The Republican controlled School Board in Middletown has failed in its plan to close three schools, eliminate 40 staff positions, and impose a 3% property tax increase, without consulting parents, teachers, and students.

This is a victory for the people of Middletown, as their voice has persevered beyond school board meetings, and closed door negotiations as done by government officials who believe that they shouldn't be held accountable to the public, or open to criticisms by said public.

This is what happens when communities organize. This is what happens when parents, teachers, and students unite for the betterment of their own communities against the overreaching, unaccountable hands of pessimistic and ultimately inefficient governance and government. This is what happens when you try to go behind the backs of the community that has put you in a position of power to make decisions on behalf of the community, and when you don't listen to that community they'll make their voices heard even louder than you can imagine. The absentee Middletown mayor who's too busy running for County Commissioner, Tony Perry, didn't do this, the inefficient, unaccountable, and pessimistic Middletown School Board didn't do this, you the people of Middletown have, and this temporary, but huge victory that can't be understated, belongs to you. But this is not the end of it, this is only the beginning in taking back your school board, and government, and to continue unto that path of taking back ownership, that begins by firing the people who have worked against the best interests of the community, whether that is by retiring members of the School Board who have vocalized their support for these school closures, mass firings, and tax increase, whether that is by electing new local leadership that utilizes their position to influence said school board to make better decisions, like Republican Mayor, and County Commissioner Candidate Tony Perry has refused to do so.

Regardless, the fight continues, more work is still yet to be done, and the choice belongs to you, not unaccountable, closed, ineffective government officials.

While on paper the school board elections are "non-partisan" most of the elected School Board members who have led this effort to close down schools, fire staff, and raise taxes happen to be of Republican leanings, and they control the board 5-4 Those members are the following: Frank Capone, Jacqueline Tobacco, Caterina Skalaski, Chris Aveta, and Mark Soporowski. While Skalaski switched her vote to oppose this overreach against parents, students, and teachers, she's still part of the Republican leaning majority, and if true change is to come she should be voted out as well, as there should be no room for hesitation when it comes to listening to the voices of the parents, teachers, students, and community at large in Middletown. If real change is to come, these people need to face an early retirement and be voted out and replaced with new, efficient, accountable, and transparent leadership that listens to the voices of the people of Middletown.

The Schools are temporarily saved, the staff are still intact, and the students will continue to attend their schools as they have been, but make no mistake, the fight will continue, and I believe that the people of Middletown will persist in that fight for a more accountable School Board, and government, for a more efficient, and stable form of Education, and for a more affordable, and livable Middletown. Thank you all for your efforts, and I will continue to support each, and everyone of you.