Parents Protest After Education Secretary Bars Entry to School Meeting

A public school meeting in Colts Neck, New Jersey, stirred significant outrage among parents when they were barred from attending an event featuring Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The gathering, scheduled for Cedar Drive Middle School, was set to include discussions on civics with representatives from Turning Point USA (TPUSA), an organization associated with the late Charlie Kirk.

Parents received a memo on March 7, 2024, notifying them that they could attend the meeting starting at 7:45 AM. However, upon arrival, many were denied entry, leading to frustration and confusion. Local reporter Laura Haefli highlighted the parents’ concerns, noting that they felt excluded from a meeting that had been advertised as open to the public under the Open Public Meetings Act.

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They’re talking about what they believe the Constitution means. And this is frustrating parents for a number of reasons,”

Haefli reported. Parents expressed worries over the ultra-conservative values associated with TPUSA and questioned why they were not allowed access to the discussions.

One parent, Allison Denoia, voiced her concerns, stating, “We don’t know what’s being said and that’s what’s problematic for people.” She emphasized the importance of nonpartisan education in public schools, saying, “Public schools are supposed to be nonpartisan. And that’s not what’s happening here.” Denoia added that her presence at the meeting was driven by worries about the school board’s direction.

The Colts Neck Board of Education has a parental bill of rights that mandates parents be informed in advance about guest speakers, presentations, or any assemblies addressing sensitive topics. According to Haefli, parents felt that they had not been adequately informed about the event, which contributed to their dissatisfaction.

“Parents do not believe they were granted that information, and they believe they were not given enough advance notice for this event,” Haefli concluded, encapsulating the sentiments of the frustrated parents.

This incident raises critical questions about transparency and parental involvement in educational settings, particularly when events involve controversial topics and organizations. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the school board will address these concerns and what implications this may have for future public meetings in the district.