I'd like to call this meeting to order. The mission of the Freo Township School District is to honor and support every learner every day on the journey to become curious and engaged members of a diverse global community. A notice listing the time, date, and place of this meeting was posted on the
public bulletin board of all Freel Township schools on the entrance door to the administrative offices of the board of education, on the district website, at the office of the Freel Township Clerk, and published in the Asbury Park Press on January 11th, 2026. Please join
me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Can I get a roll call? Mr. Dixie, Mrs. Brand, Dr. Casey, Mr. Confory, Mrs. Crosby, Mr. Gulo, Miss Lambert, Miss Spieler, Mr. So Sullivan, >> Mr. Amoso,
>> thank you. We'll move to president's remarks. Um, welcome everyone. This is one of our favorite board meetings of the year because we do no business. We just have a lot of fun recognizing our 25 year of service and our retirees this evening.
So, um, on behalf of the board of education, um, we want to thank you for all your years of service, if you're staying with us, and if you're retiring and moving on, well, we wish you a wonderful and happy retirement and everything that you do, and we thank you
for all the years that you've put into the schools. It means a lot to us. And with that, I am going to move it over to Mr. Dixine. >> Good evening, everybody. Thank you for joining us this evening. Tonight is one of our favorite board meetings where we get to recognize those staff members who
have reached 25 years of service and those staff members who are retiring and moving on from the district to start the next chapter in their lives with their families and their friends and doing all the fun things that people do in retirement. Um we'll start off with our
25 year recognition. um for 25 years. I always ask the question, how many people there has to be people from um that are retiring that have we moved to pens. How many had the clock when you opened your clock? Keep your hand up if it worked.
Yep. So that's why we moved to pens with engraved cases that say Freel Township Schools 25 years of service. Um so we would like to recognize those that have 25 years of service. When I call your name, come up, get your pen and certificate and stay here so we can do a group photo. Okay, we'll start with
Applegate. We have three staff members reaching 25 years from Applegate. We'll start with Lara Policowski. You can give them Terry Si at the end. Everybody Teresa Faroh Armit. Congratulations.
Too many from the child study team. Laura McGawen. Thank you. Thank you. >> Moving on to Barkle Mike Benjamino. >> And not able to join us this evening from Barcela. We had Kristen Fawa and Danielle George.
Moving to Eisenhower, not able to join us this evening. Eileen Hoff. Uh, we have Tom Kale. Lois Tarantul from Kina School. Kathy Nord. Corola Fernandez. Thank you so much.
from Erikson. Danielle Vz. Yep. Congratulations. And transportation, Lisa Worth. Thank you so much. >> Before we take our picture, let's give another round of applause to those who have made it 25 years in township.
Get all your pictures in first and then 25 years of service is a great deal of time and dedication to give to a school district. On behalf of the families of Freel Township and the students of Freo Township and all of our colleagues, again, thank you to those who have reached their 25 years of service in our
district. Now, we'll be moving on to our retiree um recognition this evening. Um we'll be inviting up each group of administrators to read the retirement resolution. Um and you'll be able to say a few words if you'd like to. So, we'll
get started with Applegate. I'd like to invite up Mr. Miloway and Mrs. Cerulu and our retiree from Applegate, Judy Fonte. >> Mrs. Fonte. Yeah. Where are you hiding? You can't hide.
>> Whereas Mrs. Judy Fonte has faithfully served the Freehold Township School District for 18 years as a teacher assistant. And whereas in her role as a teacher assistant, Mrs. Fonte supported students in Applegate Schools specialized programs, working closely with students with disabilities in a variety of classroom settings.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Fonte has positively impacted the lives of countless students, providing them with support, care, and encouragement uh that they needed to succeed. And whereas Mrs. Miss Fonte will be remembered for her unwavering patience, her kindness and empathy towards our students, creating a
safe and nurturing learning environment where they could thrive. She has had a profound impact on the lives of uh over her excuse me, let me try that again. She has a profound impact on their lives over her years at Applegate School and she has left an indelible mark on the hearts of not only her students but also
the countless teachers, other students and teacher assistants that she has worked with. Mrs. Font's contributions to our school community will not be forgotten and her legacy as a compassionate and dedicated teaching assistant will continue to inspire and motivate us for years to come. And
whereas Mrs. Fonte will now have time to relax and enjoy retired life, she can spend time at her place in Montana with her um at her place in Montana with her husband Mark, this is also where she can spend lots of quality time with her son Nick and his wife Amy, as well as her group two grandchildren Owen and Nick.
