Colts Neck board elects Angelique Vulpi president, tables parental‑rights policy

The Colts Neck Township Board of Education reorganized its leadership and set early priorities for 2025 at its first meeting of the year. Angelique Vulpi was elected board president in a roll‑call vote and Phyllis Cameron was elected vice president; both were seated and applauded by those in attendance.

Vulpi, speaking after the vote, said she “humbly accept[ed] this nomination” and outlined a slate of 90‑day priorities focused on transparency and fiscal restraint, including relaunching a board newsletter, opening competitive RFPs for auditing and insurance services, reviewing Chromebook and screen‑time expectations in classrooms, analyzing the impact of a local housing development on district infrastructure, and targeting a zero tax increase for the proposed 2025–26 budget.

The incoming president also highlighted administrative changes the board plans to pursue, including transitioning the district’s policy‑service relationship to the New Jersey School Boards Association and phasing out certain social‑emotional learning (SEL) survey data collection. She credited Jason Oro and the finance team with a reported $600,000 savings after switching the district’s health insurance to Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

The board unanimously read and moved to adopt the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics as part of its organizational business.

A substantive policy debate followed on attachment P2, titled “Rights of Parents.” A board member asked that the item be tabled so the newly constituted board could fully review the policy and obtain another legal opinion; the motion to table the second reading was approved by roll call and the board agreed to revisit the topic at the February 22 working meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Garbay delivered a brief report welcoming new members and noting winter activities and student philanthropic efforts; she deferred a fuller update to the board’s January 22 meeting.

During the public comment portion, resident Kevin O’Brien raised concerns about a recent municipal affordable‑housing court order and its potential budget and enrollment impacts on the district, including an estimated municipal commitment of at least $2 million for expanded water and sewer infrastructure. Other residents praised the new board and expressed worry about student data collection and privacy.

On routine business the board approved a superintendent action item and three finance items (items 1–3) by roll call, with several members recording abstentions where noted; personnel items also passed by roll call. The board adopted a procedural resolution designating the Asbury Park Press as the official newspaper for meeting notices and affirmed its meeting schedule and Open Public Meetings Act procedures.

The meeting closed after brief new‑business remarks from several members emphasizing transparency and service to students and the community.

What happens next: the board will take up the tabled parental‑rights policy at its February 22 working meeting and return with more detailed budget and superintendent updates on January 22.