Brick School Board Election 2022: Madeline Colagiovanni-Iannarone

BRICK, NJ — When voters go to the polls Nov. 8, they will be asked to choose people to serve on the Brick Township Board of Education.

There are two seats open this year, each of them three-year terms. The Board of Education is an unpaid elected position.

Four people are seeking election to the board: Frances DiBenedictis, Madeline Iannarone, Erin Wheeler and Maureen Molz.

Patch asked each candidate to answer questions to give voters information about who they are and their stances on various issues. We are printing their responses in full, unedited except for spelling or punctuation.

Here are the answers for Madeline Colagiovanni-Iannarone.

Tell voters about your family: I am the proud parent of four wonderful children and 7 beautiful grandchildren.

Tell voters about your education:

What is your occupation? I currently work for the Township of Brick Recreation as a Recreation Leader.

Previous elective office, if any: None.

Do you or anyone in your family work for the state, county or local governments? Yes, I work for the Township of Brick.

Why are you running for the Board of Education?

I am running for the Board of Education because of lack of transparency between the school district and the parents. Such as: our low test scores compared to other schools; parents not informed of new bus stops until the day before school started; conditions of schools, how leaking roofs are being handled during inclement weather. How parents of disabled children are being treated during IEP meetings. Parents are no longer able to be parents the schools feel they can now make decisions without parents' knowledge.

What do you feel is the most pressing issue facing the Brick Township schools and what do you want to do about it?

I feel that the current board is giving the parents and the taxpayers of Brick the least information that they can to push through new curriculum and policies, where our students need to learn the basics, math, English, science. I want to help the parents to be heard, and be given answers. I want to learn exactly what the students are going to be taught so I can share that information with the parent that wants an answer to that question.

The Brick Township schools continue to suffer cuts under S2. These cuts could cost the district dozens of teachers’ jobs in the next two years. What do you think the district should do to address the financial crush the cuts are creating?

First I feel we should hire a grantsman. They could find numerous grants that could help with some of the computers, school buildings, sports, and after-school activities and busing for these events. The school is missing out on so much funding by not having a grantsman. I would love to go to the State House like Toms River did, we just can't give up, we need to continue to ask for more funding.

The school district – like districts all over – has dealt with vocal criticism of curriculum, including social-emotional learning, which has been part of education for years. As mental health concerns and bullying continue to skyrocket, do you feel efforts to address kindness and empathy in school are misplaced?

I agree SEL has been in the schools for years. I would never think that efforts to address kindness and empathy in schools is misplaced. But I also do not feel it should be in every class. I often wonder why this is becoming a major topic. Could it be that it is not as simple as kindness and empathy and that much more is involved and is being hidden in the curriculum?

If you could change one thing about how the Brick Township schools are being operated right now, what would it be?

Transparency.