Poor Leadership by Rogers & Glassman On Display at Last BOE Meeting

The Asbury Park Board of Education held its most recent meeting on Thursday, October 16, at 6 p.m. inside the Bradley Elementary School. All board members were present, including President Tracy Rogers, Vice President Wendi Glassman, and members Barbara Lesinski, Jessiemae Ricks, Dominic Latorraca , Stephanie Ackerman, Michael Penna, and Kristen Clarke along with other district officials.

The meeting began on an unusual note with the swearing-in of Shadab Maghsood who was appointed by the Monmouth County Superintendent of Schools to complete the remainder of Giuseppe ‘Joe’ Grillo’s term. The appointment came after the board was unable to reach a consensus on a candidate within the 45-day window allotted by state law, which then shifted the decision to the county level.

Mrs. Maghsood is no stranger to the board. In January 2024, she was appointed to fill another vacant seat for nine months after a previous member stepped down. She later ran for a full term in the November 2024 election but was not elected, receiving the fewest votes among all candidates. This marks the second time she has been appointed to finish out someone else’s term rather than being voted in by the public.

While some community members expressed surprise at the appointment, others questioned whether the county’s decision reflected input from local officials or political figures. It is believed that former board member Joe Grillo and Senator Vin Gopal may have had influence in the process, though this has not been officially confirmed.

The move has sparked conversation about transparency and the role of local versus county authority in board appointments.

Following the appointment, tensions rose again when President Tracy Rogers attempted to completely skip the public comment session, citing an important executive session he said could last an hour or longer. His announcement drew audible groans from the audience, prompting Rogers to reconsider and open the floor for public comment.

Only two community members spoke before Rogers abruptly ended the session. The decision to move on was made by motion from Rogers abruptly ending the session. The decision to move on was made by motion from Rogers and seconded by Vice President Wendi Glassman, while the remaining board members stayed silent. This writer is unsure if the motion was valid and in accordance with the facilitating of public meetings and or Robert’s Rules.

The first speaker discussed item number 12 on the meeting agenda – the approval of a new partnership between Roaming Dingo Productions and Mrs. Roker’s after-school arts class at Asbury Park High School. The program, funded through the district’s School Improvement Allocation (SIA) funds, will teach students the fundamentals of storytelling through cinema. Participants will gain hands-on experience in filmmaking, production, and directing, and will have the opportunity to showcase their short films at the Jersey Shore Arts Center.

The second speaker, a concerned parent of a student and cheerleader at the Asbury Park High School, spoke about a safety issue that occurred during the annual Asbury Park vs. Neptune football game. She expressed frustration that the school has not taken sufficient action to ensure her daughter’s safety, despite her repeated calls. The parent said she attended the meeting to personally bring her concerns to the board in hopes of finding a resolution.

The shortened session left several attendees visibly frustrated, as it limited community participation in one of the few opportunities for residents to directly address the board.

Before the public comment session concluded, the board celebrated several student and staff achievements across the district. Each school recognized their Student and Staff of the Month for both September and October. Honorees were presented with gift bags and flowers as tokens of appreciation for their hard work and dedication.

Mrs. Jackson-Byers then gave a presentation on the Student Safety Data System, focusing primarily on reporting from Period 2, which runs from January through June 2025. She discussed safety trends and ongoing efforts to maintain a secure learning environment for students and staff.

Dr. Perry J. Medina, principal of Asbury Park High School, followed with a presentation on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA). His report highlighted areas of improvement as well as subjects where additional academic support may be needed.
After closing public comment, the board entered its scheduled executive session to discuss confidential matters.

The next Asbury Park Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday November 20 at 6 pm at the Bradley Elementary School.