As a 5-year resident of East Brunswick, New Jersey, and current student of its schools, I am deeply concerned about the actions of EB Superintendent of Schools Dr. Victor Valeski and the New Jersey Department of Education, specifically the Ethics Commission, for the silencing of East Brunswick Board member Dr. Louis Figueroa.

On February 26, 2025, Dr. Valeski wrote to the Ethics Commission requesting that Dr. Louis Figueroa be restricted from voting on key issues, specifically voting on his future contract.

This is a clear breach of the 1st amendment, freedom of speech. By Silencing Dr. Figueroa, Dr. Valeski and the Department of Education also silence the 8,000 East Brunswick Citizens (16% of the town's population) that put their trust in Dr. Figueroa to represent them in terms of education. It is as if Dr. Figueroa's constituents mean nothing to the board. 

Dr. Figueroa clearly stated in the campaigning stages of the election that he would be asking hard questions and demanding the truth. This is the reason that people voted for him - they wanted to be heard. Dr. Valeski saw this as a threat to his position. As News Outlet eyes on EB states, "If the intent behind the advisory opinion is to sideline Dr. Lou before critical decisions were made, it's not just politics. It's a betrayal of public trust."

What further adds to the ridiculousness of this situation is that Dr. Figueroa is an elected official, Dr. Valeski is not. This clearly steps out of the boundary marks of democracy, the very principle that this nation is built upon. 

Valeski and the Department of Education are sending out a simple message: Votes are only relevant until they get in the way of someone in power. This is the exact opposite of what we have put our trust in Dr. Valeski to do. If a superintendent can eliminate opposition, it paves a way for a dictatorship hoping to happen.