When she's not in man Montana, she can sometimes be found at her vacation home in Myrtle Beach. Very nice. She will also be able to enjoy some time um with her favorite pastimes here at home in New Jersey, such as spending time with her daughter Sam, going shopping, and having lunch with her former Applegate
teacher assistants, colleagues, and friends. Now, therefore, it be resolved that the Freel Township Board of Education thanks Judy for her years of service to the staff and students of Freel Township School District and extends their best wishes for a long and happy retirement. Congratulations.
>> If you didn't hear that, she's coming back in September to sub. She's chomping at a bit. So, >> I just thank you to Freehold Township. I enjoyed every minute of those 18 years. I love the kids. I love the people I work with. I miss it. I'm sobbing in
Howl now. And when the 180 days is done, I'm coming back to freehold. So, so we can't wait. All right. Thank you. >> Next, we'll be recognizing staff from Barkel Middle School. Like to invite up Dr. Curus and Mrs. Leman. Yes. You're not here. She's not here.
Not able to join us this evening. is Stacy Collins. So, give her a round of applause and congratulations on her retirement. >> First, we'd like to recognize Ray McManis if you can join us. >> Come on up, Ray. >> Whereas Mr. Ray McManis has faithfully
served the Freehold Township School District for 19 years. And whereas over Ray's many years with the district, he has helped countless students, staff, and PTO's from helping with locker jams to helping set up and break down the gyms for events. It was always done with
a smile and positive energy. And whereas Rey always showed a commitment and dedication to his role as custodian and finally as head custodian, providing a positive impact on the Barcelo community. And whereas Rey is never shy about
talking about his family, especially his wife Debbie and his two sons, Ray Jr. and Christopher. And whereas Rey and his wife Debbie enjoy participating in as many social events as possible within their adult community. In fact, fun fact here, they
especially enjoy dressing up in various costumes for different holiday events, including Ray being dressed as an elf. Whereas, undoubtedly, there will be traveling in Ray's future. In his retirement, he will have the freedom to enjoy all that life has to offer him.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Freehole Township Board of Education thanks Rey for his years of service to the staff and students of the Freehill Township School District and extends the best wishes for a long and happy retirement. >> Thank you.
>> Congratulations. Next, we'll be recognizing the matriarch of Barcelo Middle School, school secretary Susan Perry. Whereas Mrs. Sue Perry has faithfully served the Freehold Township School District for 27 years. And whereas one
of Sue's greatest accomplishments is the dedication and commitment she demonstrated through 27 years of service at Barcolo Middle School as the principal secretary. Her longevity, loyalty, and impact on the school community speaks volumes about her work ethic and the relationship she has built
over the years. And whereas another accomplishment Sue is most proud of is raising her three sons, Christopher, Anthony, and Michael, all of whom she loves dearly. Family has always been the center of her life. And while she is an only child, she has built countless
lifelong friendships over the years, surrounding herself with people who have become like family to her. And whereas Sue treasures her family deeply, she and her husband Chris have been together since she's been 16 years old, a
testament to the strong relationships and loyalty that have always been such an important part of her life. And whereas Sue is known for her signature style, you can almost always find her wearing heels or wedges with the rare exception of a trip to a Yankee game
when sneakers finally make an appearance. Sue never passes up the chance to dance when the opportunity arises. In fact, she was disappointed she did not get to boogie at her retirement party and even apologize to the DJ about it afterwards. And whereas in retirement, Sue looks
forward to spending more time doing the thing she enjoys most. Whether she is gardening alongside her mom with her beloved dog, Yema, nearby or enjoying relaxing days by the pool with her family, she will truly cherish the opportunity to slow down and spend each
day as she chooses. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Freehill Township Board of Education thanks Sue for her her years of service to the staff and students of Freehill Township School District and extends their best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
Congratulations. I didn't want to forget anything. So that's why >> my 27 year career in Freel Township started at Barlo School with John Seo. I believe everything happens for a reason and my interview with John and his ultimately hiring me was all supposed to
happen. As I've reached the end of my career, I know why we I was put in Freehold Township and more specifically Barlo Middle School. My entire tenure was at Barlo and there was no better place. I worked with the best principles and assistant principles and the greatest staff. It was a place where I
would meet the most wonderful of people who became very important to me. Place where my children went through their most crucial years, supported by the best teachers and administrators that public education has to offer. It was a place that allowed me to continue to be a mom and caretaker while still doing my job. I love being at Barcel and talking
to staff each day. They'd stop by my desk and talk to me about so many different things like sharing their day with me or what was going on in their personal lives. They openly shared details about their families and I appreciated being someone they trusted and I think I'll miss that the most. That's what made Barklo special. It
wasn't going to work every day. It was like going to my second home. A place where staff supported each other through the good times and the not so good times. A place where we were made to feel comfortable to be part of a community of people who truly wanted to be there and do great things for their students and each other.
