Time for residents to support schools, put trust in board

As a regular attendee of the Sayreville Board of Education meetings, I am compelled to comment on the recent "Your Turn" guest column ("Disappointed With Board's Behavior, Decisions") that appeared in the June 7 issue of the Suburban.

The suggestion that the board hire a public relations firm to help with its image was mine. It was said due to the frustration I feel for the board - it is constantly being held up to ridicule and not getting the support needed from the community.

It seems no matter what project or progress or betterment for the schools and the community at large, the communication of that effort gets muddled and ends up being received negatively by a small population. There is a constant mistrust that exists for no substantiated reason.

These people are volunteers who work and give of their time to help ensure that our children receive a good education. An education is the top priority, and in the scheme of things, a construction project is not. Although a major amount of money, it is one thing among 1,000 that are more important. The board members are not CPAs, engineers or architects - they are just people like you and me. The thing that makes them special is that they are willing to give of themselves.

This is the dilemma the board has, and it recognizes this. Board members have formed a committee to address and improve the panel's community communications.

It is time for the people of Sayreville to truly come out and support their schools and put a little trust and confidence in the administration and the board. I have.

Robert P. Foley

Parlin section of Sayreville