Parents and councilman press board on school security, resource officers and communication

Several parents and a municipal council liaison used the meeting's public-comment period to press the Middlesex Borough Board of Education on school security procedures, the status of school resource officers (SROs), and internal communication practices.

Nicole Luciano, a parent from 10 Justin Drive, raised concerns about visitor screening at Haverley School and inconsistent ID checks at events. "It could have been anybody walking in off the street, and our kids were sitting ducks in that building," she said, and asked why the district's school safety specialist was not allowed to manage the building's entry procedures.

Luciano also criticized late notices for schedule changes, citing an email she said was sent May 23 at 12:56 p.m. notifying families of a 1 p.m. early dismissal the same day. She said automated absence calls continued when parents communicated directly with the school and asked for better advance notice and clearer attendance procedures.

Several other parents raised facility and staffing concerns. One parent said a classroom lacked air conditioning late in the year; administrators had moved students to the library or multipurpose room, she said. Parents reported an entire-year absence of a music teacher at some schools and cited recent resignations of teachers and counseling staff as worsening morale and prompting some families to consider private school.

Councilman Karnes (identified in public comment as the borough council liaison) said he was concerned about a breakdown in communication between the borough council and the board, and asked for a joint public meeting of both governing bodies to discuss shared services, SROs, and mutual responsibilities. He said he would forward a text message exchange between the superintendent and the mayor that he said contradicted the superintendent's account of who requested a meeting.

Cheryl Jarvis, speaking for members concerned about SROs, urged the board to resolve outstanding legal or contractual questions with the mayor's office and counsel so arrangements are finalized in time for the school year.

Melissa Zymax and Amy Carnoy, parents who spoke later in public comment, also criticized the district's security procedures and the lack of a ratified teacher contract. Zymax said promised improvements to security had not materialized and faulted the superintendent for not addressing issues to parents' satisfaction. Carnoy praised an interim teacher hire at Hazelwood but called for clearer communication to families when staff positions are vacant.

Andrew Sample spoke in support of Hazelwood's new principal, Dr. Roxanne Clark Holmes, saying many problems cited by parents predated the principal's appointment and that some criticism had unfairly focused on the new leader rather than systemic issues.

The board did not take formal action on SRO placement, shared-service requests, or the security concerns during the meeting. Several speakers asked the board to finalize the SRO arrangements and to schedule joint discussions with municipal leaders; the board indicated willingness to discuss a combined meeting but no date or formal vote was recorded in the transcript.