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Board waives facility fees for county pageant amid questions over participation and transportation
Summary
The board approved a motion to waive fees for a county Latino pageant after public comment and debate about event times, the number of district students participating and whether transportation would be outsourced; the board also reiterated it is not outsourcing transportation and that it purchased five new buses.
At the Pleasantville Board of Education workshop on Aug. 12, the board considered facilities item 5.1: a request to waive facility fees for an Atlantic County Miss Puerto Rico / Miss Latina pageant.
Jonathan Diego, a local business owner and Latino community leader, asked the board to waive fees so funds could be used for scholarships for participating young women. Board members and others asked logistical questions: event duration was inconsistent across documents (3 hours vs. 5 hours), and one board member noted only two students from the district would participate.
Board members also raised equity and precedent questions, asking why other community groups or the municipal recreation center did not receive similar waivers. In public comments, community members asked whether the district planned to outsource transportation for students; the board president and superintendent responded that transportation would remain in‑house, noting the district operates 20 buses and had purchased five new buses.
After discussion, the board moved to waive facility fees for the pageant. Roll call recorded seven yes votes (Miss Alberto, Mister Gibson, Miss Mello, Miss Pepe, Miss Silver, Miss King, Miss Rowell) and two no votes (Miss Akins, Miss Waters); the motion carried.
Board members said they would continue to work with community partners and the recreation center on future use requests and discounts.
The board’s vote to waive fees was procedural action on an individual event; the board did not adopt a new district policy on waivers at the meeting.
