Meet The 2022 Middletown School Board Candidates – Patch

MIDDLETOWN, NJ There is a school board election in Middletown every year, and voting for the BOE race will take place the same day as the midterms, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

There are three seats open on the Middletown school board in 2022. Six candidates have filed to run.

Patch asked all the candidates to send us a photo, a brief biography of themselves and why they are running. We also asked them the following:

1. Sex education was a big topic in New Jersey schools this past year. What do you think of the new health curriculum mandated by the state? How would you respond to parents who say they are concerned with some of the topics? I.e. discussing masturbation, gender identity with elementary school students. Do you think these are appropriate topics for elementary students?

2. What are your thoughts on critical race theory? Do you think it should be taught in schools? What do you think of some NJ lawmakers, such as former Middletown mayor and now Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger, suggesting to ban CRT from schools?

Here are the six candidates and their answers:

Lauren Anderson: Anderson ran unsuccessfully in 2021 for Middletown school board as a write-in candidate. "Im a lifelong Middletown resident and former K-12 Middletown Township Public Schools student. Im now 36 years old and raising my children with my husband just a few miles from the home I grew up in. My mom has been a district teacher for 24 years. I care deeply for my community and the future of our schools and our students, and I want to take an active role in making sure Middletown remains a paradigm of public school education for many years to come. I earned a BA in business administration from Brookdale Community College and spent many years working in various industries throughout my high school and college careers. My years in retail and service positions have given me ample opportunity to learn to quickly identify problems and work with my team and/or the customer to make compromises and find solutions."

Im running for the board because the education my two children will receive in this district over the next eighteen years is of paramount importance to me. I want their learning environment to feel safe and secure for them and I want the culture of the district to be warm and welcoming to everyone. I want to eliminate partisan politics that distract from real issues and get back to whats important. I want to work with the administration, teachers and parents to address bullying in our schools. I want to make sure we are not only fostering an environment of respect, kindness and acceptance but that we, as adults in the community, are modeling that behavior in practice.

I want to take a closer look at alternative sources of funding. We need to tap every available resource so we can make sure we can provide our students with all the teachers, counselors, specialists, programs and equipment they need to stay engaged and be successful in their educational careers. I also want to figure out if and how we can improve our districts proficiency scores. While our scores are better than the state average, we are still only scoring at 53 percent in math and 65 percent in reading as per Public School Review. I believe we can do better in preparing our students for the next steps of their lives and I will work to make sure we are doing everything we can to make that happen.

1. State-mandated curricula are outside of the purview of our local board of education. Once a curriculum is mandated to be taught as part of the public school education, its my understanding that the board is obligated to adhere to those standards so my personal opinions, or those of other board members, should be irrelevant. I can empathize with parents who may feel more sensitive about particular topics and I support their right to opt their children out of those lessons in the health curriculum which they find offensive. Parents should also be clear that our current opt-in policy for the health curriculum, as I understood from the curriculum information sessions provided this summer, that if you respond and choose to opt-out of some or all topics, that will be noted and your child will be given alternative instruction but failure to respond to the forms or administrations attempts to reach you will result in the student being instructed in all topics.

2. Critical Race Theory is not currently taught in primary or secondary schools in New Jersey and, to my knowledge, there are no lawmakers who have introduced any legislation attempting to make it part of the primary or secondary curriculum. As with the health standards, any curriculum that is state mandated is out of the purview of the local boards of education and so the opinions of board members are irrelevant. I would suggest to any parents who feel strongly about critical race theory one way or another reach out to their state representatives to share their feelings.

John Little: I am seeking re-election to the Middletown Township Board of Education in November. The Middletown Township Public School District is not only great in maintaining high standards but has made many improvements over the years. I am running to be an active part in keeping the district strong and to assist in addressing the challenges we face.

I want to be part of the districts continuing work to improve its approach to mental health, find ways to expand resources,and make it easier for students and parents to access those resources to find help. Bullying is a topic that needs further discussion between the District and the community. We as a District need to make sure we provide consistent education and support across the entire District, as well as address areas where proficiency is not where it should be post COVID.

Continue to expand our goal of inclusion and continue to enhance and coordinate tiered intervention and special education support. Have more active discussions with parents regarding curriculum offerings that are now accessible through the Districts website. Continue our focus on security and safety. Bring it all together into a competent, responsible budget that addresses reductions in aid from the State of New Jersey. Most of all, continue to not only hear, but listen to and respect all of our students, parents,taxpayers, and staff in the Middletown community to keep the School District strong.

