What began as a celebratory school assembly quickly became a point of contention for the Colts Neck Board of Education (BOE). At a tense Dec. 17 public meeting, officials faced mounting criticism from the community over U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s visit.

On Dec. 5, McMahon made her third stop of the “History Rocks! Trail to Independence Tour” at Cedar Drive Middle School. Although the 50-state tour was advertised as a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, many New Jersey residents take issue with the fact that the tour, which claims to be nonpartisan, is sponsored by over 50 conservative organizations, including Turning Point USA, founded by the late Charlie Kirk. 

Before the Dec. 17 school board meeting, protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the BOE’s decisions surrounding McMahon’s visit. Demonstrators brought speakers, lights and signs bearing messages such as “Do not whitewash history,” “Wake up and smell the fascism” and “History shocks or it’s propaganda.” Attendees represented various activist organizations, including Jersey Shore Blue, NJ Voters for Church and State Separation, Middletown Democrats and the League of Women’s Voters of Monmouth County (LWVMC). 

Among the protesters was Katie Connolly of Asbury Park, a member of the Jersey Shore Blue leadership team. Connolly expressed her concern regarding the assembly’s impact on the young students, believing that they are especially susceptible to biased messaging.

“We [at Jersey Shore Blue] don’t think that a curriculum that is written solely by right-wing organizations can in any way be appropriate for school,” Connolly said. “Middle schoolers are really vulnerable; they want to fit in with their peers. If you’re bringing this in with some rah-rah type of thing, they might feel uncomfortable if they don’t go along with it, even if it might not be what their beliefs are, so that’s a concern.”

LWVMC President Evelyn Murphy of Neptune agrees with Connolly.

“The LWVMC is asking this board of education to reconsider and start acting like an independent, nonpartisan school board, with the interest of the students [at the forefront],” Murphy said.

As the meeting began at 6:30 p.m., the debate shifted from the sidewalk to the boardroom, where BOE President Angelique Volpe responded to criticism and outlined the timeline of McMahon’s visit.

Volpe began by addressing the reasons why the board cancelled its previous regular meeting  on Dec. 3 meeting. It wasn’t cancelled, she said, because the board did not want to discuss the plans for McMahon’s visit. She said it was cancelled because of a conflict involving the scheduling of a deposition for an ongoing legal issue. 

“Everybody seems to feel that I canceled [the BOE meeting] because I wanted to shut down the public in some type of way regarding Secretary McMahon’s visit. That is absolutely false. That is not the reason why the meeting was canceled,” Volpe said. 

Additionally, at the Dec. 17 meeting, Garibay addressed the public’s concern regarding the ‘special meeting’ held by the BOE on the morning of Dec. 5. 

“When you have a majority of the board present, and they are discussing board business, it is considered a quorum,” she said. “Legally, it has to be advertised because they can conduct business if they want to. However, the purpose of the meeting has to be stated and also noted if action will be taken.”

Garibay clarified that the public notice sent out by the district administrators said that a quorum of the board would participate in a roundtable discussion with McMahon and that no action would be taken.

“That [public notice] triggered, and rightfully so, a response that would indicate that the public had access to the meeting that day. That was not true,” Garibay said. “I take full responsibility for that and any ramifications that come as a result of that.”

Volpe explained that the board members received an influx of hostile messages from the public in the days leading up to and following the visit.

“It was an absolutely disgusting septic tank of vitriol,” Volpe said. “[Secretary McMahon] is a dignitary, and she should be treated with respect, just like I’m required to treat government officials that I don’t agree with.”

Volpe, however, didn’t apply that standard to State Sen. Vin Gopal, the chairman of the Senate’s Education Committee, who she referred to as “a weasel” during her remarks during the meeting. 

Volpe used the Dec. 17 meeting to outline what happened at the assembly — an event parents weren’t allowed to attend. She said it began with a brief message from McMahon and was followed by a series of games led by Principal Colin Rigby and Assistant Principal Jeremy Mercer. The games included basic American history trivia questions, including questions about the Declaration of Independence and the start of the Revolutionary War. She reiterated that there was no politically skewed information being presented to the children. 

Following Volpe’s remarks, the board opened the floor to public comment. Members of the community voiced a spectrum of beliefs regarding the “History Rocks!” assembly and choices made by the BOE. 

Danielle Bellomo of Marlboro, a mother of three and member of the Marlboro Township Board of Education, saw the situation as an admirable moment and a great example of leadership from the Colts Neck team.

“What you provided your students was not about left or right or politics at all. It was about recognizing the importance of education by those who lead education in our country and instilling pride in being an American,” Bellomo said. “I want to commend you for your dedication to respecting our constitution, honoring our country and celebrating the anniversary of this beautiful nation.

Conversely, Tom Colella of Colts Neck, a father of two children in the district, expressed his concern regarding what the event represents. 

“I am disgusted by the overtly politicized actions this board has taken in an apparent endorsement of numerous far-right organizations that helped to host the criminally inept Secretary of Education,” Colella said. “While it is certainly an honor to host a cabinet member, that is not the true issue that I think most of us are addressing. With partners such as Turning Point USA, PragerU, Hillsdale College and Moms for Liberty—most of whom have been labeled as anti-government or discriminatory extremist groups—this event was a clear display of the values that the secretary, and by extension this board who hosted her, holds.”

Closing out the discussion, Volpe remained firm in her defense of the visit, emphasizing that she has no regrets about hosting the assembly and stands by the board’s decision despite the backlash it generated. 

“If anybody knows me in this district, [they know] I am not shy to controversy, and I do not back down,” Volpe said. “I will never apologize for inviting Secretary McMahon to this district to highlight our children and to boast about the fantastic district we have in Colts Neck. I will never apologize.”