Superintendent Ballone chimed in, pointing out policy 3283. Not to be left out, Ashlee McCormack chimed in that more than half of Cherry Hill’s parents were anti-restrictions. 🚫📱 Seriously though, does anyone think this BOE knows how to parent better than parents? Ummm, the Cracked Board editors think NOT. 😅
Enter the tech guru with a cybersecurity plan longer than a CVS receipt, desperately trying to get some attention from the board members whose cybersecurity plan is as mysterious as Area 51. 🕵️‍♂️💻 Receipts? Bah, who needs 'em when you have vague promises of continuous review and updates. 🤷‍♂️
And finally, another concerned citizen appears, uncovering the scandal of the century - a missing Board member disclosure statement! 📜🔍 After a back and forth about what form he meant (the financial disclosure form – the one that makes sure no one has a conflict of interest) Mr. Lilonsky downplayed the whole ordeal as Mr. Caravello wove a tale of compliance out of thin air, and Ashlee McCormack sheepishly admitted she might be (actually is) the culprit but assured everyone she was on it. Yeah right. 🤔(Update - its been a week and still no filing -  check this out for yourself!
Do Marlboro residents think it is okay to go without a form designed to prevent conflicts of interest for SEVEN, EIGHT, or even NINE MONTHS? The Cracked Board was suspicious, and guess what? Our editors were NOT surprised to find out that the district – or more accurately Mrs. McCormack - is definitely NOT IN COMPLIANCE. 📉🚨
Cue the drum roll! 🥁🎶🔐 Here’s the truth! 
McCormack was sworn in on February 6, 2024. According to the NJ Admin code, the disclosure form was due within 30 DAYS OF APPOINTMENT, and it’s over 137 days late. 🗓️😱 McCormack should have been added to the February list immediately, not in June, and her form was due on March 7th, not in August. Oops. 🙈 But seriously, even if it was due in August, why wait? 🤔 You only must answer four questions. 🤷‍♂️ We may never know. 🤷‍♀️ Don’t believe us - read the relevant text here and scroll down to 6A:28-3.1 Procedures for filing of disclosure statements.

Next up, a discussion on not using schools for polling locations became such a hot mess of dysfunction, when Aldo Patruno – (following up from a recent meeting he attended) – started a tedious 32-minute discussion on the subject that everyone agreed to within the first 60 seconds. 🗳️🔥 So why the long-winded grandstanding? Because seemingly, everyone is trapped and has to indulge Aldo when he embarks on bullying the board into voting on poorly worded motions punctuated by a lack of legal guidance, especially on an issue no one is arguing about. ARE-WE-RIGHT? 🤦‍♂️ Finally, the painful discussion ended when the board circled right back to where they started, agreeing to agree to try to remove polling locations from schools by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. If legally possible. 📅🤷‍♂️ Oh, and let’s not forget, Aldo’s kids don’t even go to Marlboro schools. Sounds like an election year. 🗳️
On to new business, we think. Danielle Bellomo wanted to discuss forming an "accountability committee" or an advisory committee. Does she know the difference? Because they are two very different missions and purposes. 🤔 Her idea was to involve more community members and local businesses in a way that, apparently, hadn't been done before. Really? We recall hearing about meetings with Jewish leaders last month in the wake of anti-Semitism in our schools, and another one to choose a new principal. Short memories. 🧠 Even the Board members around the table couldn’t follow her.  
Out of the box, Mr. Lilonsky wanted to table the discussion until the Board president returned next month, but Bellomo’s bobble head twin, Aldo Patruno wanted none of that! He insisted that the discussion continue, and just like that, the conversation meandered through the idea of having technology and advisory committees, with community members participating in what sounded like yet another layer of administrative confusion. 🔄📈 This idea, while good, was poorly presented, not well thought out, and was as clear as mud, as per usual. 🌫️ What should have been a thoughtful discussion again turned into an off-the-cuff disjointed conversation without a beginning, middle, or logical end. 😖 Oh what a surprise, look who brought it up and led the charge!  🏇🚩
Of course, it was decided to punt the discussion to the next meeting, and everyone gratefully nodded along, agreeing to talk to madam president and make it an agenda item for August, ensuring that bureaucracy remains alive and well. 🏛️ Hey Aldo, did you call madam president yet? 📱🐂
So there you have it folks. A missed filing deadline longer than an Oscar acceptance speech  🎤, a disclosure statement MIA for months 📜, and a level of transparency lower than a magic show 🎩

June 18, 2024 -  Sexual Harrasment, Anti-Semitism, What Next? - Click here.