I met so many wonderful people who became not my just my co-workers but good friends and some even more so as family. A special thank you to all of them and all that have worked with me over the years and there's far too many to name. They all tolerated my chaos and kept me grounded. I'll miss our daily
conversations about all that occurs in the main office and that's a lot. They listened to me vent daily and were always there for me. We supported each other and coached each other through tough times and celebrated the good moments as well. So many stories I could tell from stealing the mascot costume from Eisenhower through our holiday
parties to practical jokes played on each other. We worked hard but we played hard too. I lived through the co times to living through construction after construction after construction. And let me say my timing for retirement is spot on. No, thank you. Thank you to all my administrators who
passed through Barlo and there were many. Special thanks to John Seo who hired me and became an important person in my life. Thank you to Tom Smith, Anne Curus, Diane Brethau, Richkin, Kathleen Rosen, Katie Harms, and Kim Layman. Retiring was a very hard decision for me, but I've come to realize it's time
to move on. Time to leave my post and hand it over to someone else. Time to take a break and do something for myself. I determined many years ago that my role in life is as a caretaker. I fully engulfed that role during my time at Barlo and that's the reason why I was there. However, now as I look towards that retirement, I know my new reason
why is time to care for me, which means spending time with my family and relaxing. I'm almost finished. Thank you to my three boys who allowed me to work in the school that they attended. Thank you for not getting sent to the principal's office and making me proud to be your mom each and every day.
And you still do. And thank you to my mom who is here tonight. She turns 93 this year. She looked after my boy so that I could work and no babysitter is better than grandma. Thank you to my husband Chris for being the trip dad and going all the trips with the kids while I worked. Without your support, I wouldn't have been able to do what made
me happy for 27 years. Thank you again to Ann and Kim for being with me during the last leg of my journey in Freel Township. I wouldn't want to have been anywhere else to end my career, but Barkley and my special place. I wish the district much success in the future and
thank you all for recognizing me tonight. Thank you. Next, we'd like to invite up Chris Erso. Whereas Mr. Chris Erso has faithfully served the Freehold Township School District for 26 years. And whereas Chris has served as headbuilding union
representative at Baralo Middle School since 2014. Throughout his time in this role, he has led countless meetings and has been a strong and consistent leader within the Freehold Township Education Association. His commitment to supporting staff and advocating for colleagues has been an
important contribution to the school community. And whereas Chris has been a dedicated educator to special education students throughout his career. His commitment to supporting students and helping them succeed has had a tremendously positive impact on the
Baralo community over the years. And whereas Chris is known for his professionalism, dedication, and steady leadership throughout his career at Barcelo Middle School, he consistently work to support and improve the lives of his students, always advocating for
their needs and helping them reach success both academically and personally. His commitment to special education students and the school community has left a lasting impact on countless students and their families. And whereas Chris has always loved everything about the beach and the ocean
with his continued knee rehab, we hope retirement brings him plenty of relaxing days enjoying the sun, sand, and water. And whereas most importantly, we know he will cherish spending more quality time with his wife Robin and daughter Tristan as he begins this exciting new chapter.
Now therefore, be it resolved that the Freeho Township Board of Education thanks Chris for his years of service to the staff and students of the Freeho Township School District and extends their best wishes for a long and happy retirement. Congratulations. >> Um I would like to thank the board of
education, Mr. Dixon, Mrs. Montgomery, Dr. breath hour for the privilege of working in Freehold for the past 26 years. Time has flown by. Um, my daughter was born on the second day of New Teacher Academy. Last year, she was the sub when I had my
knee replaced. When John Savo hired me, he somehow knew I would be a great fit for the LLD program. Barklo has been a wonderful place to work and it made me feel like part of a family. John, then Tom, now Ann and Kim,
and of course, Mrs. Perry and Courtney and the rest of the Barcelo staff have always made me feel valued, supported both in and out of the classroom. I could not have done this job without the without the love and support of my
longtime LLD partner Karen Matthews who helped me adjust to middle school and the unique group of students or my current partner Christy Roentos who keeps me organized and make sure I know what is going on outside of my classroom.
