RED BANK: RUMAGE NAMED SUPER OF THE YEAR

May 30, 2023

Superintendent Jared Rumage, second from left, with board members. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

Press release by the Red Bank Borough Public Schools Board of Education

The Red Bank Borough Public Schools Board of Education is proud to announce that Dr. Jared J. Rumage, Superintendent of Schools, has been selected as the 2023 Monmouth County Superintendent of the Year.

Annually, superintendents from each of the nearly 60 school districts in Monmouth County nominate a superintendent who embodies the spirit of district leadership. This year, Dr. Rumage was recognized with this distinction by his colleagues during the monthly Monmouth County Superintendents’ Roundtable on Friday, March 24, 2023.

May 30, 2023 - 6:00 am |

RED BANK: WRITE-IN TO ACCEPT SCHOOL WIN

Nov 19, 2020

Only two candidates formally sought three seats on the borough school board. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

A write-in candidate expects to join the Red Bank Board of Education when it reorganizes January 5.

And as telegraphed by early results from the November 3 election, a newcomer has displaced Red Bank Regional High board’s president.

November 19, 2020 - 4:45 pm |

RED BANK: NEWCOMER LEADS RBR PRESIDENT

Nov 4, 2020

The administration building on the Red Bank Regional campus in Little Silver. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Newcomer Stephanie Albanese appears to have displaced incumbent president John Garofalo from the Red Bank Regional High board of education in Tuesday’s election.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Monmouth County clerk’s incomplete vote tally showed Albanese (seen at right) leading Garofalo, 1,352 votes to 649.

November 4, 2020 - 11:10 am |

FAIR HAVEN: VOTERS APPROVE SCHOOLS PLAN

Sep 24, 2019

An addition to the Sickles School will create room for all-day kindergarten. (Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fair Haven voters overwhelmingly approved a $15.6 million plan to create classrooms and improve security at the borough’s two schools in a special election Tuesday.

September 24, 2019 - 8:46 pm |

FAIR HAVEN: VOTERS TO DECIDE $15.6M PLAN

Sep 24, 2019

Architectural renderings of the proposed additions to the Knollwood School (above) and Sickles School. (Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fair Haven residents are scheduled to vote Tuesday on a $15.6 million plan to create classrooms and improve security at the borough’s two schools.

But first, they’ve got to go to the right polling station.

September 24, 2019 - 6:20 am |

FAIR HAVEN: $15.6M SCHOOLS PLAN UNVEILED

May 22, 2019

New classroom space and other facilities, shown in blue, would be built on a vacant lot adjoining the Sickles School, said Superintendent Sean McNeil, below. (Photos by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Fair Haven residents would get classrooms to allow for full-day kindergarten as well as improved security under a $15.6 million plan officials unveiled Wednesday.

The typical homeowner would also get a tax increase of as much as $566 per year if a public referendum on the plan passes muster with voters in September.

May 22, 2019 - 12:00 pm |

LITTLE SILVER: SPORTS CUTS SPARK OUTRAGE

Mar 21, 2019

Heavy turnout forced the relocation of the RBR board meeting to the media center, above. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

Red Bank Regional students and parents packed a board of ed meeting Wednesday night in a bid to save the ice hockey and golf programs from a budgetary axe.

With a preliminary spending plan calling for a 6.5-percent tax increase, board members defended the cuts as necessary before parents appeared to coalesce around a plan to save the sports through outside fundraisers.

March 21, 2019 - 12:30 pm |

LITTLE SIVER: RBR TEACHERS BLAST MOORE

Mar 21, 2019

Superintendent Lou Moore at Wednesday’s RBR board meeting. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The union representing teachers at Red Bank Regional accused Superintendent Lou Moore Wednesday night of running the three-town high school district with an “authoritarian” approach and a “general lack of integrity.”

The bombshell accusations were made at a board of ed meeting hours after the Red Bank Regional Education Association’s members “overwhelmingly” cast a no-confidence vote against Moore, said math teacher Sunny Lenhard.

March 21, 2019 - 1:17 am |

RED BANK: VISCOMI ADDS WILD CARD TO RACE

Mar 27, 2018

Viscomi serves on the board of ed, where she leads the finance committee, and is on a number of borough committees. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge.)