Welcome back, folks, to the cracked board update—now with extra snark 😏📋🎉, because who doesn’t need a bit of sarcasm to spice up the mundane?
Trying to showcase a newfound commitment to addressing issues in real-time ⏱️🔄, our intrepid Board President decided to flip the script by moving the executive session after public comments. Was it a stroke of genius 🧠✨ inspired by the packed audience, or just plain common sense finally making a guest appearance? Let’s go with the former and pretend that it was A-O-K 👍✅ that this change of heart happened after the agenda was published. Alas, you win some 🏆, and you lose some. 🤷‍♂️🤔🎭
Enter Superintendent Ballone 🎓, thanking local leaders for schooling him on what he should be doing in the wake of rising anti-Semitism in our schools, and waxing poetic about the district's zero-tolerance policy, backed up with a hearty dose of newsletters 📰 and middle school assemblies. One might wonder if the newsletters come with a decoder ring 🕵️‍♀️💍 to interpret what "zero tolerance" means in practice, leaving a mystery unsolved. 🧐📚💭
Then, in a move no one saw coming (read: everyone saw coming), Board President Mendez took the stage 🎤 to reiterate ... essentially everything Mr. Ballone had just said, with a touch of added thanks 🙏 and a sprinkle of as yet unearned self-congratulations. 🙄👏🥳
Finally, Rabbi Pont ✡️, armed with actual actionable suggestions and a center to combat anti-Semitism 🏫, reminded everyone what a commitment to combat anti-Semitism actually looks like. (Surprise) Miss I-commiserate-with-you-about-everything-Mendez thanked Rabbi Pont, making sure that everyone who’s anyone knew she was at the meeting 👩‍🏫, but nary a mention of anyone else. It’s a mystery for another day. 🕵️‍♂️✡️🔍
Next up, a Howell resident and child of holocaust survivors delivered a poignant reminder of the stakes at hand, casting a shadow over the back-patting session. 🌑✊🕯️
In classic Marlboro BOE fashion, with all the enthusiasm of a deflated balloon 🎈, our cracked board promised even more policy reviews over the summer 🌞📋, because everyone knows that when faced with a crisis 🚨, it’s time to do less and write more policies! Hint: it’s not good when everyone in the room and watching online 📺💻 are left wondering whether any of this pandering would translate into real change, or if this was just another episode of "too little, too late, they don’t really care." 😒✍️📜🌀
Guess what came next? Executive session! Ninety minutes’ worth of waiting ⏱️🕰️ by the citizens that elected some, but not all, of these cracked board members. Isn’t that just what Marlboro parents want to be doing late on a work/school night? 😴⌛🕰️
Finally, at nearly 9 pm, it's back to round 2 of public comments, almost 2 hours after the meeting officially started.
Public Comments Round 2: The Late-Night Snark Fest 🎤🌜
The first speaker didn’t waste any time ⏳, diving straight into how the administration has been a total flop in handling anti-Semitic incidents. She laid out a litany of horrors 💀, from Nazi references and swastikas in the yearbook 📚, to kids mimicking Hitler. Hailing from a family of refugees who fled anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union, she was understandably livid 😡 that this is happening in what's supposed to be a safe haven. Her demands were a laundry list of obvious steps 📜 the administration should have already taken: public condemnation 📢, thorough investigations 🔍, mandatory anti-Semitism education 📖, counseling 💬, stricter policies 🚫, and accountability for those who don’t report incidents. Oh, and maybe throw in some classroom cameras 🎥 for good measure. She handed the board a wakeup call with explicit instructions on how to do their jobs, so we all know they’ll ignore the guidance. 😡📜🎥🚨
Next up was a regular at the mic 🎤, frustrated that his complaints went nowhere 🗑️, warning that kids will keep misbehaving without real consequences. Using a recent incident as a backdrop 🎭, he questioned the competency of administration and teachers 👩‍🏫👨‍🏫, sarcastically asking if producing hate-filled students was the district goal. He declared that his kids wouldn’t set foot 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ in such a toxic environment, ending with a jab about Mr. Ballone’s spiffy suit 👔. 👔👎😠
The next speaker grilled Mr. Ballone on whether the administration keeps track of these incidents. Mr. Ballone claimed they do 📊, in line with the student code of conduct, but conveniently didn’t have any specific numbers or trends handy—a classic dodge. This intrepid speaker wasn’t buying it, suggesting that if records 📋 are kept, they should show patterns that demand action 🚀. The speaker highlighted the glaring disconnect between Mr. Ballone’s polished responses 🎩 and actual leadership, calling for change instead of empty talk. 📊📉💬❗
The next speaker stepped up to complain about the lack of consequences, particularly in maintaining school discipline 📏. He argued for harsher penalties 🔨 to prevent chaos and decay, and warned that without strict enforcement, standards will continue to slip. 🚨📚⚠️
Two more speakers took the floor, with one giving a shamelessly glowing review 🌟 of the board’s past year, though he did express concerns about the transition from Champions to the YMCA 🏊, hoping the beloved Champions staff would move over to the Y. Have you heard about the higher prices 💸 and inflexible schedule options yet? Yup. More to come on this, no doubt. 🤦‍♂️💰🤷‍♀️
Finally, the board got down to the thrilling business of policy, resolutions, and committee reports 📝. The only highlight was a revisit of a previous comment about cell phone use in schools 📱. Ms. McCormack, who once criticized a past board for hiding behind closed doors 🚪, ironically suggested discussing the issue in an executive session. Oh, the irony. Ms. Siewert shot that down 💥, preferring an open discussion. They acknowledged the pros and cons of banning phones 📵, likely hoping to quell the rise of another single-issue crusade to Save Our Cell Phones. 📱🏫🗣️
And that’s the summary of yet another night of school board shenanigans. Sorry for the delay, folks. It’s summertime! 🌞⏳🕶️

