The appointment of Mr. David Bender, a Wall community member, as the new vice principal of Wall High School was warmly received by the board and the public. Bender, showing his enthusiasm and commitment, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work in his own community and shared plans for infusing positivity into the school environment.

Colonel Richard Jax, appointed as the new teacher of military science, shared his extensive military background and outlined his plans to enhance the NJROTC program. He stressed on personal development, leadership, and citizenship, and spoke about potential opportunities including color guard, marksmanship, and physical fitness teams, and scholarships for students. Jax relayed a heartfelt story about a former cadet who had initially struggled but eventually found success and gratitude through the JROTC program. His passion to improve the program was met with applause from the board and the public.

Public comments and concerns were also addressed during the meeting. Notably, Betty Cross raised concerns about the format of public comment and pointed out the absence of the new hire’s name in the HR report. Furthermore, issues related to a lawsuit involving the school trailers were brought forward, with questions raised about the board’s transparency and accountability. These concerns were echoed by other community members questioning the actions of certain board members.

Despite these concerns, the board’s actions were largely met with gratitude from the community. Susan Mcal of the Anchor Club expressed excitement for the collaboration with Colonel Jax and the board. Michael Atardi commended the board for promptly resolving a serious issue and expressed support for the JROTC program. Mary Connors praised the board’s efforts and expressed confidence in their ability to create a positive environment for the students.

Queries about the hiring of an assistant business administrator and concerns about the grading system were also brought up and addressed by the board.