A notable and emotional moment occurred when Dorothy Bonfanti addressed the board about the district’s handling of graduation ceremonies for students who had passed away. Bonfanti, whose son Daniel tragically took his own life, expressed gratitude for the board’s acknowledgment of her son and other deceased students but criticized the execution of the graduation ceremonies. She detailed a previous promise made by the superintendent that families would be able to walk for their children during the ceremony and have seating next to the stage. This promise, Bonfanti claimed, was broken minutes before the graduation ceremony, leading to feelings of betrayal and disappointment among the affected families. Bonfanti underscored the emotional impact on the families and the community, emphasizing the importance of honoring the memories of the students who had passed away.

Additionally, a parent voiced disappointment over the district’s handling of mental health issues following the tragedies. They criticized the inadequacy of mental health assemblies, describing them as juvenile and ineffective. The speaker raised concerns about delayed responses from counselors when students sought support. They recounted a personal narrative, questioning whether the board members would feel the same if they were in the position of losing a child and having promises contradicted. The speaker specifically criticized the administration for not allowing the decoration of a locker in memory of a student, Chelsea Deal, highlighting a perceived insensitivity to students’ efforts to honor their deceased friends.

James Flores followed with an expression of gratitude for the reinstatement of Coach Mahar as the varsity soccer coach, describing the initial removal as unnecessary and potentially motivated by a personal vendetta. Flores emphasized the negative impact this situation had on the involved students and urged the board to investigate the circumstances, framing it as an abuse of power.

Further, Lisa Edworth addressed the board regarding the unresolved issue of varsity letters for performing arts students, expressing frustration over the lack of progress since she first raised the matter in April. She cited a New Jersey Senate bill mandating that school districts allow students in certain extracurricular activities to earn varsity letters and emphasized the need for clear communication from the board.

A student named Jacob raised concerns about the loss of several classes and clubs, including a significant tax increase. He articulated a personal aspiration to study linguistics and expressed worry that the cuts were hindering his educational path. Jacob called on the board to clarify the situation regarding the budget and the implications of the tax increase on students’ academic opportunities.

Heather Scanland, representing the Rotary Club, echoed Jacob’s concerns about the cutting of co-curricular positions, specifically mentioning the absence of the Interact Club and the ADA (Association Against Drugs and Alcohol) Club from the list of approved organizations. She highlighted the importance of community service for students’ college applications and expressed disappointment over the lack of support for these programs.

A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to the elimination of the subscription busing program. Several residents expressed strong concerns, highlighting the impact on student safety. One individual pointed out the inconsistency in communication regarding subscription busing costs, noting that the survey distributed was poorly constructed and misrepresented the financial burden on families. Another individual, a single mother, described the impracticality of her daughter walking 27 minutes in hazardous conditions without crossing guards and in the dark.

A Lacey Township High School student brought attention to the decision to cut funding for the Interact Club, which provides scholarships and organizes volunteer opportunities. He described the club’s significant impact on the community and argued that defunding it would deprive students of valuable opportunities to learn about community service and engagement. The student also noted the loss of funding for the Surf Rider Club.

Concerns about transparency regarding recent referendum meetings were raised, questioning why the first meeting on August 6th was not recorded for public access. There were accusations of mismanagement and deceit concerning past financial dealings, particularly related to a solar project that was supposed to be cost-neutral for taxpayers.

The board also discussed several policy revisions, including grading systems, member terms, remote public support meetings, bilingual education, concussion protocols, student suicide prevention, and vandalism. Revisions included the abolishment of the remote public support meetings policy due to the conclusion of the COVID emergency and updates to the language regarding multilingual learners.

Technology updates were mentioned, including various purchases and improvements to school infrastructure. The board reviewed policies related to emergency situations, volunteer coaches, and juvenile offender notifications, with an emphasis on confidentiality and protected categories.

The superintendent search was another significant topic. The board revealed that four companies applied for the position, narrowed down to two for interviews. Ultimately, a local candidate with extensive experience in Ocean County was approved, agreeing to a reduced fee in acknowledgment of the district’s financial situation.