[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6528474,"mediaKeyId","3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788","parentId",3388943,"title","Belleville expands 'Building Men' mentorship after awards; district cites declines in referrals and failures","audioSeconds",6071,"startMs",1279000,"endMs",7350000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788&start=1279&end=7350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788/thumbnail_1279000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528474/New-Jersey/Belleville-expands-Building-Men-mentorship-after-awards-district-cites-declines-in-referrals-and-failures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528474-519ecd5776bc2930d9da2000309fc60b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148999&Signature=IwN~qKtEEH0dCQNgFSztVYpANyECV7WNSyjU59bF1WSv~1db3rW~OHi7g3t2lTc2uG~iNRm1CBiLhRVCsmYowtCVzbgRI5jXIe6LtdSF36QcFArCB90UtiUWY4W1KNf5ASChugCrGeM1rN1H--8jdbSDeqmU9sDdKfk~5G-NgVYR04fPexr3Zmww1YjZDACj-PSxCN~QtTdOj4ExWCwhL8a3rwUqEF95ZWw1iHjUwvM-2tcPltSv24N0YIKaDRfyyuogS4hy5E2RFRUstcttjTOsbPAldS64-w13L~AWlngqkSxGcLTkaRD7uL90GS3WUb7EqB7kZ-UNuONVk1v9Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Belleville Public School District","date","2025-05-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Belleville Township Public School District honored students from its Building Men mentorship program at the May 19, 2025 Board of Education meeting and heard district leaders report early, measurable improvements tied to the program.

Dr. Pastor and program lead Caleb Rhodes presented awards to Building Men participants and credited mentors and community partners for supporting the program’s expansion. Dennis Meralda, the program’s creator, attended and presented several honors. A number of teachers, counselors and school staff recognized student recipients by name.

District presenters said Building Men began as a middle‑school mentorship pilot and expanded to the high school and every elementary school during the 2024–25 school year. Presenters cited program outcomes the district described as preliminary but compelling: a 40% decrease in incident reports among participating students, a drop in average disciplinary referrals for a freshman cohort from 9.81 referrals to 2.67, a 21% reduction in class failure rates for participating students, and increased self‑referrals for help in some grade levels.

Program staff described how mentors and partners — including school nurses Ms. Rebello and Ms. Zucker, Art Front Galleries president Dr. Joseph Petrino, and the district’s donate‑life liaison Gina Westhoven — supported students with supplies, training and artistic opportunities. Presenters said the group also created original work, including paintings and a hip‑hop song, as part of trauma‑informed expression.

Student Tafi Abubaker spoke to the board describing personal change: “This Building Men has changed me as a man, as a person, as a student,” he said, describing improved grades, maturity and behavior after participating in the program’s meetings. Trustees and the state monitor joined the board in congratulating students and mentors; Trustee Muniz described the program as “incredible” and credited its mentors.

No board action was required for the awards. Trustees who commented said the program’s early results supported continued district investment in mentorship and related supports.

Clarifying details provided in the presentations: program piloted at the middle school, expanded to five high school groups (one per grade) and implemented Building Young Men (mentor‑mentee mini program) across elementary and preschool sites; one freshman cohort tracked from 9.81 referrals to 2.67 referrals; the district cited a 40% decrease in incident reports among participants and a 21% reduction in failing grades among Building Men students. The district did not present the underlying data tables at the meeting; trustees and staff said analysis would continue.

