Brian Murphy for South Amboy Board of Education

As a sitting South Amboy Board of Education member, this post contains my thoughts and opinions, and in no way supports any opinions of any other South Amboy Board of Education member or that of the board as a whole.

I have decided to seek another term on the South Amboy BOE. If you know me, you know how I care for this community's children, their education, and their health and well being. If re-elected, I will continue to speak up for what I believe in and what you, as a community believe in. I can only promise you that I will not be silent.

After serving on the Board for the past 3 years, you can imagine the challenges we have faced with all the changes in our district. I believe in the new administration and their upcoming district goals, hopefully we can work together to make sure we achieve these goals.

However, I feel the biggest issues we face are the safety and security of our children and their mental health. Since no one attended our last public meeting in July, the following is a statement that I made publicly during that meeting. (Also, I have always been an advocate that our meetings should be recorded in some forum for the public to watch and/or hear).

"I love everything about the district goals that we just approved. I think there is one thing that should be added to our goals and objectives, and that is some sort of goal on Security and safety in our schools.

A couple of months ago a team from Rutgers sent out a survey "Perceptions of Equity in South
Amboy School District" to students, parents and staff on how our schools were doing. If you were at the last meeting here, they presented us with the results of that survey. It included data and some quotes from survey takers. There was one line in there that really hit home with me and should be a major concern to all of us. The statement read “younger students (6th graders) felt unsafe". I would have thought this was coming right from my daughter, but she was only in the fifth grade at the time. How do we plan on educating our children if they don’t feel safe? How can they learn if they're constantly thinking about their safety at school?

We have had more than one incident this year where weapons, real or not, have been confiscated from students. How many weapons are being brought into the school that school officials are not aware of? I have heard plenty of stories of physical altercations getting out of hand in both schools. Kids are entering the buildings with sports bags, musical instrument cases, and backpacks. We have no idea what is being hidden in these bags. We need to be more proactive on safety and security before something happens that we’ll be sorry for and have to answer for. I certainly don’t want to be part of a body of an organization that has to answer to parents for not doing something that could have been done. And nothing has changed in the 5 years that my family has lived here.

5 years ago when we first moved here, I attended Board meetings. The 2nd month I was here was a Meet the Candidates night, where there were 6 candidates for 3 seats. this was in 2018, some of you may remember it. Among the many questions I asked was: Do you plan on doing anything to promote the security in our schools? Mrs. Kasics your answer was “If that’s what the community wants, you would certainly be behind more security in the schools, but you don’t hear that from the community” or something to that effect. If you still feel that way, you’re just not listening.

I feel I have a pretty good ear to the community. One of my jobs as a Board Member, aside from the book definitions, is to listen and speak up for the community members, and that was the only promise I made when I first ran. After 2 years of living here, and convincing from community members, I ran and was elected to the BOE. I am not about to let them down and stop speaking up for them now. I heard the concerns of parents about safety and security during the one Coffee and Conversation with the Superintendent that I attended. I hear it from the kids and parents just speaking to them out in public (I’m not the one bringing up the subject). But here’s what really hit me -
My 3 year term on the Board is up at the end of this year. I was very undecided, more leaning toward not, whether I was going to seek another term. It has nothing to do with administration, I want to be there for the changes I see coming, I believe they’re on the right path. It had to do with how the Board itself has been run lately, but I’m not going to get into that. So, just last week I spoke with my 10 year old daughter, who’s still in the district about my concerns with running again. Well, the words of wisdom and perspective of a 10 year old convinced me that I had to run.

So, I printed out the nomination petition and started getting signatures, but I did it a little differently this time. I got in my car for about an hour and just rode through town and stopped people in the street or in front of their houses, introduced myself and explained that I was Running for BOE in November and if they wouldn't mind supporting me, could they sign my petition. I also asked them if they had any children in the district and/or any concerns about the schools or things that they liked about the schools. I spoke to 10 people (only 2 of them did I know). Everyone of them either had children, grandchildren, or children that had just recently been in the school district.

All 10 of them mentioned security or fighting in the schools in some way or another.

So, I implore this Board and administration to be proactive in this matter sooner than later, before it’s too late."

I would like to thank all of those that have supported me in the past. If you feel that I am the right person to continue to serve this community, than vote:
Line 2 - Brian Murphy, STUDENT SAFETY FIRST.
Whether you vote by mail, in person, absentee, early or on election day, that is your choice. JUST VOTE!