May 28, 2024 -  Marlboro Redefines Transparency and its OPAQUE! - Click here.

Apologies for keeping you waiting longer than a two-hour executive rendezvous before a board meeting. But finally, here we are with the May Regular Meeting Cracked Board recap. 🎉
First up, student recognition and—you guessed it—a science fair. 🧪🔬 Riveting stuff, right? Board members and guests had the privilege of watching Marlboro’s future scientists and researchers in action as students presented their groundbreaking ideas. 🏅 Congrats to all the students who managed to snag an honorable mention in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition. 🌟 Against all odds, Marlboro keeps churning out top-tier talent! Bravo, kids and future explorers. 🚀🌍
Now, down to business. And by business, we mean another two-hour executive session. Because if there’s one thing the Marlboro board excels at, it’s keeping an audience in suspense! 🙄⏳
Fast-forward, first up is public comment. 🎤👥
We begin with a very brave student outspoken about recent antisemitism at Marlboro Middle School. Here’s what we know, and well, it’s all we know because, “transparency,” you know? We know you know. 🤷‍♂️✨ A student in a “Conflict Manager” position at Marlboro Middle School made derogatory comments to a fellow Jewish student. We will not repeat the level of danger in the words used, but their sentiment shook the community like an EF5 tornado, as they should have. 🌪️⚠️
But that’s not the most shocking part. Our board and administration had little to say, other than we have zero tolerance for hate and we’ll “continue having conversations.” 🗣️ The most adequately inadequate response of this board to date. Sorry, this isn’t a therapy session. 🛋️ I guess it’s nice to know that we have zero tolerance for hate, unlike what, a 10 percent tolerance for hate? 🤔 Why set our standards so high when we certainly don’t for education (more on that below)? Yeah, so we’re puzzled. The community is puzzled. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️ But, by all means, engage the solenoid to start more conversations. 🔄 Screw actions, they are hard, right? 🙄
Perhaps the most upsetting is that until this brave student spoke, there wasn’t a single subtle signal that this was happening in Marlboro. Not by our administration. Not by our board. Riddle me this Batman, did anyone have their ear to the ground? 🦇👂 Doubtful, more like tin can telephone. 📞
Next at the microphone was a student who is sick of eating lunch at 10:00 am. 🕙🍽️ Mr. Ballone, sweating pure unadulterated empathy, understands this all too well. For he was once an ELA teacher who had to eat lunch at 10:00 am and sneak snacks in the afternoon like a chipmunk squirreling away nuts for winter. Seems fitting. 🐿️ The chipmunk part, not the nuts part… 🥜 anyway, next up a parent spoke about Marlboro’s stubbornly sadly shameful sidelining of yet another special education student. 🚫📚 We sense a theme. 🎭 Finally, Mr. Pollack, a regular guest speaker, is back with the wisest words of wisdom—free kids from their phones and smartwatches. 📵⌚ Bring back the 80s! 🎉🕹️ Hey, we are kind of with you on that one. 💾🧩
