Home Care In Colts Neck, NJ

The board says the bill strengthens the relationship between the district and families. Advocates say it could endanger LGBTQ+ kids.

Editor’s Note: This article mentions topics of suicide and mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.

Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for free, confidential support 24 hours a day. To access a 24/7 suicide hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, you can click here.

COLTS NECK, NJ — The Colts Neck Township Board of Education adopted a Parental Bill of Rights at a recent board meeting, despite concerns raised by community members and LGBTQ+ advocates over the bill.

The Parental Bill of Rights, which was adopted at the board’s Nov. 19 meeting, outlines various rights that parents have when it comes to the curriculum that their students are being taught, as well as student health services, privacy, and parental input.

Though the board said the bill strengthens the relationship between Colts Neck schools and student families, and brings some of the district's existing policies together into one document, the measure drew criticism from community members and local advocacy organizations, who raised concerns over parts of the bill, such as:

At the board meeting, advocates and county residents argued that adopting the bill could lead to Colts Neck’s LGBTQ+ students being outed to their families without their consent, placing them in what could be a potentially dangerous or hostile home situation.

Larissa Garcia, a community organizer with the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Garden State Equality, offered testimony at the meeting on behalf of Lauren Albrecht, the organization's senior director of advocacy and organizing.

In her statement, Albrecht said she regularly fields calls from families in the Colts Neck School District who are concerned by the board’s actions, and questioned what the board’s endgame is by adopting the Parental Bill of Rights, and what message they are sending to LGBTQ+ students and staff.

“The proposed policy acknowledges that schools must follow New Jersey state law,” Albrecht said. “So why introduce a policy that skirts the edges of laws that cannot be broken without penalty, and creates gray areas for school staff who know the law, but may feel pressured by the introduction of this policy by what is essentially their governing body to adhere to this?”

“...Parents have always had rights. That has not changed nor been altered,” Albrecht continued. “And LGBTQ students have the right to be safe and supported at school so that they can focus on learning and just being kids. Just because you can introduce a policy like this — and you can, because the law still stands — absolutely does not mean you should.”

Jacqueline Sophia London, a transgender actress from Keyport, also spoke out at the meeting against the bill and urged the district to consider how it could negatively impact students.

“I lived in fear my entire life of coming out as transgender,” London said. “It wasn't until the age of 35 that I finally had the courage to do it after multiple suicide attempts, including shooting myself."

"It is the younger generation and their bravery to come out and be themselves and to see people in schools and their peers accepting that — that's what gave me the courage to come out and be myself," London continued.

London went on to say that she feels she owes it to kids in school today to fight for them, and that by supporting the Parental Bill of Rights, the board is taking something away from students and could be hurting them.

“I know that all of you parents think that your kids would come out to you and they would tell you what’s going on, but if they really felt comfortable, they would,” London said. “The problem is, so many don’t.”

By adopting the Parental Bill of Rights, London said the board and supporters of the bill are sending a message to students that it’s not safe for them to come out, and that schools need to take care of and protect students’ mental health.

“I urge all of you not to pass this,” London said. “We don’t need kids in graves. We need kids graduating from your schools.”

While many spoke at the board meeting in opposition to the Parental Bill of Rights, some attendees also spoke in support of the bill and argued that it encourages transparency between the district and student families.

Shawn Highland, the director of advocacy at the New Jersey Family Policy Center, thanked the board for introducing the Parental Bill of Rights, which he described as “a common-sense policy.”

Highland went on to say that the bill doesn’t create rights for parents, but rather recognizes and organizes rights already protected under existing federal law.

He added that parents in Colts Neck want what’s best for their children, and argued that school policies “should reflect that reality.”

“Parents are not only taxpayers, they are primary stakeholders in public education,” Highland said. “They nurture, protect and guide their children every day, and they deserve transparency.”

Valentina Mendez, a current member of the Marlboro Township Board of Education, also spoke in support of the bill in her capacity as a parent (not on behalf of the board), and said the bill’s rights create “a clear and respectful framework that protects children, empowers families, and strengthens the bond between home and school.”

“What I appreciate most about what is being presented is that it’s not about politics,” Mendez said. “It’s about restoring trust, strengthening communication, and ensuring that parents and schools work together.”

Following the public comment portion of the meeting, Colts Neck Board of Education President Angelique Volpe thanked attendees for taking the time to speak and said the board has heard and respects the viewpoints shared.

By adopting the Parental Bill of Rights, Volpe went on to say that the board has made its position “unmistakably clear,” and that parental rights will remain at the forefront of every decision they make.

“Parents are the primary authority in their children’s education, and this district will never sideline that role,” Volpe said. “Every child in Colts Neck will be protected, respected, and treated equally without exception. And we will not permit any sexual content, ideology, or identity to take priority over the rights of our families or the educational mission of our schools.”

“No group’s sexuality will override the values or rights of others. Period,” Volpe continued. “This board stands firm, united and unwavering. Our commitment to academic excellence, child safety, and parental authority is absolute, and we will defend these principles without hesitation.”

