Galloway board tables policy 5517 on student ID hotline after public debate

The Galloway Township Board of Education on July 14, 2025 voted to table Policy 5517 (listed as agenda item 10.2), postponing final action so the policy committee and district counsel can review public concerns and statutory requirements.

Supporters of delaying the vote cited unresolved parental-notification and phrasing questions. Board member Richard Days moved to table the policy; Ethel Hermano seconded. The motion to table passed on a roll call vote of 8–1 (Mrs. Belinda Chester: yes; Dr. Parmenter: yes; Virginia Loria: yes; Mrs. Avery: no; Mr. Days: yes; Mr. Gentile: yes; Ethel Hermano: yes; Vice President Brasheara Blau: yes; President Suzette Carmen: yes). The board described the tabling as a temporary step to allow the policy committee and legal counsel to consider amendments prior to any final adoption.

The policy had been before the board as a second and final reading. At public comment, several residents urged changes or removal of a clause that would place the telephone number for the New Jersey suicide-prevention hotline on student identification cards. "That implies that the students are all suicidal, which means that all students have mental health issues," said Nina Mints, a Galloway Township resident, adding that she believed the language could normalize suicidal ideation. Board member Ethel Hermano said parents "need to be privy to all of" decisions affecting students; Hermano urged greater parental notification.

Other speakers urged the district not to reject mental-health supports. "Because you think it hurts children does not make it so," said Patrick O'Keefe, a parent and educator, criticizing claims that adding hotline information would harm students and noting the importance of evidence-based decision-making.

Board discussion addressed two practical points raised by public commenters: whether the district's grade span makes the hotline requirement applicable, and whether statutory or regulatory language limits the district's flexibility. A board speaker noted that the policy cites a state law and the administrative code and that a statutory requirement exists in some circumstances requiring the suicide-prevention hotline on IDs for districts that issue student ID cards to grades 7–12; board members said they would verify applicability to Galloway Township's district grade span and return recommended edits through the policy committee.

Next steps: the board directed that Policy 5517 be reviewed by the policy committee (and by counsel as needed) and returned to a future meeting with any proposed amendments. No final policy language was adopted at the July 14 meeting.

Votes and procedural record: the motion to table Policy 5517 was made by Mr. Richard Days and seconded by Ethel Hermano; the roll-call vote was 8 in favor, 1 opposed. The motion to table was recorded as "table policy 5517 until reviewed by the policy committee."