Marlboro School Board Postpones Meeting, Sparking Calls For Protest

MARLBORO, NJ — Marlboro Township community members are calling for a peaceful protest after the Board of Education postponed its next meeting.

In a message posted to the district website on Monday, School Business Administrator & Board Secretary Vincent Caravello said the board’s meeting, which was originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday night, has been delayed.

Though the message did not provide further details on a new meeting date or why the meeting was delayed, a report from the New York Post said Board President Brian Cohen cited unspecified “safety and security” issues as reasons for the postponement.

Patch has reached out to Cohen, Caravello, Board Vice President Chad Hyett and Marlboro Township Schools Superintendent Michael Ballone for more information.

The announcement of the meeting postponement comes shortly after alleged threats against a current Board of Education member surfaced on social media.

In an online post, Board Member Danielle Bellomo identified herself as the person referenced in a group chat titled “This B— Needs To Die,” which allegedly included Board of Education candidate Scott Semaya.

Around the time of these messages surfacing, Semaya’s running mate, Melissa Goldberg, suspended her campaign for the board (though she was not said to have been involved in the group chat), and Semaya reportedly dropped out as well, though Patch has been unable to directly confirm this with him.

The incident resulted in wide backlash from community members, elected officials and other board members, with many showing up to the board’s most recent meeting on Oct. 14 to call for action. Marlboro Police confirmed to Patch that the messages are under investigation.

In an online event post, current Board Member Annette Siewert is now calling for community members to peacefully protest the meeting postponement on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in front of the Marlboro Township Public Schools Board of Education Building.

In her post, Siewert said that Cohen informed fellow board members that the meeting was delayed due to “what he described as ‘ongoing police investigations’ and ‘safety concerns.’”

She went on to say that Cohen's email cited caution and consultation with certain board members, though police have not confirmed any credible threat.

According to Marlboro Police Captain Stephen Levy, the incident is still being actively investigated by the police department's Detective Bureau.

“Many in our community feel this decision silences public voices and avoids accountability at a crucial time," Siewert said. “Bring your signs, your voices, and your commitment to the truth, transparency, and accountability. Let’s remind our leadership that the community deserves to be heard – safely and respectfully.”

Related

• Alleged Threats Toward Marlboro School Board Member Prompt Investigation
• Marlboro School Board Candidate Suspends 2025 Election Campaign

Editor's Note: This article was updated with additional information from the Marlboro Township Police Department.