Karyn Cusanelli (File Photo)
The following was submitted to Shorebeat by Brick BOE member Karyn Cusanelli.
It has been my honor and pleasure to represent our community since 2013. I’m proud to have served with members of visionary boards that voted to institute full-day kindergarten, long-overdue improvements to our facilities, and extensive upgrades to the technology available to our students. All this was accomplished without ever raising taxes, but by prioritizing the needs of the students, improving efficiencies, and cutting waste. As a lifelong resident and product of our schools, myself, I am gratified to have been involved in these, as well as many other, positive changes for the benefit of our childrens’ education.
My hopes and vision for the district are not in agreement with that of the new majority of the board. The lack of transparency (shown not only to the public, but to myself as a board member) does not lend itself to a unified community or gain public confidence and trust. Raising the tax levy 3.5%, firing staff, and ignoring budgetary waste have also indicated a direction with which I do not wish to be associated. My decisions have always been made for the enrichment of all our students, not for the benefit of partisan politics. Therefore, I have decided not to run for another term.
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Prior to becoming a board member, I attended nearly every board meeting since 2007, as a parent and a concerned taxpayer. As a volunteer board member, I have spent countless hours on research, meeting preparation, and additional school board training. I have taken every vote and every issue very seriously and I have performed to the best of my ability; I will continue to do so for the remainder of my term. Brick is my hometown and, like my own parents, my husband and I chose to raise our family here. I love our town and its people; I can only pray more parents will get involved and board members (both current and future) will give our schools and our residents the dedication and respect they deserve.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as a board of education member in this great town.
Karyn Cusanelli
