Middletown BOE Meeting Moved To VFW To Avoid Mask Conflicts

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Last Friday, the Middletown school district announced that tonight's Board of Education meeting will be held in the Middletown VFW hall, and not at its usual location at High School North.

And the Middletown community had one question: Why?

Superintendent Mary Ellen Walker has so far refused to answer, but on Wednesday afternoon BOE vice-president Frank Capone said the meeting was moved to avoid conflicts over mask wearing.

"Our meetings are well attended by our community and have attracted the attention of outside groups," said Capone. The decision to move to the VFW "keeps us from filling the school buildings with people from all over the state and focuses on the work the board needs to do, rather than masks."

"More recently, the Monmouth County Prosecutor told the police to enforce masks at BOE meetings," he added. "Our attorney advised us that moving the meeting to a location in town like other BOEs (have done), was the best solution to avoid any potential conflict."

It remains unknown what other school districts have moved their BOE meetings to other buildings to circumvent Murphy's mask mandate.

No Board of Education funds were used to reserve the VFW Hall, said Capone. The hall was reserved using private funds.

At all the most recent Middletown BOE meetings, dozens of parents have shown up not wearing masks, often sparking anger from parents who are wearing masks. This Patch reporter has personally witnessed arguments and shouting over mask-wearing at the meetings.

It also appears that county prosecutors across New Jersey are enforcing Murphy's mask mandate: The Middlesex County Prosecutor sent a "stern" letter to the president of the New Brunswick BOE, reprimanding him for not wearing a mask at their most recent meeting. The letter was signed by not only the county prosecutor, but also acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew Bruck, a Murphy appointee.

The New Brunswick BOE president said he was unaware he had to wear it and he thought he could take his mask off while speaking. Read that story: NJ Prosecutor Reprimands BOE President For Not Wearing Mask (Sept. 21)

As per Gov. Murphy's executive order 251, all masks must be worn, at all times, in any public, private or parochial school buildings. This includes for any after-school events or meetings held at the school, such as BOE meetings.

However, there is no similar mask mandate for any other government meeting in New Jersey: For example, there is no obligation for Middletown Twp. Committee members to wear masks when they meet. There is also no mask mandate for any private building, such as a place of work, a restaurant, wedding venue — or VFW Hall.

On Aug. 25, a majority of the Middletown BOE signed a letter to Murphy asking him to drop the K-12 mask mandate. Two board members, Tom Giaimo and Deborah Wright, voted against sending it. All the rest: Joan Minnuies, Jacqueline Tobacco, Capone, Barry Heffernan, Leonora Caminiti and John Little voted to send it. Michael Donlon was not present.

Giaimo and Wright did not return an email from Patch asking what they thought of moving the meeting to the VFW.

This will be a Special Voting/Pre-Meeting Workshop that begins at 7 p.m. at the Middletown VFW POST 2179 at 1 Veterans Lane, Port Monmouth. It will be open to the public at approximately 8:00 p.m. The public portion of the meeting will be live-streamed on the district's YouTube channel for those who cannot attend.

Be the first to know. Sign up to get Patch emails: https://patch.com/subscribe Contact this Patch reporter: Carly.baldwin@patch.com