I am married and have children who currently attend Middletown Township Public Schools. I grew up in Middletown and went through the public school system from elementary school through high school. I graduated second in my class at Middletown High School South where I was also captain of the football team, member of the National Honor Society, and voted Most Likely to Succeed. I attended the University of Notre Dame where I graduated Summa Cum Laude and earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration Accounting. I am a certified public accountant and have worked in finance for large financial institutions for almost 30 years. I am currently a member of the Middletown Board of Education and am very active in the community. I am on various Board of Education committees including Student Services/Special Education (Chair), Curriculum and Instruction, Facilities & Finance, Co-Curricular & Technology, Safety, and one of the liaisons to the Middletown Municipal Alliance. Prior to being a member on the Board of Education, I was a PIC (Parent Information Committee) representative.

1. The Health curriculum has been discussed by the Board of Education and with the community for about two years, including a significant amount of discussion over the last few months with the District hosting two well-publicized forums explaining the curriculum and the Districts opt-in process. The curriculum is accessible through the District website and has resulted in some excellent conversations with parents.

2. The article that I was e-mailed from the Patch regarding CRT was a year old. That curriculum/instruction does not exist in Middletown.

Gary Tulp, Joe Fitzgerald and Leonora Caminiti: Caminiti will seek re-election to the Board, joined by Tulp and Fitzgerald, both seeking to be elected to the Board for the first time.

They wrote:

The 'Middletown Families First' team is united by a shared vision of how the Board of Education can best support the community it serves. That vision is premised on prioritizing academic and developmental success, carefully scrutinizing all expenditures to maximize efficiency and achievement, and delivering opportunities, transparency and choice to the families the Board represents. Beyond our shared beliefs, we each contribute to our team with our own unique skills, experiences and motivations for running.

Gary Tulp is the dad of two daughters at River Plaza Elementary, where he never misses an opportunity to volunteer his time at school activities and PFA events. Tulp is also a lawyer with extensive experience representing large organizations, managing massive budgets, and analyzing complex legal authorities to protect his clients interests. With roots as the son of a retired high school teacher and a retired school bus driver, and the brother of an elementary school principal, Tulp knows that talented and supported public school professionals are families greatest partners in preparing their children for success. Tulp believes that his attendance and engagement at almost every Middletown Board of Education meeting since 2020 listening, learning and speaking along with his legal and business background, makes him especially well-suited for the hard work of developing the best curricula, programs, mental health resources and facilities possible for Middletowns students.

Joe Fitzgerald is the father of three young children and a United States Marine veteran. He is also an entrepreneur who founded multiple successful technology businesses based in Red Bank but with operations around the world.

Witnessing his oldest daughter thrive in her special-education program at New Monmouth Elementary inspired Fitzgerald to learn more about the ways he could help all Middletown students have a positive school experience. Accordingly, Fitzgerald started attending Board of Education meetings earlier this year to build his knowledge of the districts operations and the interplay between the Board and the Administration. That experience, in turn, inspired Fitzgerald to run for his own seat at the table. He is particularly excited about employing his leadership skills, military discipline, and business acumen to improve our districts facilities and infrastructure and maximize the districts financial health.

Leonora Caminiti is the mother of three Eagle Scout sons who each grew up in Middletowns schools. Caminiti is also a successful local businesswoman, having spent the past 26 years building her Monmouth County real estate business, and has donated countless hours serving as a PFA President and volunteering for such organizations as the Great Race Steering Committee, Project Prom, Municipal Alliance and the Middletown Arts Center.

In addition, Caminiti is especially proud of her 18 years of service on the Middletown Board of Education. Caminitis many achievements on the Board include bringing full-day kindergarten to Middletown, saving the district nearly $3 million by switching to a self-insurance program and advocating for additional guidance counselors, air conditioning in our buildings, curriculum advancements and security enhancements. Caminiti seeks reelection this year in hopes of continuing to serve the community she loves.

1. A state-wide mandate that educators have to discuss such sensitive subjects with young children rests on the flawed assumption that parents are not up to the task and the equally erroneous assumption that teachers and staff are comfortable doing so. Some of these topics, as you noted in your question, consist of mature subject matter that is either not developmentally appropriate for the grades in which the state would like them introduced, or, in many families view, not appropriate for public school at any level. Having attended our Administrations information sessions in August and spoken about this with so many parents there and elsewhere in recent months, those interactions reinforced the importance of strong Board members who are prepared to vet all curricula and resources, champion transparency and choice for families, encourage and value input from our teachers and staff and refuse to rubber-stamp resources that the state might hand down. We believe Middletowns parents and guardians are up to the tasks of not only discussing sensitive topics with their children, but also choosing the right time to do so and whether or not to complement at-home discussions with any district offerings.