District staff indicated future steps include continued mentorship cohorts, additional community partnerships, and celebration of student work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOE Meeting 5-19-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees recognized the Building Men program May 19, 2025 and heard school leaders report declines in disciplinary referrals and class failures among participating boys as the program expanded across the district.","taxTitle","Belleville Public School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",68124,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6528479,"Belleville board asks state to end fiscal monitor oversight, cites corrected findings and QSAC rating",2912,3140000,6052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788&start=3140&end=6052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788/thumbnail_3140000.jpg","/articles/6528479/New-Jersey/Belleville-board-asks-state-to-end-fiscal-monitor-oversight-cites-corrected-findings-and-QSAC-rating","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528479-d252e8d98850748722c4a73db8a80d16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148999&Signature=dxGuRbkSppJUDpkjH8pC-kMncI-cObP8Nuu1k~KWtEEDPYGbXvokPiyhZHvmoh48xbtul-Vhq0R1i5LRBag27rUjLPOChrhvMtOeeaIt3nni~Hs7nbhtEEq0Wv3xeGba~DLEigd-eCoFUyhPpS8x2bY2Zuhwv6QwwWSToAUxnkN5jWvyCV0oE~0tw1RfibD1fTwGM87OEI64nrigh9tGh-8deOaQ9pGMM8Ac2GlHCw1HS59S-tCS9PvbRIcAgZZgpUd0PCu6xR1C54dLS93kwfsNvLGd9Hlp14RDQHPQSF-0c2xLaHaONuFSL3WGGSB5E9ulKMvqCLqfYGxoZJL8Uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Belleville Township Public School District Board of Education voted May 19, 2025 to request that the New Jersey Commissioner of Education end fiscal monitor oversight and return the district to full local control, the board president announced after trustees approved a resolution added to the agenda that evening.

Trustee Michael Muniz read the resolution at length, citing a May 13/14 (transcribed as May 1334) commissioner letter that had authorized appointment of a state fiscal monitor under NJSA 18A:7A-55 after repeated findings of material weaknesses in the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The resolution states the board has made timely payments on a state aid advance loan of $4,162,426 (repayable over 10 years at $416,243 annually in 10 monthly installments) and expects the final loan payment to be completed with the July 1, 2025 state aid payment.

The resolution further notes that the district received high marks in the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC), including an 82% score in fiscal management, and that the State Board of Education certified Belleville as a “high performing district” on QSAC by state resolution dated Oct. 4, 2023. The resolution asks the Commissioner to acknowledge completion of all required remedial actions, to find that necessary local fiscal controls and capacity have been restored, and to end the fiscal monitor’s oversight.

Trustees moved to add the resolution to the agenda during the meeting; after placement as agenda item 11.18, the board voted on the package of policy and board action items (11.1–11.18) by roll call; those items, including the state monitor resolution, were recorded as approved by the board (trustees Gillis, Leon, Muniz, Massaggio, Pacheco, Darrow and President Benamini all voted yes when the roll was called on the 11-series items).

Public commenters asked why the resolution was necessary if the monitor’s role was ending soon; Ruben Rodriguez asked why the monitor would not simply depart when the loan was paid. Trustee Muniz said the resolution formalizes a request to the Commissioner and reiterated the district’s progress in correcting material weaknesses and achieving QSAC classification.

Authorities and statutory references cited in the resolution and at the meeting included the fiscal monitor statute (NJSA 18A:7A-55), the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), the state QSAC classification and the state resolution certifying the district as high performing in 2023.

Action: the board recorded the vote in the roll call on items 11.1–11.18 as affirmative for all trustees present; the resolution will be transmitted as a letter from the board president to the Commissioner of Education for the Commissioner’s consideration.

Clarifying details in the resolution: the state aid advance loan amount is $4,162,426; the annual repayment noted in the text is $416,243; the board cited completion of required corrective actions and QSAC scores (fiscal management 82%, governance 100%, personnel 97% — the transcript lists some fields as “%” where the numeric percent was not read aloud).","On May 19, 2025 the Belleville Board of Education voted to request the Commissioner of Education return the Belleville Township Public School District to full local control and end fiscal monitor oversight, citing corrected material weaknesses, a forthcoming final loan payment and a high-performing QSAC rating.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6528485,"Belleville board appoints Dr. Eric Alfonso superintendent after contested search",2270,3752000,6022000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788&start=3752&end=6022","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3388943-5bec28c66e919fc4c0b5d623dc7f3788/thumbnail_3752000.jpg","/articles/6528485/New-Jersey/Belleville-board-appoints-Dr-Eric-Alfonso-superintendent-after-contested-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528485-4d38316f58e2e5faf29f7338bd7cb3e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148999&Signature=DaZmBe1uJIyg5~50Q9zEFZP7x4afqglpqej8-v7S34wSKEv2F9FpJbooy8RGBtSpFcgbZtXXH0YkwkYfpqkCXgHLH8gU8pHiXybwq9CB0L92YqL6SgBgs1H9cOd-jWs560eAFODrCKBjTZUQKK8CCiN5t~OeBdcy9PchfncTdWwwzZIJb1NvEU~GRCR0RX73Kx7Nr3KZUF1cWCvTPNTKVUmO4Mob0AVAc6OyqebUOF55W8UoSe1QCMt3aRREosXrLw8piiIGbJZ34n55R9hFEYKjQ5an5RmfU8xBTlcm7egUU9bQYPIbl5O5RajZUqcgt73B2rYGl48vPlTIGmLwaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Belleville Township Public School District Board of Education voted May 19, 2025, to appoint Dr. Eric Alfonso as the district's next superintendent, approving the appointment 6–0 with President Ana Benamini recorded as abstaining.