By JOHN T. WARD

The 2018 race for two Red Bank council seats looks like it will have a wild card.

Sue Viscomi, a board of education member and former Republican stalwart who has expressed increasing antipathy in recent years to the local arm of the party, has started gathering signatures for a run as an independent in the November election, she told redbankgreen on Monday.

Her entry would appear to add to the challenge for the two presumptive Republican candidates, already facing the prospect of an anti-Trump backlash in a majority Democrat town, and could eat into support for the two Democrats in the race, both newcomers to elective politics.

March 27, 2018 - 7:00 am |

RED BANK: WRITE-IN WINS BOARD SEAT

Nov 9, 2017

Write-in candidate Dominic Kalorin won a seat on the Red Bank school board in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial vote counts posted on the Monmouth County Clerk Wednesday. (Photo by Sue Viscomi. Click to enlarge.)

November 9, 2017 - 11:25 am |

RED BANK: LUDWIKOWSKI LEAVES BOARD

Aug 9, 2016

Red Bank Board of Ed President Carrie Ludwikowski has resigned as her family prepares for a move to North Carolina, she tells redbankgreen. The 13-year borough resident served on the board for nine years, and has been president since January.

The board plans to interview interested applicants for the vacant seat and appoint a successor; residents interested in serving should contact the board office.

In addition, three seats are up for grabs in the November election. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

August 9, 2016 - 6:00 am |

FAIR HAVEN: NEW SUPERINTENDENT SIGNS ON

May 4, 2016

New Fair Haven schools Superintendent Sean McNeil gets right to work, serving cake to students at a gathering to welcome him Tuesday night. His official start date is July 1. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

The Fair Haven Board of Education kept it local in filling the superintendent’s job Tuesday night.

The board unanimously approved Sean McNeil, principal of the Port Monmouth Elementary School in Middletown, to replace Nelson Ribon.

May 4, 2016 - 2:00 pm |

FAIR HAVEN: RIBON RESIGNS

Dec 21, 2015

Fair Haven schools Superintendent Nelson Ribon, seen here in 2014, plans to leave the district next July 1, following the school board’s acceptance of his resignation last week. In a letter to the school community, Ribon, who has led the two-school district since 2011, cited “exciting opportunities available to me in the very near future” as a factor in his decision. He didn’t respond to a request for comment last Friday. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

December 21, 2015 - 6:28 am |

RED BANK: INCUMBENTS KEEP SCHOOL SEATS

Nov 3, 2015

Incumbents Ann Roseman, Fred Stone and Carrie Ludwikowski won clear victories over three challengers. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

An unusually newsy Red Bank Board of Education election ended with the status quo Tuesday night as the incumbent slate swept to victory.

Led by Carrie Ludwikowski, who garnered 795 votes, the incumbent slate of Ann Roseman (712) and Frederick Stone (569) outpolled Richard Stout (536), Michael Clancy (493) and Irwin Katz, (464).

November 3, 2015 - 10:52 pm |

RED BANK: FORUM PIVOTS ON CLANCY ISSUES

Oct 16, 2015

Challenger Michael Clancy, right, with incumbents Carrie Ludwikowski, left, Frederick Stone and Ann Roseman on stage at the middle school Thursday night. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

If there was a hot seat at the Red Bank Board of Education candidate’s night Thursday, Michael Clancy was in it.

The 33-year-old former offensive lineman at Rutgers was on the defensive at several points during the 90-minute event, pressed to explain his decision to stay in the race even though, according to one opponent, he wouldn’t be able to recite a truthful the oath of office should he be elected November 3.

October 16, 2015 - 9:00 am |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: CLANCY

Oct 15, 2015

Michael Clancy. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Michael Clancy had to say in response.

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: LUDWIKOWSKI

Oct 15, 2015

Carrie Ludwikowski. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what incumbent Carrie Ludwikowski had to say in response.

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: ROSEMAN

Oct 15, 2015

Ann Roseman. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what incumbent Ann Roseman had to say in response.

