11/23 BOE results
The bad news: We lost two moderate veterans, Rob Kirchberger and Debra Bonomi, whose seats will be filled by candidates who support reading restrictions, Cynthia Reyes-Stadulis and Kristina Cagno.
The good news: Bryan Chapman was re-elected and Brendan McIsaac unseated Shelley Crisologo, who refused to oppose book banning.
The net result: The board now contains a "Trump Clump" that controls at least 45% of every vote (Hintz, Solino, Gallo, Reyes-Stadulis, and Cagno). But steadfast moderates remain in Chapman, Viotto, Kotran, and Farbanish. Joining that moderate stronghold is McIsaac, who has a wealth of experience as an educator at Hunterdon Central and as a previous board president at Clinton Public. He'll hit the ground running to keep the extreme faction under control.
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Onward through action
Although we're disappointed with the loss of two seats, our job now is to remain vigilant, continue taking action, and begin preparing for next November. Here are positive steps you can take:
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Continue attending board meetings. Newly elected member Cynthia Reyes-Stadulis has a list of more than 50 library books her husband considers "inappropriate." Only our vigilance can give the board the courage and support to stop censorship. Meeting dates are posted here.
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Consider running for board or be on the lookout for potential candidates. Among the seats in contention in 2024 will be those of John Melick (Califon & Tewksbury), who voted to ban books in 2022, and Tara Hintz (High Bridge & Lebanon Twp), who led the group of three abstaining board members who refused to vote against book banning.
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Support the NJ Freedom To Read Bill (S3907/A5734). Sponsored by Sen. Andrew Zwicker (LD 16) and inspired by North Hunterdon librarian Martha Hickson, the bill will help prevent book banning. We need your voice to move the bill forward. Follow the instructions here to share information about the bill via text and social media, send an e-mail to legislative leaders, and call the offices of legislative leaders to urge them to take up the bill in the Education Committee.
