Each signature represents a vote of “Non Confidence” in the present leadership of the Middlesex Borough School District, specifically Superintendent Dr. Roberta Freeman and the Board Of Education members responsible for her hiring and enabling of the swift decline that immediately followed.

The district's operating budget has increased dramatically while student performance numbers have dropped which is a lethal combination for property values.

Far more important than the monetary implications is the toxic

culture that is present in our schools, stories of the trauma inflicted upon staff and students are many. One of the recent and more shocking incidents involved a teacher denying a student’s requests to use the bathroom resulting in the student urinating on themselves. Another teacher with a long and well known history of abusing students is presently on leave for inappropriate conduct, their future in the district is unclear and parents have been given little to no information. It is the teacher’s 2nd leave due to inappropriate contact within a month’s time. This is a matter that should have been elevated to a higher authority and it has not, the possibility of this teacher returning is a grave concern.

Shortly after Dr. Freeman assumed her position as Superintendent the frequency of Board Of Education meetings was cut in half. As a result the voting process needed to implement changes has been turned into a long, drawn out process. It now takes far longer and makes it more difficult for parents and members of the community to do their due diligence on important issues affecting the district.

In this regard the most important would be the implementation of Class 3 officers in our schools. Despite exhaustive efforts by our town Council and tax payers providing funds earmarked in the school budget for Class 3 officers for 2 years, as of the drafting of this petition the issue is still stalled due to an objection by Dr. Freeman. This is a significant development, Dr. Freeman is NOT a voting member of the Board Of Education, the real decision falls upon the Board Of Education who appear to be refusing to make that decision, but had no problem asking for the money to pay for the officers. How, or if, that money has been used is in question as well. By all appearances Dr. Freeman has hi-jacked the issue of the Class 3 officers and long standing members of the BOE don’t seem to possess the intestinal fortitude to correct it.

These examples are merely the tip of an iceberg that grows by the day with no end in sight. This petition will be sent to media outlets and the proper NJ state offices. There needs to be an investigation involving the State. The hope is with enough signatures the members of this community committed to creating a real change will be able to make that happen. 

By adding your signature you are confirming you are a present resident of Middlesex Borough NJ 08846.