On to the thrilling 2021/22 State Performance Report. Apparently, and hold onto your expectations, Marlboro is adequate in ELA and math, which is nice. 📈📘 Commendable though? Well, here’s the thing, the State wants schools to excel and achieve an 80 percent score. We aren’t even close; in fact, we are in North Carolina towards our goal to get to Florida. 🛤️🌴 Miles to go, as Mr. Frost once said. 🛤️ But why? In a steady waltz of charts, charts, and more charts, the administration explained away our district’s ability to achieve. 📊📉 Well done, Marlboro! What do you get for $100 million? 💰 Well, barebones adequacy, of course. Folks, Marlboro did not do well on the State performance evaluation, which is baffling considering how much our board focuses on everything but education. 📚 Time to give the “harness bells a shake to ask if there is some mistake?” Yeah, there’s no mistake. 🛎️❄️
In a stunning turn of events, a Mr. Shifrinson is pulled from the agenda for an interim administrative appointment. But why? Nobody knows, and nobody probably ever will. 🤷‍♂️ This is right on par with the next chapter in the saga—our board votes against a motion to get to the bottom of the events on March 13th. 🗳️❌ Esteemed members Mendez, Lilonsky, Patruno, Siewert, Bellomo, and McCormack were all a hard no. 🛑 Here’s the thing though. No matter how many times you say transparency, it simply won’t just will itself into existence. You actually have to act on it. Not today, Marlboro! Not today. Or tomorrow, probably. 🕳️🚫
And finally, it’s a wrap, but not after a brief discussion about taking advantage of a state exception that will allow us to raise taxes even more to increase our school budget. 💸📈 It seems that nobody wants to do that. A $100 a year property tax increase is much better spent at Disney anyway. 🏰🎢
Now off to executive session… again. Until next time, faithful followers, and miles to go before I sleep. 💤 See you in June. 📅

May 7, 2024 -  Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - Click here.

Welcome back to the wild world of bureaucratic ballet in Marlboro Township, where the Board of Education has mastered the art of saying much while doing little 🎭. Here, every meaningful motion is kicked down the road 🦵, every decision requires major drama 🎟️, introspection is avoided 🙈, and transparency is just an empty vessel 🚫. Strap in for a rollicking recap of the fumbles and stealth 🕵️‍♂️. It's not just a board meeting, it's a masterclass in the absurd! 🎓

Starting off is Mr. Caravello, showing off his trademark soothing drone 🎤 as he presents another riveting rundown of the 24-25 fiscal year's budget—which hasn’t changed a penny since its debut performance back in March 🔄📅.

Here in Marlboro, a whopping $100 million school budget is overseen by a motley crew that includes a hairdresser 💇‍♀️, a PTO Mom masquerading as a financial checkbook guru 📚🤓, a retiree who is (most likely) on a fixed income 🏖️💰, a bookkeeper playing CPA dress-up 👔🎭, a former insurance broker who fancied a career change 🔄🕴️, an executive PR chatterbox 📢💬, and—our personal favorite—an engagement account manager 🤷‍♂️📊. What does that even mean? Seriously, folks, where are the skills we need for this balancing act? 🤹‍♂️🎲

In another sequel to the post-covid horror show, this year’s budget tackles costs skyrocketing faster than a SpaceX launch 🚀📈 — everything from keeping the schools standing 🏫 to shuttling kids to and fro 🚌 costs more, topped off with a cheeky 27% spike in health benefit costs over two years 📊🆙. Despite a slightly less miserable infusion of $500k in funds thanks to the state’s grudging generosity 💸🏦, our district continues to stretch every dollar with the desperation of a last-chance bungee cord 😬🪢.

