Election 2023: Michael Amoroso, Freehold Twp. Board Of Education

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — Michael Amoroso is one of seven candidates seeking three full-term seats on the Freehold Township Board of Education in the Nov. 7 election.

Amoroso, Brandon Boulevard, is an incumbent seeking re-election. He is the current school board vice president, having served on the board for 12 years.

He is running with current Board President Michelle Lambert and current Board Member Meg Thomann on the Respectful Educational Leadership team. His campaign link is https://www.facebook.com/LTAforFreeholdTwpBOE.

Other candidates are Zane Howcott, Carmela Spieler and Denise DuMont (all designated Protecting Parental Rights); and Peter Conforti.

Amoroso said he is focused on working with the board and the administration in continuing to address student achievement after the impact of the pandemic on learning.

In these profiles, candidates provide voters with background about themselves and their positions on the issues, as they see them.

Read more from Michael Amoroso:

Background:

Candidates were asked to provide their professional or volunteer information, school board experience, campaign links, and personal background.

I have held various positions in engineering at AT&T and Lucent Bell Labs, and for the past 21 years have owned and operated a Kitchen and Bathroom business located here in Freehold Township.

I hold a BS in Electrical Engineering from Lafayette College, an MS in Software Engineering from Monmouth University and a CKD from the National Kitchen and Bath Association. I am an active member of the New Jersey School Board Association (NJSBA). I have also obtained a Certificated Board Member (CBM) status through the NJSBA Board Member Academy Program.

My wife Maria and I have been married for 24 years and we have been residents of Freehold Township for 22 years. We have three daughters who have all attended the Freehold Township schools.

Top issues:

Candidates were asked about the important issues in their district, and how the school board can address them.

I believe that the top issue facing the district is student achievement. The main focus of our school system must be the students. The lingering effects of the pandemic on learning is still being felt across many grade levels. This is evident across the entire nation.

Currently the board is working diligently with administration to focus on action plans to put in place meaningful intervention to advance our students in math and language arts. Along with this work, there are new reading programs and other exciting initiatives being implemented across the district.

If re-elected, I am eager to continue to work with our administration and staff to bring our students forward over the next three years.

Policy 5756:

Candidates were asked if they wanted to comment on state Policy 5756, which provides guidance regarding transgender students, including communication with parents. Some districts in the state are repealing or amending the policy.

I am opposed to Policy 5756. I spent a considerable amount of time getting input from professionals in the medical community to fully understand the impact of this policy on our Pre-K to 8 children. There was overwhelming and unanimous agreement that parents should always be at the forefront of all decision making about their child during these years especially.

We can protect the rights of all transgender students by providing a caring environment that allows parent and child to be involved together with our school administrators and teachers. Policy 5756 is a dangerous precedent and an unnecessary and overreaching policy.

Candidates for Freehold Township Board of Education: (Full term; vote for three)

• Zane Howcott: Protecting Parental Rights
• Carmela Spieler: Protecting Parental Rights
• Michael Amoroso: Respectful Educational Leadership
• Peter Conforti
• Mary "Meg" Thomann: Respectful Educational Leadership
• Michelle Lambert: Respectful Educational Leadership
• Denise DuMont: Protecting Parental Rights

In a separate vote, the election to the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education representing Freehold Township is not contested:

Candidate for Freehold Regional High School District: (Full term; vote for one)

• Elizabeth A. Higley

Note: Candidates who have not received their request for profile information from Patch should check their spam folders or can contact Pat McDaniel at patricia.mcdaniel@patch.com for the email with candidate questions.