Candidate at Middlesex board meeting alleges improper eligibility review and censorship of student article, cites New Jersey 'New Voices' law

A resident who recently ran for the Middlesex Borough Board of Education used the board's public-comment period to allege the district improperly involved its board attorney in a review of the candidate's eligibility and to say the district censored a student newspaper article about that candidacy in violation of newer state protections for student press.

The resident asserted the authority to adjudicate candidate eligibility rests with the county clerk or county board of elections, saying the district's use of its attorney in the matter was "entirely inappropriate." The commenter also said the district blocked publication of a student article under Policy 5721, which the commenter described as last updated in 2003 and not aligned with the 2021 New Jersey "New Voices" law. The resident said the student article did not endorse the candidacy and argued the district's prior restraint would not meet the exceptions the New Voices law allows.

The commenter said they consulted an attorney who specializes in student-press law and was told the district's action "would likely fall under legal scrutiny" and that the New Voices law provides strong protections for school-sponsored media except in cases of libel, obscenity, incitement or other violations of federal or state law. The resident urged the district to review and update outdated policies and stated they will continue to advocate for transparency and fairness despite not winning the election.

The board opened and closed the public-comment portion of the meeting; no formal board action on the commenter's concerns is recorded in the meeting transcript segment provided.