With little wiggle room, our fearless financial wizards agreed to slash department budgets 🪓, let attrition do the dirty work of workforce trimming ✂️👥, raid reserves for an HVAC extravaganza and other “essential” upgrades 🔧🎉, and not surprisingly, raising taxes (cap-cap-cap) 🧢📈. Ah, but fear not—there is some good news! Through all these fiscal gymnastics, the curriculum and student services remain untouched 🙌📚. For now, anyway.

So, how do we slice this $100 million budget pie? 🍰 Your local taxes support 86% of it, with a gentle nudge up by only 3.1% more from your wallet this year 💸📊. State aid throws in a measly 8% 🤏💵. And the rest? Well, it’s a scavenger hunt through various pots, including that daring $2.6 million dip into the dwindling reserves 💰🕳️. Anyone else feeling uneasy about what happens when that cookie jar is emptied? 🍪😟 Don’t y’all wish we had floated that bond a few years back when we had the chance? Dumb-dumb move, but too late now 🤦‍♂️🚫. So do tell, dear Board, how are we rebuilding these reserves? Is the plan to keep kicking that ball down the hall until it’s another Board’s problem? Classic government style fiscal irresponsibility 😏🏦.

On to Public Comments - Round 1 – which turned out to be a party of one, our perennial ray of sunshine, the “Go to Cap” gal ever performing her kumbaya mantra 🎶🌞, extolling the virtues of responsibly educating and retirement bliss 📚🌈. But … PLOT TWIST! 🎭👀 Go to Cap gal threw her support behind Motion Number 14 (better known as the Transparency Motion, more on that below) while casting some serious shade 🕶️🌲 at the Board’s potential shopping spree on so-called external "experts." Given our district’s knack for financial acrobatics—like that nifty trick of renaming jobs to pinch pennies—her skepticism wasn’t exactly unwarranted 🤹‍♀️💰. “Maybe cap the spend, folks?” she hinted, hoping against hope to funnel some cash back to where it belongs: the students 🍼📚.

Committee Reports took the stage, and in a stunningly unexpected twist, the communications committee had absolutely nothing to say 🤐✨. Guess silence really is golden 🏆💛.

Meanwhile, the HIB report sprang to life, leaping from zero to two incidents in a mere week 🌱📈. What’s going on in those classrooms and hallways, folks? Are our school kids really getting meaner 😠📚? Wonder who’s responsible for that 🕵️‍♂️🤔?
Mrs. Bellomo, ever the overachiever, unfurled a list of agenda items and resolutions so long you'd mistake it for a CVS receipt 📜🧾. Between appointing board secretaries, insurance consultants, and a parade of coordinators, we found ourselves watching a high-stakes game of musical chairs with fancy titles 🎵🪑🔄.

Now, for the nail-biting season finale - the infamous item #14 - The Gandhi “Motion,” also named the "Motion for Review of MTPS District and Marlboro Board of Education Actions in the Handling of the Incidents Leading Up and Following the April 16, 2024, Board Meeting." Whew, what a mouthful! 🗣️🌬️ Alas, our predictable Cracked Board turned a motion that was all about transparency and accountability into an exercise in obfuscation 🎭🔮.

Birthed three weeks ago, the Gandhi motion set out to shine a light on the Board's own sketchy antics, commissioning an independent exposé on their bumbling crisis management and communication blunders 👻🔦. The end game was admirable – to find a neutral good-actor to help the Cracked Board figure out how to adjust and improve 🎯🕊️. Neutral because we all know that the Cracked Board would never look at themselves in good faith with 18 open eyes peering from the 9 members in this brain trust 👀🧠.

The Gandhi motion quickly became the board's favorite chew toy 🐶🎾 and six members jumped at the chance to argue about bringing in outsiders to clean up their mess, secretly terrified of piling another layer onto their bureaucratic cake of horrors 🍰👻. Can someone say “skeletons in a closet” 9 times very fast 🗣️🚪?