I have not always been the easiest person to work with, but I found some amazing people to support my classroom and put up with me. From Pat Proc now to Arlene Feller to Deb Seraniano to Suzanne Stoniker and many others.
I want to especially thank Laura McGawan who for the past eight years has been the best case manager anyone could ever ask for. a sounding board, a voice of reason, a supporter, and a friend who has dealt with all of my idiosyncrasies,
especially my emailing difficulties, and ensured that I could do that I could focus on the part of my job that I love, creating activities and lessons and being in the classroom with my kids. Most importantly, I want to thank the amazing, challenging, unique kids that I
have spent the past 26 years working with. They've given me so much joy, satisfaction, and occasionally an unbelievably great story. It has been a wonderful ride. Lastly, I would like to thank my daughter Tristan, who could not
make me more proud, and my wife Robin, who now has to put up with me full time. Thank you. Let's give another round of applause to our retirees from Barcelo. Next, we'll be recognizing our retirees from Eisenhower Middle School. I'd like
to invite up Mrs. Lechner, Mr. Ascalles, and our first retiree will be recognizing from Eisenhower, Tom Kale. Free town Freel Township Schools resolution. Whereas Mr. Tom Kale has faithfully served the Freel Township
School District for 25 years with a career total of 28 years in education. And whereas after 25 years of dedicated service to the district, it will be hard to imagine the halls without him. From the classroom to the sidelines, Tom has
made an incredible impact on countless students, athletes, and colleagues. His brilliance in math has always amazed us, taking concepts like probability and making them actually make sense, not just for students, but for his fellow teachers, too. Tom's quiet nature,
steady presence, and great sense of humor made him not only an outstanding colleague, but also the perfect co-teer or work husband, as his teammates affectionately call him. He has been someone he excuse me, he has been
somewhat he has been someone people could rely on, laugh with, and learn from every day. The eighth grade team will truly miss him. And whereas beyond the classroom, Tom's coaching legacy speaks for itself. Soccer, wrestling, basketball, and track. He gave his time,
energy wherever students needed him. Tom's success with the jumpers brought him multiple track championships, and the boys soccer teams earned championship titles in several Hartman game victories along the way. Tom always led with patience, consistency, and
quiet confidence. And of course, we can't forget his willingness to jump into the faculty basketball games. No matter the situation, Tom was always a team player. And whereas outside of school, Tom built an equally wonderful life. In fact, he met his wife, Stacy,
right here in Freo Township School District. And together, they are raising two beautiful daughters, Quinn and Emerson. While many of us know Tom as the math teacher and coach, he is also a man of many talents and passions. He loves golfing. He's a drummer, a surfer,
and even a snowboarder, providing that somehow he manages to stay cooler than the rest of us both in and out of school. And whereas, as Tom begins the next chapter, we know retirement won't exactly mean slowing down, his future plans include coaching soccer at the
high school level and continuing his second career as a handyman. But most importantly, he's excited to spend more time with his two girls and enjoy every moment of watching them grow up. And honestly, knowing Tom, he'll probably still somehow find a way to turn all of
that into a championship season. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fredo Township Board of Education thanks Tom for his years of service to the staff and students of the Fredo Township School District and extends their best wishes for a long and happy retirement.
Congratulations, That was pretty good. Uh, first I want to thank um I also want to thank Neil, uh, Diane, the board, previous board members, previous administrators, current administrators I have now, Tara and Jim. Um, you guys are
amazing. Such a welcome addition to our school. Um, want to thank all my former colleagues, my friends that I managed to make over my 25 years here at Freehold. Um, I started off in Freehold back in 2001 as Mr. Sammy can can attest to
that. That was uh quite a year. That was 911 happened and then, you know, it it goes by fast. All the retirees know how fast it goes. All the people that you meet, all the people that have an influence on you, um, the people you work with. I always tell people, I say,
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