BRICK – The race for seats on the Brick Board of Education is heating up.
Four candidates are vying for the two open seats on the Brick Board of Education.
This year’s candidates spoke before the vote to share a bit about themselves. Each candidate was given the same set of questions, and their responses appear in this article. The interviews were arranged in alphabetical order by last name.
Allison Kennedy
“I am the Main Office Administrative Assistant for Brielle Elementary School. I currently have the honor of serving on the Brick Board of Education. I am seeking re-election.
“In September 2022, I was appointed from a pool of 10 applicants to fill a vacated BOE seat. I took my oath in October 2022. I ran and won a full term that election day and am currently serving the 2023-2026 term.
“I have been involved in Brick Schools PTA since 2013. I joined as a member initially, then served as Board Secretary for a year and finally as PTA President at Veterans Memorial Elementary School for 4 years. Once my children moved on to middle school and high school, I began serving on the BOE and have contributed as a member of both PTAs.
“The absolute biggest issue facing Brick Schools right now comes down to a harsh reality: state aid cuts under S2 have taken millions out of our operating budget, at the exact same time our students’ needs are growing rapidly, especially in special education and English Language Learners. Because the state’s funding formula hasn’t kept pace with our actual population, we’re left absorbing skyrocketing operational costs while trying to protect our kids from overcrowded classrooms and lost programs.
“As a current Board member seeking re-election, I’ve spent my term on the front lines navigating these budget squeezes. I know how stressful this situation is for parents, teachers, and taxpayers alike. We cannot simply sit back and let our school system erode. If re-elected, I will continue focusing on three clear, practical strategies to keep our district strong:
“First, we must keep budget cuts as far from the classroom door as humanly possible. That means continuing our relentless, line-by-line financial reviews to catch inefficiencies early. I will continue supporting (Superintendent Thomas) Farrell’s commitment to saving jobs, protecting our teaching staff, and keeping class sizes manageable. Our students suffer when good teachers are let go, so preserving those positions is non-negotiable.
“Second, we have to keep fighting Trenton on this broken funding formula. Brick residents send hard-earned tax dollars to the state, and our community deserves a fair return that reflects what our district actually needs. I will keep working directly with our administration and state representatives to demand reform. We cannot stop pushing until Trenton stops penalizing our tax base.
“Third, we need to get even more creative with funding by aggressively going after grants and regional partnerships. We should be hunting down every available federal, state, and private grant dollar – specifically targeting support for language acquisition and special education services. Securing outside funding lets us meet our students’ growing needs without burdening local taxpayers or cutting corners on quality. Navigating this state-created budget crisis takes real experience, focus, and transparency. My priority has always been, and will remain, standing up for Brick families and ensuring our schools stay safe, supportive, and strong for every child in our town.
“Right now, my main focus isn’t chasing shiny new initiatives. It’s protecting the foundation we already have.
“When you’re navigating a state-created funding crisis that has pulled millions out of our schools, introducing unproven or costly new programs isn’t responsible leadership. Promises of big, brand-new projects sound great on a campaign poster, but in reality, every dollar redirected to something shiny is a dollar taken away from an existing classroom, a certified teacher, or an essential student support service.
“Instead, my focus remains squarely on the critical work already underway: working hand in hand with Dr. Farrell and his cabinet to optimize every single dollar Trenton leaves us with. We are stretching every resource so our students don’t pay the price for state-level funding failures.
“Doing right by Brick families means making smart, grounded decisions. It means ensuring our special education and ELL students get the specialized care they need, keeping class sizes manageable, and maintaining the quality education our parents expect, all while protecting local taxpayers from shouldering an unfair burden.
“Right now, the best thing we can do for our schools isn’t starting over with new experiments. It’s staying disciplined, keeping our focus sharp, and continuing to maximize the impact of every single dollar for our kids.”
Stephanie Murano
“I am a stay-at-home mom. I don’t have any public office work history yet. I have been a PTA member, PTA president for a short term, and worked with the drama club at BTHS, and was the BTHS choir parents’ president, where I created a 501c3 to benefit the choir for years to come.
