Mattos Appointed to Marlboro BOE to Fill Vacant Seat

The interviews of all prospective candidates are shown in the YouTube video attached to this article.

The Marlboro Board of Education voted on Monday to appoint former Board of Education candidate Debbie Mattos to fill the seat left vacant by Joe Waldman, who lost the election last year by 13 votes. Mattos has run twice previously.

Waldman said in a letter to the board on Feb. 5 that his currently employment is partially based in San Diego, and he would no be "able to devote the time necessary to continue to serve..."

In a March 18 meeting, Board member Bonnie Sue Rosenwald said she believes Mattos did not follow requirements advertised by the board for application.

"Only one person had trouble following that procedure," Rosenwald said. "This board sees fit to seat that one person tonight, and that's the board's prerogative."

Rosenwald originally expressed concerns on March 12 that despite public notice of the vacant seat and notice of requirements for applicants, Mattos did not submit a personal résumé.

Rosenwald posed a question about following directions and details to Mattos, who said she believes specific instructions are important in a group setting.

"When we put the advertisement up on our webpage, it specifically asked for a letter and résumé," Rosenwald said during Mattos' interview. "You only gave us a letter, not a résumé."

Mattos said she was told by Business Administrator Cindy Barr-Rague a résumé was not a requirement. Barr-Rague said she referred Mattos back to the website listing.

Board Vice-President Victoria Dean said the board did not vote on requiring a letter and résumé, so it was not a board requirement.

A public notice (attached to this article) was sent to recruit board applicants, who were interviewed at a March 12 meeting. The notice asks for both a letter of intent and a résumé.

Rosenwald voted 'present, no action taken' to Mattos' reappointment.

Mattos has two sons in elementary school, and lost an election in 2012 by 13 votes.

"If it weren't for those 13 votes last year, I would have been hoping to be seeing with you today," Mattos said on March 12 during her interview. "You already understand my passion for this district, you know my commitment to it as well."

"I really feel that communication and having an open mind is key [to being a good board member]."

Mattos is the PTA President at Marlboro Memorial Middle School, and a member of the citizen-action group of Citizens Against Northpointe.

Mattos said she plans on running in the 2013 election in November to secure her seat, which is currently filled as a board appointment.