2. In our view, any theory that treats a child as incapable of achieving success or inherently predisposed to hate or any negative behavior is unfair. And implementing such a theory in any curriculum would be a misuse of already stretched-thin district resources that would be better spent on programs devoted to improving mental health, developing self-confidence, and amplifying a positive school culture. It also would be counterproductive to the important work of teaching all our children what it means to be a good person and a productive citizen. All students should be allowed to learn and grow without being declared good or bad based on characteristics like race or gender. Curricula teaching otherwise would only create, not eliminate, prejudice and division.

Kristie Tapolow: I am running for the Middletown Board of Education because I am personally invested in maintaining, nurturing and increasing the quality of our school system. I am passionate and committed to our children and our community and want to make enhancements that ensure each and every one of our children has the opportunity for an unencumbered future of limitless possibility.

I am a lifelong Middletown resident; I have now built a beautiful life here with my husband, Daniel, and my children, Hudson and Harper. For 15 years I have worked in the Middletown Township School District as a social worker, applying the valuable lessons I learned in Middletown schools to support students academic and social success.

I believe my time serving the district has provided me valuable insight into the day-to-day operations of how schools work. Moreover, I have been an active member on district-wide committees, so not only do I understand how individual schools operate, I understand how those schools form a foundation for community and district-wide growth. Furthermore, I have developed an expansive network of resources and connections. As such, my prior experience will allow me to bring something unique to the board of education, and I am confident that my extensive experience in education, social work, mental health and volunteerism has given me a deep and invaluable understanding of what children, families and communities need to thrive what THIS community needs to thrive.

Working in Middletown has taught me that collaboration with the students, their families and the MTPS staff is key. We are all here to create successful learners. I vow to listen carefully to all community input and to work tirelessly to identify issues, create viable solutions, and bridge divides. I believe all of this can be accomplished while keeping the fiscal health of the district and its taxpayers in mind.

I am solution oriented and trained in the art and science of active listening, of helping, and in collaboration and compromise. As a social worker, I have developed relationships across the city and state at all levels, relationships that can help this community. Ultimately, the challenges Middletown faces are nothing compared to the strength it has within itself to overcome them.

Important Issues

The divide that is felt at multiple levels of society is also felt at the district level. As the largest district in Monmouth County, Middletown stands alone, beset with unique challenges due to a population of many strong voices. From Leonardo to Lincroft, Middletown also contains a variety of geographic pockets, each with their own needs and obstacles. Although they differ in many important ways, these voices each cry out for novel solutions to problems that plague our district. By looking at the needs of individual schools I can better understand what common challenges are district wide & use the information to create a multifaceted and individualized response. I can use my skills as a social worker to listen to all sides and work towards collaboration and compromise.

Right now, the children of this district are facing a mental health crisis. This is not unique to Middletown but we can be unique in our response. We know that our children have been impacted by the pandemic, but the reality is that many children were struggling even before COVID. From my experience and training I have an understanding of how to support mental health needs from the individual all the way to community level.

I believe an inclusive community is crucial for children's success. We need to see students as individuals and figure out what they need to be successful. We need to build our capacity to meet their various needs through a balance of strong academics, strong social emotional learning, and by creating a community culture. Each child needs to be given the tools to become successful at their school, in their homes, and for their futures. Feeling safe and ensuring all their needs are being met is what will allow them to be available to learn in school.

1. The health curriculum at the center of recent controversy was proposed in 2019, so it is not new. Even older than that is the political misunderstanding between lawmakers who write policy in theory, and the teachers and parents who have to put these ideas into practice.

To that end, I believe MTPS has handled this situation correctly by being intentional and above board, communicative and proactive. Middletown has partnered with the community, the District and the BOE listened to parents concerns, digested that feedback, and worked with the Curriculum Committee to evaluate the learning standards at each grade level. It is important we continue to do so, and further assess the available materials to ensure that what is being taught is appropriate for each age/level.

The district placed the proposed curriculum on its website for easy access, sent notifications to all parents, and held curriculum presentations that were recorded for later viewing. All of this helped eliminate confusion and allowed parents to hear firsthand what the district is doing.

The district even went the extra mile to now allow parents to opt in to certain lessons based on their comfort level. I also believe the districts website could be used more effectively as a hub to share information in real time. It certainly needs to be updated for easier navigation and could be a more powerful resource for parents and students.

2. Critical race theory is not currently being taught in Middletown. Looking at the district's curriculum, the teaching of race theory is not in line with the scope and sequence of learning at either the elementary or secondary levels. Moving forward, I think we could address CRT similarly to how MTPS have handled proposed changes to the health and sex education curricula with open discussions between the schools and the community. This would help to ensure all parties have a say and are comfortable.

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Meet The 2022 Middletown School Board Candidates - Patch