All 5 Middletown School Board Candidates Speak In Oct. 7 Forum

MIDDLETOWN, NJ ? Last Monday, Oct. 7, the Monmouth County League of Women Voters held a virtual forum for the five candidates running this autumn for Middletown Board of Education.

Patch will not be summarizing the entire forum (it lasted for 1 hour, 28 minutes). You can watch the forum here. The video will remain up until election day, Nov. 5.

The forum was moderated by a member of the Monmouth County League of Women Voters who does not live in Middletown. She asked a number of questions, some of which included:

What steps would you put in place to ensure there is a safe learning environment, free from bullying? Who do you think should determine which books should be included in the curriculum, and in school libraries? What is your position on the policies regarding parental notification for transgender students? Property taxes have gone up, with most of the increase going to schools ? what steps would you recommend to keep costs in check without hurting student programs? And what does everybody think about Middletown schools' new cell phone policy?

All five candidates answered these questions. Watch their answers here: https://lwvmonmouth.org/vid72....

Five people are running for three seats on the Middletown school board. They are:

Kate Farley ? Current BOE member, elected three years ago, seeks re-election under the "Today's Children First" slogan. In her introduction, she described herself as the mother of three children in the district and that she works as an attorney at a financial technology company. Farley said in her three years on the board, she was proudest of bringing in a new English Language Arts program for young students; bringing back art and music; passing Middletown's "Away for the Day" cell phone limits in school ? which she spearheaded ? and putting armed Class 3 officers in all schools in the district.

Joan Minnuies ? current BOE member, has been on the Board of Ed. for 22 years, seeks re-election. She worked as a paraprofessional in the district for 17 years before being elected to the Board. She is a graduate of Middletown schools, which her children attended and her grandchildren currently attend. Worked for 20 years with young adults with intellectual disabilities, including at No Limits Cafe.

Mark Soporowski ? Running under the "Common Sense Education" slogan. His two children attend Middletown schools and he owns a small business in Middletown. This is his second year trying to get on the Board; Soporowski ran for Middletown school board last year and did not win a seat. In his introduction, Soporowski said he has advocated for music and art to be brought back to Middletown elementary schools, increasing trade/vocational training in Middletown schools, as well as advocating for parents of children with IEPs.

Sara Weinstein ? Running with Farley under the "Today's Children First" slogan. Has one son in the district, a first grader. In her introduction, she described herself as "a big proponent of community involvement and making sure parents' voices are heard across a variety of topics."

Deb Wright ? current BOE member, has been on the Board since 2018, seeks re-election. Has one son in the district, a seventh grader. In her intro, Wright said she is a Middletown native, a wife and a lawyer who worked as a public defender specializing in mental health law with the Legal Aid Society in New York City. "I am an experienced contract negotiator ... as well as dealing with labor relations," she said in her introduction.

The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at Croydon Hall (in the Assembly Hall), at 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo NJ 07737, from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.?8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.?6:00 p.m. There is also mail-in voting.

Read all five Patch candidate profiles:

Meet Mark Soporowski, Running For Middletown School Board

Meet Joan Minnuies, Running For Middletown School Board

Meet Deb Wright, Running For Middletown School Board

Meet Kate Farley, Running For Middletown School Board

Meet Sara Weinstein, Running For Middletown School Board