Parent criticizes board member's comments about ICE; board member acknowledges concerns

Alex Hayes used the public-comment period at the Township of Ocean School District meeting to raise several issues, culminating in criticism of recent remarks by a board member she identified as "Mister Schneider."

Hayes described a series of community concerns including Chromebook use and scheduling, and then directly addressed the board's climate after recent national news. "The comments by mister Schneider after the horrific and tragic death of Renee Nicole Allgood by an ICE member in Minneapolis were vile and disgusting," Hayes said. She added: "To publicly state that you are pro ICE in January 2026 means that you are not just anti undocumented residents, but you are anti minorities." Hayes said the remarks have made families and students fearful and asked the board to clarify district policies regarding cooperation with immigration authorities and how frontline staff would respond if ICE were to appear at a school.

The transcript records no formal policy statement from the board during the meeting. Later in the session a board member who identified themself as the person referenced by commenters addressed the board: "I heard you, and I understand your concerns. I believe we all can agree that we want tragedies like this to come to an end, but how we go about it matters," the speaker said, adding they would spend more time reflecting on the comments and continue working toward solutions "that protect and serve all of our children." That response was attributed in the transcript to an unnamed board member (speaker 12) who thanked those who contacted the board and said they would continue to listen.

What happened next: The public comment closed after these remarks. The transcript does not record any formal board action to adopt a policy on ICE cooperation at this meeting or a vote to issue a public statement; the concerns raised were acknowledged by a board member who said they would reflect further and continue the work.

Attributions in this piece follow only names explicitly used in the transcript: Hayes named "Mister Schneider" in her remarks; the subsequent response was made by a board member identified in the transcript only by speaker number and was not given a spoken-by name in the captured excerpt.