4 Takeaways From The Brick School Board Election Forum

BRICK, NJ — Brick Township voters looking for information for the Brick Township Board of Education election got a view into the four candidates running during a recent voter forum.

The four candidates seeking election to the board's two, three-year terms had the opportunity to share their thoughts about various issues facing the school district in the forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Monmouth County.

The school board is an unpaid position. The four candidates are Madeline Iannarone, Frances DiBenedictis, Erin Wheeler and Maureen Molz.

Video of the forum can be seen here.

The four candidates have been asked to fill out candidate profiles for Patch. Here are their responses:

• Brick School Board Election 2022: Maureen Molz
• Brick School Board Election 2022: Erin Wheeler
• Brick School Board Election 2022: Frances DiBenedictis
  
• Brick School Board Election 2022: Madeline Colagiovanni-Iannarone

Here are four takeaways from the forum:

1. Why are you running and are there specific issues that motivate you?

Molz said she is concerned about academics and the mental health impact on students from the COVID-19 pandemic, along with the issues caused by the S2 cuts. She said she is a problem-solver and wants to tackle ways to address these issues.

Wheeler said with her background as an educator she believes she can help the district improve its academic issues.

DiBenedictis said with two children in the schools, she sees the scores and feels the needs of the various students aren't being met. She also feels parents' concerns are not being heard.

Iannarone said she is concerned about S2's impact. She wants to see the board challenge state laws "that don't make sense." She wants to "fight the progressive agenda" that she said is being pushed behind the scenes. She believes parents are not being heard.

Do you think the Board of Education does an adequate job communicating with parents and do you have ideas about improving communications?

Molz: I think that's an issue. She said she has seen few parents come to the school board meetings and she would like to see if there is a way to draw more people to the meetings and would look for ways to have more outreach. She believes attendance at the school board meetings is critical.

Wheeler said she believes the board is doing an adequate job but communication can always be improved. "Correct and fair and true information getting out to the parents is what's important," she said. She said committees and places for parents to voice their concerns are a way to open the lines of communication.

DiBenedictis said parents do need to be physically present at board meetings. She said she believes the board does "a lot of talking in circles and a lot of 'We'll get back to you.' " She said emails are not being answered. She said parents do not speak out because they believe the minds are already made up. She said there needs to be a middle ground.

Iannarone said she believes parents are not getting full answers from the board and are getting half-truths, partial stories of what's being taught to children. Parents want to know about what's being taught in health and in gym. "Give the truth, be honest and let's get the parents back."

2. How would you respond to a parent who wants to limit access or remove a book from the school libraries?

DiBenedictis said "It would depend on why. We've all seen some of these pornographic books in libraries. ... If it's something like 'Huck Finn,' it can be a teaching moment. ... As far as some of those pornographic books, no, they need to go."

Iannarone said, "It depends on which books you're speaking of. I don't agree with erasing history. ... Erasing books because you just don't want to hear about it? I think it's kind of sad what's going on in the world today. It depends on what books you're speaking of."

Molz said, "I agree with Madeline. It really depends on what books you're speaking of. I don't agree with erasing history. ... It's a very slippery slope to get on removing books from schools. You gotta be very careful about that. We live in a free and open society. I understand there are some books that may be questionable and but I think we have to look at that, each case. "

Wheeler said she agreed with the others, but said "The parents can choose whether their student reads a book or doesn't read a book." She said parents have the right to intervene if they feel a book is inappropriate for their child, but she said removing the book from the library may not be the best course of action, without considering all the variables including the age of the students and the material in the book.

3. How important is inclusive education to you? What does it mean in practice, and how will you ensure students receive it?

Molz: "We all live in the world and I think it's important to understand there's different types of people who live in the world. It has to be age appropriate."

DiBenedictis: "Of course as parents we teach to be kind. I think in school that's where it needs to stop. We go into it too deeply. ... Just be a good human. We don't need to go into all the different LGBTQ cis whatevers, we don't need to do that when they're 5."

Wheeler: "Inclusivity is really important especially in this day and age. Kindness and respect are key. " She said as a board member she would set an example through her kindness to other board members as well as parents.

Iannarone: "It should start at home in school it should be done together. ... I think children do this already. I think we have taken away from children the everyday learning of this is my friend. Children don't see colors, they don't see another nationality, they don't a boy who wants to be a girl or a girl who wants to be a boy, that doesn't matter to them and it shouldn't matter to them. Everyone should get along. ... We're going overboard with everything we're doing."

4. How would you have voted on the sex education program?

Iannarone: "I would have voted no because I know nothing about it." She says the program is being sugarcoated as to what is really involved.

Wheeler: She noted the curriculum is state-mandated, and parents still have the ability to opt-out. She said her understanding is it's an update of the curriculum from what has existed for years. The district has said it will be providing a newsletter and a powerpoint that will explain what is slated to be taught.

DiBenedictis: She said she has read the guidelines in the curriculum. "They are disgusting. This not what we learned." She said the diversity, equity and inclusion requirement means the information will be included in every other part of the curriculum. She said the district has not put out any information and that is why parents are upset and nervous.

Molz: It's a state law, but maybe it goes too far. She said she believes the ability for parents to opt out is the solution for parents who object to what is being taught. "If we need to challenge the law we need to challenge the law." She said things need to be age-appropriate.

You can watch the entire forum here.