Meet Deb Wright, Running For Middletown School Board

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Five candidates are running for three seats on the Middletown Board of Education this November (election is Nov. 5, same day as the U.S. presidential).

They are: Current Board member Deb Wright, current Board member Joan Minnuies, current Board member Kate Farley, joined by a local mom running with her this year, Sara Weinstein (Today's Children First) and Mark Soporowski (Common Sense Education).

Patch asked all five candidates the same set of questions so they can introduce themselves to voters. All five candidates got back to us and submitted their answers. Here are the responses from Wright:

Provide a brief bio on yourself. Age, education, occupation.

I am a 54-year-old Middletown native, living in Belford with my husband, James Marino, and our son, Ryan, who is in seventh grade at Bayshore Middle School. I hold a B.A. in political science from Douglass College at Rutgers University and a Juris Doctor from New York Law School.

After 21 years as a public defender specializing in mental health law with The Legal Aid Society and serving as past president of UAW Local 2325 – Association of Legal Aid Attorneys, I now serve as the National Political Director at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (“RWDSU”).

During my six-year tenure on the Board, I have held leadership roles and committee assignments. I served as chair of the Student Services Committee and was the liaison to the Middletown Township Friends Of diverse Learners (“MTFOdL”) from 2019-2021. In 2019-2020, I was also a member of the Strategic Planning and Negotiations Committees. From 2021-2022, I continued with the Student Services Committee and joined the Curriculum and Technology/Co-Curricular Committees.

I am also the Board representative to the Municipal Alliance, a partnership with the Township Committee, focused on alcohol and substance abuse prevention. This year, I have served on the Student Services, Curriculum and Legislative committees. Beyond my Board work, I remain an active volunteer in my son's school and regularly attend PTA/PFA meetings.

For current school board members, what is some of the work you're proudest of that the Board has done?

During my six years on the Board, I have worked hard to prioritize student safety, expand educational opportunities and ensure fiscal responsibility. I am proud to have supported the installation of Class-3 (police) officers in all schools, restored full-year art and music programs, and championed early literacy screening for dyslexia.

We have expanded inclusive pre-K and special education programs, brought essential therapy services back in-district to save money and improved mental health resources. I have also worked to broaden career, technical education and language programs, including offering American Sign Language. Despite funding challenges, both Middletown North and South were recognized in U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools for 2024. I am committed to continuing this work for the success and safety of our students.

Where do you think the board needs to improve?

Transparency and participation are essential to a healthy educational system. The Board must actively include all community members — parents, caregivers, taxpayers and senior citizens. Although I believe Board members should convene in person, I propose updating our policy to allow virtual attendance in cases of illness, ensuring continued participation and voting. Additionally, reinstating Zoom for all meetings would provide a convenient way for the community to engage, like how the Township Committee conducts its meetings. We saw increased involvement during the pandemic, and we should strive to maintain that level of community engagement.

Additional areas of improvement for the Board to focus on in the immediate future includes issues directly impacting our schools daily. The priority here is addressing the continued loss of educational funding, the age of our schools, and the lengthy list of needed facilities improvements throughout the district.

What do you think of the Middletown school board passing its transgender student policy that some say outs students to their parents? Can you explain why you voted against the policy?

Hanover Township was the first school district in NJ to be sued by Attorney General Platkin. They were represented by the same law firm as our school district. The road map to expensive litigation was set. As a lawyer, it was clear this policy would also embroil our district in a costly, protracted legal battle against the state, wasting thousands upon thousands of taxpayer dollars. The lawsuit remains unresolved over a year later.

Looking ahead, what are some of the biggest challenges facing the Middletown school district in the next 2 -5 years, and how do you plan to confront them?

The biggest challenge facing Middletown schools is the ongoing decline in state funding since 2018, compounded by inadequate support for special-education costs. In response, I have been a strong advocate for working directly with legislators. In 2019, I accompanied former superintendent Dr. George to Trenton, where we successfully secured an additional $800,000 in Extraordinary Special Education Aid by directly engaging with lawmakers. This demonstrates my ability to take effective action and achieve results.

I believe the Board must develop a clear lobbying strategy to address our funding challenges, and this responsibility should not rest solely with the superintendent or board leadership. Every Board member must understand our diverse educational needs and participate actively in legislative hearings, press conferences and visits. I have consistently advocated for this approach, and I will continue to mobilize both Board members and community stakeholders to amplify our collective voice in Trenton.

In addition to funding, I am focused on improving our aging school facilities and ensuring our buildings support student success. The Board needs to engage in a meaningful conversation about allocating resources for maintenance and upgrades, which can be addressed through strategic planning.

I am also committed to improving school safety by addressing bullying, enhancing the overall school climate and fostering collaboration between the district and parents. I supported the district’s new “Away for the Day" cellphone policy to ensure that our students can thrive as learners, free from the continuous temptation and distraction posed by their cellphones. With the rise in mental health challenges, especially since the pandemic, I will continue to advocate for increased mental health resources for students.

My strategic approach, problem-solving mindset, and proven advocacy skills are essential for leading Middletown schools forward, ensuring they overcome funding challenges and meet the needs of all students.

Who else got back to us:

Meet Mark Soporowski, Running For Middletown School Board

Meet Joan Minnuies, Running For Middletown School Board

The election will be Nov. 5, but you can vote early in person at Croydon Hall (in the Assembly Hall), at 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo NJ 07737, from Oct. 26 - Nov. 3. Hours will be Monday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary, according to the state of NJ Division of Elections. And there is also mail-in voting.