Now that the Parental Bill of Rights has been adopted, the bill will take effect immediately and guide the development and implementation of all district policies and practices regarding parent involvement and student welfare, according to the bill.

To read the full Parental Bill of Rights, you can click here. To watch a full recording of the Nov. 19 meeting, you can watch here.

Ciattarelli may have lost on Nov.4, but his views on education have not vanished.

The school board in Colts Neck, a Monmouth County town of about 10,000, just adopted a "Parental Bill of Rights," which is right in line with Ciattarelli's thinking.

"Parental rights will remain at the forefront of every decision we make," is how Angelique Volpe, the board president, put it at the board's Nov. 19 meeting.

That was right before the board unanimously endorsed the policy despite the fact most of those speaking on it at the meeting were opposed.

The New Jersey Public Education Coalition, a progressive group, said the move was a "direct attack on the rights of the LGBTQ/transgender" community.

The coalition also noted that a big proponent of the new policy is the right wing Moms for Liberty group.

Alexandra Bougher, of the Bergen County Moms for Liberty chapter called the Colts Neck vote a "huge" victory.

Here are key parts of the adopted Bill of Rights for parents.

Parents should have access to student records, including if their child changes pronouns, their preferred name, and use of gender-specific facilities, like bathrooms and locker rooms.

Parents should have a right to consent to or decline any mental or physical health services offered through the school, including counseling groups and mentoring programs.

Parents should have a right to opt their children out of health and sex education.

Parents should have the right to opt their children out of lessons that contradict their values or religious beliefs, like health curriculum.

Parents have a right to safe, secure schools and for information about those safeguards.

Parents have a right to protect their children's personal information - like gender identity, religious affiliation and sexual orientation - from research surveys and third-party software.

Some of those who spoke at the meeting said the policy may conflict with state guidelines.

The New Jersey Department of Education through a policy known as 5756 advises school districts to protect a student's privacy in regard to the pronouns they wish to use and how they dress. These principles are also protected by the state's law against discrimination.

Supporters of the parents' rights initiative said it mandates that parents should know what's happening with their children in schools.

Opponents argued that may sound good in theory, but not necessarily in practice.

For example, some students wrestling with their identity may feel more comfortable discussing such things with a teacher or adviser than their parents.

One critic said the adopted policy may be "psychologically damaging" to some students. Another said the board should consider what's best for students.

Nothing happens in a vacuum and the issue of how schools handle this reverberates across the state.

How the incoming administration of Gov. Mikie Sherrill will handle this issue remains to be seen. Still, it seems destined to remain a hot topic for school boards.

Zack Metzger, a senior at Colts Neck High School, is one of a handful of teens who have been elected to NJ school boards over the years.

HOWELL, NJ — In January, Colts Neck High School senior Zack Metzger will take a seat on the dais at the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education.

Unlike many high school students who sit with school boards across the state, updating the board and the audience on happenings in the schools, Metzger will be seated as a member of the board representing Howell and will be one of the youngest people to ever serve on a school board in the country.

Metzger turned 18 on Oct. 23 and won election to the three-year term on Tuesday, receiving 10,473 votes, more than double the 4,983 received by incumbent Joan Butcher-Farkas, according to unofficial results. The results become official after the voting is certified by the Monmouth County Board of Elections and the county clerk's office on Nov. 19.

The margin of victory caught him by surprise, however.

"I thought I had a good chance," he said by phone Wednesday night. "But 10,000? That definitely surprised me."

"I was glad (the election) was decided early," he said with a laugh, adding he thought he would be up until the wee hours waiting for the result.

Metzger said he decided in the spring that he wanted to run for the school board, because of concerns about the conditions of the buildings.

His parents, Amy and Larry Metzger, have been supportive from the start, and on Election Night were excited for his victory.

"They weren't really surprised," he said, though added that he chalked that up to the fact that they are his parents.

Make no mistake: Metzger is serious and clear-eyed about his reasons for running for the board and about what his role will be going forward. Hint: He's not there to advocate for junk food in the cafeteria or for shorter school days.

His campaign was focused on addressing issues with the buildings in the district, which has six high schools — Colts Neck, Freehold Boro, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro — serving about 10,000 students from eight municipalities, including Colts Neck, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro.

While Metzger lives in Howell, the district has crossover among the towns because of special programs hosted at the different high schools.

As a student walking the halls of Colts Neck High School, where he runs cross country, Metzger said he has seen the need to address problems with the buildings. He also campaigned on improving physical education and nutrition and academic rigor.

He also wants to make sure the curriculum is addressing artificial intelligence as the use of AI grows rapidly both within schools and the world at large.

Students need to learn now how to ethically use the technology, he said, while acknowledging the challenges it poses for teachers and schools.

On Wednesday night, Metzger said his first priority will be getting to know the other board members and their priorities for the district, which has struggled through several years of state aid cuts under S2.

"I am one of nine board members," he said, so anything he would like to see the district address will require the support of other members.

He said the reaction in school on Wednesday from classmates and teachers was positive, with several expressing their excitement at his victory.