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: STONE

Oct 15, 2015

Frederick Stone. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what incumbent Frederick Stone had to say in response.
More →

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: STOUT

Oct 15, 2015

Richard Stout, Jr. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. All six have been invited to participate in a forum sponsored by the Monmouth County League of Women Voters and the Red Bank Middle School PTO at the middle school at 7:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 15. For more information about the event, call 732-768-0594.

To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Richard Stout Jr. had to say in response.
More →

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK SCHOOLS: KATZ

Oct 15, 2015

Irwin Katz. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

Six candidates are vying for three three-year terms on the Red Bank Board of Education in the November 3 election. To help voters compare the candidates in terms of personal background and positions on key issues, redbankgreen emailed them identical sets of questions late last week. Here’s what Irwin Katz had to say in response.

October 15, 2015 - 12:00 pm |

RED BANK: BOE MEMBER SLAMS TAX NOTICE

Aug 12, 2015

Board of ed member Sue Viscomi, left, criticized the borough’s handling of the tax adjustment notice. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

After an adjustment by borough officials that nearly doubled an expected increase in the local school tax last month, a member of the Red Bank Board of Education fired back Tuesday night.

Sue Viscomi, who heads the board’s finance committee, said borough taxpayers may have been misled into believing the board approved a 12.74-percent spike in the local school portion of the tax, when in fact it adopted a budget reflecting a 6.95-percent increase in April.

“I personally think it’s irresponsible, what the town did with our tax bill,” she said at a board workshop meeting Tuesday night at the middle school. “We did not vote for a 12-percent increase.”

August 12, 2015 - 3:19 pm |

LITTLE SILVER: SCHOOL JOBS DEBATED

Apr 17, 2015

The two-school district includes the Little Silver Point Road School, above. (Photo by John T. Ward. Click to enlarge)

By JOHN T. WARD

Under pressure from parents, the Little Silver Board of Education will look for “compromise” on a proposed elimination of two school library jobs, president Christian Smith said Thursday night.

Smith’s comment came after more than two hours of discussion over the role of librarians – media specialists, in contemporary terms – and a recommendation by Superintendent Carolyn Kossack that the posts give way in the coming school year to other priorities. Namely, the teaching of so-called STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and math.

April 17, 2015 - 8:15 am |

LITTLE SILVER: SCHOOL CUTS IN SPOTLIGHT

Apr 14, 2015

By JOHN T. WARD

A decision by the Little Silver school district to terminate its two media specialists at the end of the year has stirred some passion that may get aired out this week.

Superintendent Carolyn Kossack told parents and teachers in an April 2 letter that the two-school district had decided to eliminate the positions of media specialists at the Markham Place and Point Road school libraries and replace them with Science, Technology Engineering & Math (STEM) teachers.

April 14, 2015 - 8:23 am |

PAIN, AND AN INCREASE, IN SCHOOLS BUDGET

Mar 17, 2010

rb-boe The Red Bank Board of Education begrudgingly approved a preliminary budget Tuesday night that increases the tax levy. (Photo by Dustin Racioppi)

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI

The Red Bank Board of Education unveiled a preliminary budget Tuesday night that, as expected, is going to sting.

After-school sports? Gone. Field trips? Not unless somebody else pays for them. Supplies? Reduced.

Six positions would be eliminated under the $19.9 million spending plan, said Superintendent of Schools Laura Morana. The board also suspended non-essential and non-emergency maintenance at the borough’s schools, among other things, in order to cut costs.

“We’re really, basically, putting off everything that needs to be done,” said Annie Darrow, the board’s business administrator.

March 17, 2010 - 6:37 am |

Upcoming Events

Tue 03

RED BANK: VALENTINE REMEMBERED

October 3, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Wed 04

RED BANK: COUNCIL EVENING ACCESS AT LIBRARY

October 4, 12:00 am

Wed 04

RED BANK: COFFEE WITH A COP

October 4, 8:45 am to 10:30 am

Wed 04

RED BANK: PICK-IT-UP

October 4, 8:45 am

Wed 04

RED BANK: COUNCIL ACCESS TIME

October 4, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

redbankgreen.com

PO Box 8683
Red Bank NJ 07701

© 2023 redbankgreen.com. No portion of this website or its content can be used without permission. All rights reserved.