“While Brick, like any district, faces a variety of challenges, the most challenging one by far is our lack of funding. It is devastating what has happened to our district due to the S2 funding debacle and the substantial gap between the state’s calculated Local Fair Share and the district’s proposed tax levy. I believe it is imperative (to) maintain responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while keeping students at the center of every budget decision. Every dollar in the school budget should have a clear purpose and, whenever possible, a measurable outcome. Classroom instruction and essential student services need to be protected, and taxpayers deserve to more easily understand where their money is going. If elected, I promise to aggressively advocate for the children in Brick. For too long, Trenton has been given our tax dollars, and our district deserves a fair return given back to our schools. Our children deserve our best – and our community deserves to know how we are getting there.
“One thing I would love to do for the school district is to implement a way for parents to have access to the Google Classroom without having to log in as their child. Grades can be seen on the parent portal, but not the actual assignments. A ‘view-only’ parent Google Classroom could be so helpful to parents and facilitate the ability to be more involved in their child’s education.”
Nicole Orozco
Nicole Orozco works for the Colts Neck Township Board of Education as Director of Transportation, 2022 to present. She also worked for the Brick Board of Education from 2002-2022 as a Transportation Supervisor.
She has a bachelor’s in hospitality management and a State Transportation Supervisor Certification and Logistics from Rutgers University.
“One of the biggest challenges faced, besides funding, is student achievement and academic growth. The school district must ensure students are mastering the course subjects like reading, math, and writing at every grade level. The challenge isn’t just test scores. It’s making sure students who are falling behind receive support early enough to catch up, while students who are excelling continue to be challenged. What would I do to address the situation? I would ensure early intervention by using regular assessments to identify struggling students and provide tutoring for targeted instruction and additional help before they fall too far behind. If you don’t intervene early enough, catching up could be a very slim possibility.
“What can I implement into the Brick School District that hasn’t been done before? Beyond ensuring academic progress, some children also do not want to go to college. A good program to implement is a career connection network where the school district connects with local businesses, trade professionals, or community colleges to expand career shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, and career exploration. I feel that when opportunities are more hands-on, students will get a better perspective of opportunities post-graduation.”
Bob Sabo
“I work in IT and systems administration, where I have more than 10 years of experience managing complex systems and projects, working across departments, and improving operational processes.
“I have not previously held public office. This is my first time seeking elected office.
“If elected, the Brick School Board will be my first formal civic role, and I look forward to working with the many groups that support the school and Brick community.
“The biggest issue facing our school district is making sure our resources are spent responsibly while providing students with a strong education that prepares them for life after Brick schools.
“The district faces significant financial pressures. As a Board member, I would want to develop a thorough understanding of the district’s budget, ask questions about how our resources are being used, and explore available alternatives before asking taxpayers to contribute more. That includes looking at efficiencies as well as available grants and state or federal funding.
“Another area I would like to take a closer look at is transportation. We’ve seen difficulties at the beginning of multiple school years, and when a problem continues to occur, I think it’s important to understand why. I would like to understand the root causes, what has already been tried, and where there may be opportunities to improve.
“Finally, success after graduation can take many different paths, whether that’s college, the trades, entering the workforce, military service, or something else. I believe our schools should provide students with a strong academic foundation while exposing them to the opportunities and skills that can help them succeed on whichever path they choose.
“As someone new to the Board, I would want to make sure I have a thorough understanding of what we’re doing both educationally and operationally. One thing I would suggest is an operational review of the district to identify potential efficiencies and areas where processes could be improved. I think it’s important that we make sure our tax dollars are being used as effectively as possible.
“Additionally, one area I would like to explore further is how we prepare students for the different paths available to them after graduation. College is an important option, but it isn’t the only measure of success. I would like to better understand the career and technical opportunities Brick currently offers students, including vocational programs, internships, and other paths that provide real-world experience, and explore where we may be able to expand them.
“My professional background has taught me that sometimes the best improvement isn’t creating an entirely new system; it’s understanding the systems already in place and finding ways to make them work better. I would bring that same approach to the Board.”