Metzger admitted it will be odd sitting as a school board member while he is still in high school, because board members do have to make decisions that directly affect teachers.

"It's weird, because I'm their boss's boss," he said, noting the school board oversees the district's superintendent.

And while other students have asked him about things they would like to see done, Metzger said he has taken the opportunity to explain to them the role that a school board member serves.

"We don't run the day-to-day operations of the school," he said. "I wouldn't want to."

A board member's role is to take part in the decisions such as overseeing the budget, approving curriculum that meets state standards, and adopting policies in addition to overseeing the superintendent, and Metzger recited those tasks with clarity well beyond his years.

"I spent a lot of time educating people on the role of a board member," he said.

Board members also are links between the community and the administration, and Metzger said he believes that he brings a critical perspective to the board as a student.

While the district has an executive committee of students who represent all six high schools and who meet with the superintendent, there isn't direct access between the committee and the board.

"I think the board should consider what I have to say," Metzger said. "I think they should hear from students."

Metzger, who is in the process of applying to colleges, said his victory has him looking close to home because he will need to drive home to fulfill his duties to serving on the board. He's looking to study business or possibly political science, he said.

While Metzger has been 18 for just two weeks, he is not the youngest person to serve on a school board in New Jersey.

That honor appears to go to Lawrence Hamm, who was 17 when Mayor Kenneth Gibson appointed him to the Newark Board of Education in the early 1970s. Hamm later founded the People’s Organization for Progress and 50 years later continues to fight for social justice, a Patch report said.

A Sparta 18-year-old, Chad Wood, was elected to that town's school board in 2023, within weeks of his birthday and five months after he graduated from Sparta High School, NJ.com reported. He is still serving on that board and is its vice president, according to the district's website.

Others who have won election to school boards at 18 in New Jersey include Lisa Qarmont, who was elected by write-in to the Newton school board in 2017, according to a Patch report.

Jamie Serruto was elected to a 1-year term on the Millburn school board in 2019, two weeks after his 18th birthday, according to a Patch report.

Adam Parkinson joined the West New York school board in 2014 at 18 and became its president two years later when he was 20 years old, NJ.com reported. He now serves as principal of West New York Public School 5, an elementary school, and on the town's Board of Commissioners.

The Colts Neck Senior Citizen group had a pleasant bus ride to Hampton, NJ to visit the Huntingdon Playhouse, for Never Too Late!

COLTS NECK, NJ: The Colts Neck Senior Citizen (CNS) group had a pleasant bus ride to Hampton, NJ on Thursday, October 9. According to the group it was not their first time at Huntingdon Playhouse, and "it has always been "worth the trip".

Laughter is such an elixir, and the CNS group enjoyed a very amusing play entitled "Never Too Late", about a man in his fifties who is shocked to hear that his wife is pregnant. Their adult daughter and her husband live with them and, according to the group, “the interactions between the four of them are hilarious."

The audience was seated at tiered tables — all with excellent views of the stage—and a grand luncheon was served before show time. For desert lovers, the highlight of this meal was a huge buffet of many delicious choices — all you can eat!!

All Colts Neck residents, age 55 and over are invited to join this dynamic group that is always on an adventure or planning the next. For more information, call President, Ray Shebell at 732-890-0361

Thank you for reading TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!

Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of , Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.

HOLMDEL, NJ -- Holmdel built a two-touchdown lead by halftime and went on to a 49-38 football victory over Middletown North on Friday night.

Senior quarterback Jack Cannon threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to James Murphy less than two minutes into the game for Holmdel (6-2). After Middletown North (3-4) tied it, 7-7, with 6:11 left in the opening quarter, Cannon threw a 6-yard TD pass to Anthony Serini with 14 seconds left in the first quarter.

Cannon sneaked in from the 1-yard line to extend the Hornets' lead to 21-7 with 6:30 showing in the second quarter. Another Cannon run from the 1-yard line with 24 seconds left in the half gave Holmdel a 28-14 lead at the break.

Matt Scheinman ran for a touchdown with 5:56 left in the third quarter to extend Holmdel's lead to 35-14.

Serini's second TD reception of the game, a 12-yard catch-and-run with 9:46 left in the fourth quarter, and a 1-yard TD run by Scheinman accounted for the other Holmdel scores.

Holmdel will have a home game in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 3 playoffs against an opponent to be determined later this weekend. The playoffs begin next weekend.

Thank you for reading TAPinto Holmdel and Colts Neck. Don't miss your daily news, sign up free today Have a news tip or story idea, text Jeanne Wall at 732.492.2500. This publication has thousands of local readers every day and is a fantastic way to provide unique marketing opportunities for your business or organization. Text Jeanne Wall 732.492.2500 for more information or email Interested in franchising TAPinto in Monmouth County? Text or email Jeanne Wall. Have a great day!

Jeanne Wall, Owner/Publisher of , Delivering Daily Community News for Monmouth County, while providing unique Marketing, Branding, PR and Community Relations for local businesses and organizations.