The vote concluded a months-long search that trustees said began with 35 applicants and was narrowed to a small group of finalists. Trustee Michael Muniz, who introduced elements of the board’s public defense of the process, said trustees reviewed and interviewed multiple candidates and sought someone who would be “close enough to this area to spend the quality time needed here.”

The district’s state fiscal monitor, Thomas Egan, who participated in the search process, told the meeting he had attended interviews and that the chosen candidate “rose to the top after beating all these, longer and more experienced superintendents.” The board recorded the roll-call vote as: Trustees Gillis — yes; Leon — yes; Muniz — yes; Massaggio — yes; Pacheco — yes; Vice President Darrow — yes; President Benamini — abstain. The motion passed.

The appointment drew public comment before the vote. Michael Sheldon, a resident who asked the board to table the appointment, said he had “very serious reservations and misgivings about the wisdom of appointing this particular person” and noted media coverage and a Secaucus school district personnel matter in which the candidate previously worked. Sheldon urged more time for community vetting.

Mike Mignon, president of the Belleville Education Association, told trustees he and the union had expected to be included on the final screening committee and said he had asked the board for representation. The board attorney explained that allowing non-board members onto a superintendent interview panel can jeopardize candidate confidentiality and expose the board to legal risk; he cited the School Ethics Act and the board-member code of ethics as constraints the board relied on while shaping its process.

Several trustees and speakers defended the process and the candidate. Trustee Darrow said the board had “whittled down” candidates through multiple rounds of interviews and phone calls and that he had checked references; he said calls he placed produced uniformly positive responses about Dr. Alfonso. Trustee Massaggio said Dr. Alfonso’s background and ability to relate to students from similar upbringings were factors that stood out for her.

Dr. Eric Alfonso addressed the meeting after the vote. He described his background as the son of immigrant parents, recalled facing financial and language barriers while growing up, and said that community-rooted leadership is his priority. “I believe in leadership that is present, visible, and engaged,” he said, adding he intends to be “at school events, PTA meetings, weekend programs, community events” and to “plant roots” in Belleville.

Discussion versus decision: trustees repeatedly described the district’s vetting process and said community concerns were considered during interviews; public commenters and the teachers’ union asked for more transparency and participation. The board made no changes to the appointment motion during the meeting.

Clarifying details mentioned at the meeting included the number of initial applicants (35), the staged winnowing to 11 then 5 finalists, and the timeline the board cited earlier in the search (they had aimed to seat a superintendent by July 1, 2025). The board did not identify the motion’s mover and seconder in the public record.

The appointment is effective per the board’s personnel calendar and will be followed by customary onboarding and transition activities; trustees said they expect Dr. Alfonso to begin work and to engage with staff, families and community partners.

Votes at a glance: Item 9.26 (appointment of Dr. Eric Alfonso as superintendent) — Approved. Roll call: Gillis, Leon, Muniz, Massaggio, Pacheco, Darrow — yes; Benamini — abstain. Outcome: approved.","The Belleville Township Public School District Board of Education voted May 19, 2025, to appoint Dr. Eric Alfonso as superintendent after a multi-month search. The motion passed 6–0 with one abstention amid public concern and union criticism of the selection process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Belleville expands 'Building Men' mentorship after awards; district cites declines in referrals and failures

Belleville board asks state to end fiscal monitor oversight, cites corrected findings and QSAC rating

Belleville board appoints Dr. Eric Alfonso superintendent after contested search