Public commenters press Medford Lakes board on peanut ban and student inclusion

Public commenters at the Medford Lakes Board of Education’s Oct. 18 meeting pressed trustees over an informal peanut/tree‑nut ban and raised separate concerns about student inclusion and perceived transphobia in the community.

Mr. Ladante, speaking during the public-comment period, urged the Board to restore peanuts and tree nuts and told trustees that “the superintendent cannot overrule” Board policy 5331. Nurse Mrs. Stump said she had provided a study to the superintendent and the Board challenging the district’s position on peanut/tree-nut risk. In contrast, Mrs. Lehman said she stood by the ban because of her son’s allergy.

Other speakers connected inclusion and classroom climate to student learning. Mrs. Gormly, identifying herself as an allergy parent, said removing peanuts reduced her worry about segregating or moving her child at lunch. Several parents asked about reconstituting a DEI committee; Mrs. Shields recounted a Black student experiencing micro‑aggressions. Melissa Smith criticized the community climate directly, saying, “You are very wrong if you think emotions don’t affect learning. Clearly the community at a minimum is transphobic,” and reporting that two children at a recent Fall Fest told her they did not feel welcomed.

Board members did not take formal action during public comment. Mr. Steven, later in the session, called for policy 5736 to be tabled and urged the trustees “not to stop inclusion.” The meeting’s recorded minutes do not show any vote on changing the district’s nut policy or on the DEI requests; those items remained matters for future consideration or follow-up.

The Board proceeded with its agenda after public comment and adjourned after a brief executive session. The Board Secretary certified the minutes and the meeting record.