I AM NOT A POLITICIAN,
I AM A PARENT.

https://www.facebook.com/saes08879/photos/a.2040815982671628/3204672826285932/?type=3

South Amboy ES yearbooks are in. If you purchased one last year you can pick it up at the George St entrance between 10-12 on Tuesday through Thursday (8/11-8/13). If you did not get a chance to purchase one you can during those times on a first come first serve basis. They are $25 each and exact change is needed. Thank you.

Attention SA parents:

HS parents were send an email last week that prom was canceled. There was also mention that the school sought out Frog Hollow as an alternative. Our administration stated in that email that, "Our last effort was to use Frog Hollow as an outdoor venue for our Formal and Prom; however, we have encountered a problem. While Governor Murphy has increased the size of outside gatherings, these events must still follow the six foot social distancing mandate as well as all present wearing masks; again, in keeping with the mandates."

This is NOT true. Now that Frog Hollow announced that Sayreville is having a Senior picnic for their seniors, I feel more comfortable sharing the info publicly. Frog Hollow has done EVERYTHING in their power to assist schools, camps, and their membership while complying with the governor's orders. They have worked with local OEM coordinators and have gotten a seal of approval by the health department. They have worked with those who HAVE reached out to them.

I also want to make it abundantly clear that the SA Board was NOT made aware that prom was canceled until we received the same email everyone else did. Had we known, our board would have ensured our students were given the same opportunities as surrounding districts.

I encourage ALL parents to attend the next board meeting and ask our administrators why South Amboy was not given the same opportunity as Sayreville.

Does anyone else feel it's absolutely ludicrous that our kids have summer assignments this year?
They have basically been in lock down for the better part of 3 1/2 months. And now that it looks like NJ is starting to open up a bit, and we don't know for how long, this will give the kids a chance to finally get out and be kids. See friends, play ball, go swimming, take a vacation here and there, etc.
But now they are taking some of that relished relief away from them by bogging them down with work.
I have emailed superintendent Diaz and principals McCabe and Dunphy regarding this, asking them to reconsider giving summer assignments this year.
If you are in agreement, maybe others can also email them to let them know how we feel.
p.s. other surrounding school districts have suspended summer assignments just for that reason.

I AM NOT A POLITICIAN,
I AM A PARENT

My name is Brian Murphy. I am announcing my candidacy for a seat on the South Amboy Board of Education during the upcoming November 3, 2020 election.

- My family and I moved to the great little city of South Amboy in September 2018.

- Since that time, I have been an active participant in every Board of Education meeting. (missing only one).

- I have a daughter that is in 3rd grade at South Amboy Elementary School. I have a daughter that is in the 7th grade at South Amboy Middle School. I have a son that just graduated 8th grade from South Amboy Middle School, and will be furthering his education at East Brunswick Vo-Tech. And you can also see my wife around the schools, as she works in the lunch rooms of both schools.

Since the start of my children's school years, I have been an active PTO/PTA member. I have sat on multiple PTA committees. I have always taken an active part in all of my children's school and extra curricular activities. (sports, cheer, dance, play/drama, etc.)

- I believe ALL of our students deserve the best education and school functions that can be afforded.

- I believe in the South Amboy School system. I also believe that there is room for great improvement. I feel it is necessary to have a strong and cohesive Board, as not to allow administration to become stagnant and complacent.

- I believe in transparency of all school discussions, when possible. I believe in accountability.

- First and foremost, I believe in the safety and security of all of our children, and will hold the school system to the highest standards in these actions.

- I believe ALL South Amboy students deserve the right to attend our public schools. I believe we should look much further into more and better special needs programs. I believe our school system should find a way to offer vocational classes and programs.

- I believe in policy. Although, I don't agree with a lot of policies, I believe that if there is a written policy, all said policies should be enforced.

- I am not so naive to sit here and make you promises that wholesale changes are coming, or that I can do anything about that. But, I can promise you that I will be your voice. Any concerns or questions that you may have, whether I agree with them or not, I can promise you if you feel comfortable telling me them, that I will relay them to the people that need to hear them. THAT I CAN PROMISE YOU.

- If you feel change is needed, or you think that I am the right person for the position, I'd appreciate your support during election day.

- If you have any questions for me, you can contact me, or just post them on this page.

- INTEGRITY
- ADVOCACY
- ACCOUNTABILITY