Counterarguments flew like missiles from their lips as those who previously championed transparency went strangely quiet when it came time to back their big talk 🚀🤫. Hello – Mrs. McCormack – we’re looking at you here! Did the sting from a previous scorching by Ms. Gandhi strike you mute, or was the motion too packed with jargon? Or maybe, just maybe, it was a bit too much transparency for one sitting 🌐🙊. Do tell 🗨️💬.

The motion debate ping-ponged to dire warnings of government overreach, with every board member strutting around, vying for the Fiscal Prudence Trophy 🏆🕺. Did they forget the tax increase they just voted on for the budget 💸📈?

Mr. Patruno preached about keeping the government out of schools. 🏛️👨‍🏫 Ummmm……Hello Mr. Patruno???? 📢🤔 Did you forget that you’re an elected government official? 🗳️👀 Was the $8 million in state aid you just voted to spend too small a detail? 💸🤷‍♂️ Could it be that your posh private school days (and those you're giving your kids) are skewing your view, blinding you to the needs of the mere mortals who rely on or believe in a public education? 🏫💔

Yet they didn’t spare the praise for Mrs. Gandhi, muttered things like "there’s a lot to like here… but…." 🗣️👍 But alas, that was mere pandering for the public. 🎭👥 They offered ZERO constructive suggestions. 🚫🤐 Gandhi stood alone, until good-old-boy Mr. Hyett came to her aid with a strong show of support … “I will vote YES!” 👏💬 That-a-boy Mr. Hyett, glad to see you have guts! 🎉👊

What should have been a slam dunk motion to get stuff done and do right by our kids turned into a three weeklong filibuster before slamming into a wall of six NO votes channeling a singular message - “Nice try, but not now, not ever." 🏀🛑 In the end, only Mrs. Gandhi, Mrs. Miskiewicz, and Mr. Hyett voted for TRANSPARENCY and ACCOUNTABILITY! ✅🙌 Don’t worry, though; this probably isn’t Mrs. Gandhi’s final act. She seems primed for more, ready to dazzle us with another round of verbal acrobatics. 🎭🚀

Then … The seemingly not-so-sharp as a pencil Superintendent trotted out the all-too-familiar parade of personnel shuffles for the next school year. 🏫🔄 He offered his usual farewells to retirees escaping the educational battleground for greener pastures or, in one case, an actual garden and the globe-trotting dream. 🌳✈️ Side note - Mr. Superintendent Dude, don’t you have a leadership role that stretches your skills beyond retirement announcements? 🤷‍♂️🔥 Leaders need to start leading. 🚀👨‍🎓

Up next, Old Business... 📜 Entering the pasture is Mr. Peacock 🦚 Patruno, preening per usual 🦚, and desperate to save face from his last failed call for more litigation 👨‍⚖️. Mr. Patruno moved to bring the former board attorney before the Office of Attorney Ethics 🏛️, being all-in on using limited government resources to satisfy his need for Litigation-That-Serves-No-Legitimate-Educational-Purpose 🎓. Patruno was A-O-K with airing someone else’s dirty laundry—but not his own, hence the NO vote to Mrs. Gandhi's motion, because this Board will only look at others with a critical eye 👀, never itself 🚫.

As soon as the Peacock 🦚 motion hit the floor, the room morphed into a huddle of strategic whispers 🤫. To air publicly or to stash away in executive session? 🤐 After some top-notch political theater 🎭, they shoved the mess into the executive session closet, promising a dramatic reveal (and maybe even a decision) once they've all had a chance to argue about it behind closed doors 🔒.

Then came New Business — Mr. Hyett takes the stage with a grand proposal to shake up the board's snooze-worthy policy process 💤. He pitches a revolutionary idea: maybe, just maybe, the board could use the expertise of its members effectively! Groundbreaking, right? 🌍 His plan involves tweaking committee roles, capping policy reviews at a wild ten per month (because we really need to focus on some other important stuff – don’t you think?) 🎩, and ensuring that everyone gets a peek at the meeting minutes a luxurious seven-days in advance 🕰️. Truly avant-garde 🎨.
As the board members chew over this buffet of changes, they can't help but get tangled in the minutiae 🍴. Concerns fling about over the 'radical' idea of limiting policy discussions (gasp!) 😱 and the terrifyingly vague criteria for what makes a policy substantial enough for broader public debate 🗣️. The air is thick with the fear of making anything too prescriptive, lest it actually lead to efficiency 🚫. This Cracked Board just can’t trust each other to work out the details or ever agree 🤝❌.

