Rogers & Glassman Developed Candidate Interview Questions in a Vacuum

The Asbury Park Board of Education held its most recent meeting on Thursday, September 25, at 6 p.m. at the Bradley Elementary School. In attendance were President Tracy Rogers, Vice President Wendi Glassman, and board members Barbara Lesinski, Jessiemae Ricks, Dominic Latorraca, Stephanie Ackerman, Michael Penna, and Kristen Clarke.

The meeting followed a slightly different format than usual , as the board interviewed two candidates for an open seat. One of the applicants was Linda Roma, who’s a retired Director of Educational Access and Literacy at Brookdale Community College after 15 years. The second candidate was Alex Mizenko, who previously served on the Toms River Board of Education representing the Borough of Beachwood from 2020 to 2022.

Before the candidates were brought in, board member Barbara Lesinski raised concerns about the interview process. She questioned who drafted the questions, saying she and other members were not included in the process. President Tracy Rogers responded that he and Vice President Wendi Glassman had developed the questions, though he attempted to soften his statement after being challenged. Rogers explained that many of the questions were designed to address issues currently facing the community and noted that no objections had been raised during the 60 days leading up to the meeting. He also mentioned that the questions had been emailed to board members the night before the session.

Lesinski pushed back, stressing that as president it was Rogers’ responsibility to reach out to his committee and actively invite input, rather than expecting members to chase him in order to participate. Board member Jessiemae Ricks added that she would not give consent to any interview questions she had not been part of drafting. A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the board checking Rogers on his language, particularly his tendency to use “I” instead of “we.” Several members weighed in to remind him that decisions should reflect a team effort, not the authority of one individual.

Shortly after the discussion, the board moved into candidate interviews. Each applicant was given three minutes for an opening statement to introduce themselves to the public and the board, sharing their background, experience, and goals for serving. Following standard procedure, one candidate waited outside while the other answered questions.

Linda Roma described herself as a “team builder,” noting her experience working with struggling programs and helping improve their performance, including one example where a team’s report card rose from a “F” to a “B”. She explained that her role often required meeting with instructors, and while she could not always make promises, she prioritized listening to their concerns. Roma emphasized that transparency and consistent communication are essential to building strong relationships, adding that “all they really wanted was communication.”

When asked to recall a difficult decision she had faced in her career, Roma reflected on her early years in administration, when she was responsible for transitioning attendance records from paper to electronic, one instructor resisted the change and repeatedly urged her to return to the old system, but Roma said she remained firm in communicating her vision for the new process while supporting staff through the adjustment.

Alex Mizenko introduced himself as someone who values honesty and sees himself as a person who brings people together, When asked how he would address the district’s budget challenges, Mizenko said he believes there are times when a board must be more aggressive and assertive, rather than simply lying down and taking the blows. He stressed that there is always room to do more and that the community should be kept informed about these efforts.

After the interviews concluded, the board thanked both candidates for their time and prepared to move on to the next agenda item. At that point, board member Barbara Lesinski suggested moving into executive session to discuss the responses from the interviews. While it was clear that not all members supported the idea, the motion was carried.

When the board returned from executive session, President Rogers announced that no decision would be made that evening. Shortly after the announcement, candidate Linda Roma walked out of the meeting, a move that drew a noticeable reaction from the audience. Rogers added that the process would also require involvement from a higher superintendent and input from the public, giving more people the opportunity to apply for the open seat.

The board then turned its attention to follow-up items from the previous meeting. One discussion centered on the use of facilities, specifically a request from the Police Athletic League (PAL) of Monmouth and Ocean counties to hold new programs at Barack Obama Elementary School. While the district cannot cover custodial fees, members questioned whether the board would receive help from PAL with those costs.

The board also revisited concerns raided by the Asbury Park Dance Academy, which had been seeking affordable space for rehearsals. An agreement was reached for the academy to use district facilities at a cost of $450 per month. Although community members had offered to supervise the building voluntarily, President Rogers noted that doing so would violate labor laws, though he expressed appreciation for the outpouring of community support. In the end, district staff adjusted their schedules to make the arrangements possible.

An additional opportunity was presented for students to get involved in esports. Dr. Perry Medina, principal of Asbury Park High School, explained that Georgian Court University is interested in partnering with the district to create a program similar to Dream Academy with Brookdale Community College, which allows students to earn college credits while in high school. Through this partnership students would be introduced to esports as an academic pathway – learning about the field, gaining hands-on experience, and earning transferable college credits. Those credits could potentially be applied toward an esports minor or related studies once they enter college.

The meeting concluded with no decision made on the vacant board seat, leaving the process open for additional candidates to come forward. In the meantime, the board addressed several community partnerships and facility matters, while continuing to face questions from both members and the public about its decision-making process.

The next Asbury Park Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, at 6 p.m. at Bradley Elementary School.