Newly elected Board of Education Member Jesus Martinez is sworn in at the 2/8/18 Board Meeting *Photo by Katherine Massopust

2/8/18 Board of Education Meeting

By: Katherine Massopust

PERTH AMBOY – Newly elected Board Member Jesus Martinez was sworn in at the beginning of the 2/8/18 Board Meeting. Martinez wasn’t present at the last BOE Meeting due to attending Out of State Military Training.

Ken Puccio had been appointed President and Milady Tejada was appointed Vice-President.

During the Meeting, the Machado Law Group was approved to be the Board of Education’s Attorney.

During the Board President’s Report, Ken Puccio welcomed newcomers Jesus Martinez and Lissett Lebron. He asked for a moment of silence for everyone affected by the recent tragedies in Perth Amboy.

During the Superintendent’s Report, Dr. David Roman put on the screen a photo of Perth Amboy School Children. “Sometimes it’s important to put a face to the tragedy. We saw teachers consoling students and students consoling other children. We invited Ken Puccio, Mayor Wilda Diaz, Fire Chief Mullen and Police Chief McKeon to speak to the children. These are the faces of the children. That’s what we’re losing in our community.” Roman then asked for another moment of silence.

During the regular portion of the Meeting, Board Member Tashi Vasquez made some comments, “I share the sentiment for all of us in Perth Amboy for the loss of life. The City of Perth Amboy has instituted a Fire & Safety Initiative. The phone# you can call if you need a smoke/carbon monoxide detector is: 732-376-5419. The City, Red Cross and everyone are working together.”

Board Member and Volunteer Firefighter Anton J. Massopust stated, “Some of these tragedies take place because people take the batteries out of the smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. Don’t do that.”

Board President Ken Puccio then stated, “Along with the people that suffer the loss are the First Responders: The Firefighters, the Police, or EMT’s. It’s pretty devastating to those classroom teachers who lose a student in the room.”

Dr. David Roman stated that there was to be two assemblies on Friday, February 9, 2018: one because of recent tragedies in Perth Amboy and one for Black History Month.

All Board Members were in attendance. The Meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.