Amid the back-and-forth, there's also a subplot about possibly cheating on their current policy drafting service provider with a cheaper or more reliable option 💸. Scandalous! Board members dance around the idea, pondering if cheaper might mean better, or if it's just cheaper 💃🕺. Mr. Patruno suggests it's fiscally prudent to use both services (say what?) because this makes sense to him when budgets are already too tight 🤷‍♂️📉.

As for the outcome - there was NONE - yet again! Our board heroes agreed to keep talking, keep revising, and, most importantly, keep everything ambiguous enough to ensure that nothing gets done and the next meeting is as enthralling and unproductive as this one 🔄🚫.

Rounding out the night was Public Comments #2 and back at the mic was our speaker from Public Comments #1, offering a slow clap 👏 for the Board’s volunteer efforts before clarifying her previous cost concerns over the Gandhi motion, explaining she wasn't suggesting they vote no, as they did, but rather tighten the purse strings or consider something wild like pro bono work 💼🌟. Shocking, right? Then she pointed out the board's latest harebrained scheme from this cash-strapped Board: swapping out a failed motion with a shiny new grievance against the former Attorney 🤦‍♂️📜. Her pointed question about the cost of this new legal joyride was a thinly veiled jab at their penchant for pursuing fiscal dumpster fires while leaving budget worthy efforts on the chopping block 🔥💵.

Not to be outdone by common sense, the board swiftly moved to behind the curtains of an executive session, because nothing screams accountability like making decisions away from prying eyes 🙈, keeping further discussion under wraps until people stop caring—or forget, whichever comes first ⏳.

There you have it, taxpayers. Hats off to the masters of making simple things complicated! 🎩👏

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🌀🎭.

 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 🛑.

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 🙄?

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! 🔄😉

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.

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 👉🍴.

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

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. 👋

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

We're Closely Following the Marlboro Township Board of Education

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March 11, 2025 - 🐻🍩 🐻Boardroom Brouhaha 🐻🍩🐻 - Click here .

Feb 25, 2025 - 🐻🐻🐻 Boardroom Battles: Don’t Poke the Bear! 🐻🐻🐻 - Click here .

Feb 18, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥 From Frogs to Fearmongering: Climate Change and Manufactured Outrage🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

Feb 11, 2025 - ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ I Want It NOW!!!❄️ ❄️ ❄️ - Click h ere .

January 21, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥Teamwork or Me-Work? The Art of Self-Congratulation🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

January 7, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥A Fresh Start and New Leadership🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

December 17, 2024 - ❄️❄️❄️Happy Holidays❄️❄️❄️ - Click here .

November 19, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting, Where's The Drama?🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

October 15, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Showdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

September 10, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Meltdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

August 20, 2024 - 📚 Curriculum and Committee 💥 Calamity. - Click here .

NEW August 13, 2024 - CRICKETS - Click here .

July 16, 2024 - 137 days late and no one is paying attention! - WE ARE AND YOU SHOULD TOO! Click here .

June 18, 2024 - Sexual Harrasment, Anti-Semitism, What Next? - Click here .

May 28, 2024 - Marlboro Redefines Transparency and its OPAQUE! - Click here .

May 7, 2024 - Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - Click here.

May 7, 2024 - Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - More to come soon! click here.

April 30, 2024 - In case you want to watch the craziness - click here

April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 1 - In the Beginning.

April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 2 - What did they know and When did they know it?

April 25, 2024 - A VERY SPECIAL MEETING - Part 3

April 21, 2024 - Facts Matter

April 19, 2024 - Blindfolded Darts with Accusations

April 16, 2024 - A break from our traditional approach

April 13, 2024 - Social Media Edition

March 19, 2024 Meeting - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here

Special Edition - Agenda for March 19, 2024 Meeting - Read the Agenda Here

March 5, 2024 - Watch the Meeting Here

February 20, 2024 - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here

February 6, 2024 Part 1 (The Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here

February 6, 2024 Part 2 (After the Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here

January 16, 2024 - Watch the 2 hour Meeting Here

January 2, 2024 - Watch the 30 Minute Meeting Here

We're Closely Following the Marlboro Township Board of Education

The UPDATES ...

March 11, 2025 - 🐻🍩 🐻Boardroom Brouhaha 🐻🍩🐻 - Click here.

Feb 25, 2025 - 🐻🐻🐻 Boardroom Battles: Don’t Poke the Bear! 🐻🐻🐻 - Click here.

Feb 18, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥 From Frogs to Fearmongering: Climate Change and Manufactured Outrage🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

Feb 11, 2025 - ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ I Want It NOW!!!❄️ ❄️ ❄️ - Click here.

January 21, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥Teamwork or Me-Work? The Art of Self-Congratulation🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

January 7, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥A Fresh Start and New Leadership🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

December 17, 2024 - ❄️❄️❄️Happy Holidays❄️❄️❄️ - Click here.

November 19, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting, Where's The Drama?🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

October 15, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Showdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

September 10, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Meltdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here.

August 20, 2024 - 📚 Curriculum and Committee 💥 Calamity. - Click here.

NEW August 13, 2024 - CRICKETS - Click here.

July 16, 2024 - 137 days late and no one is paying attention! - WE ARE AND YOU SHOULD TOO! Click here.

June 18, 2024 - Sexual Harrasment, Anti-Semitism, What Next? - Click here.

May 28, 2024 - Marlboro Redefines Transparency and its OPAQUE! - Click here.

May 7, 2024 - Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - Click here.

May 7, 2024 - Leopards Don't Change Their Spots or Do they? - More to come soon! click here.

April 30, 2024 - In case you want to watch the craziness - click here

April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 1 - In the Beginning.

April 28, 2024 - Special Report Part 2 - What did they know and When did they know it?

April 25, 2024 - A VERY SPECIAL MEETING - Part 3

April 21, 2024 - Facts Matter

April 19, 2024 - Blindfolded Darts with Accusations

April 16, 2024 - A break from our traditional approach

April 13, 2024 - Social Media Edition

March 19, 2024 Meeting - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here

Special Edition - Agenda for March 19, 2024 Meeting - Read the Agenda Here

March 5, 2024 - Watch the Meeting Here

February 20, 2024 - Watch the 4+ hour Meeting Here

February 6, 2024 Part 1 (The Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here

February 6, 2024 Part 2 (After the Interviews) - Watch the 4 hour Meeting Here

January 16, 2024 - Watch the 2 hour Meeting Here

January 2, 2024 - Watch the 30 Minute Meeting Here

March 11, 2025 - 🐻🍩 🐻Boardroom Brouhaha 🐻🍩🐻 - Click here .

Feb 25, 2025 - 🐻🐻🐻 Boardroom Battles: Don’t Poke the Bear! 🐻🐻🐻 - Click here .

Feb 18, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥 From Frogs to Fearmongering: Climate Change and Manufactured Outrage🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

Feb 11, 2025 - ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ I Want It NOW!!!❄️ ❄️ ❄️ - Click h ere .

January 21, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥Teamwork or Me-Work? The Art of Self-Congratulation🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

January 7, 2025 - 🔥🔥🔥A Fresh Start and New Leadership🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

December 17, 2024 - ❄️❄️❄️Happy Holidays❄️❄️❄️ - Click here .

November 19, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting, Where's The Drama?🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

October 15, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Showdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

September 10, 2024 - 🔥🔥🔥Board Meeting Meltdown🔥🔥🔥 - Click here .

August 20, 2024 - 📚 Curriculum and Committee 💥 Calamity. - Click here .

NEW August 13, 2024 - CRICKETS - Click here .

July 16, 2024 - 137 days late and no one is paying attention! - WE ARE AND YOU SHOULD TOO! Click here .

June 18, 2024 - Sexual Harrasment, Anti-Semitism, What Next? - Click here .

May 28, 2024 - Marlboro Redefines Transparency and its OPAQUE! - Click here .