Alan Bartlett, who has served on the Spotswood Board of Education for the last nine years, is finally stepping down because, as he states in his letter to the editor ("Stepping Down, But Grateful for Privilege

To Have Served," Sentinel, March 26), "It's time for new thoughts and fresh ideas" on the Spotswood Board of Education. I would strongly dispute this statement as evidenced by Mr. Bartlett's recent actions both on and off the board.

Recently, Frances Reiser chose to step down from the board and a new board member had to be chosen. Mr. Bartlett nominated Gerard Hook as her replacement. One might think that Mr. Hook will be a part of those "new thoughts" Mr. Bartlett spoke of, but upon further review, it is easy to see that Mr. Hook becomes the fourth of the five Spotswood-elected, current board members, including the current president, Richard O'Brien, who are current or former members of the Spotswood Soccer Club board. Once again, the strong connection between the Spotswood Soccer Club board and the Spotswood school board rears its ugly head. I might even go so far as to suggest that we enter into the township regulations that a prerequisite to apply for a Board of Education position is membership on the board of the Spotswood Soccer Club because this almost seems to be the reality in this town.

Another example of Mr. Bartlett's false belief in "new thoughts and fresh ideas" comes from his current participation in the joint bid of Richard O'Brien and Daniel Auciello to become school board members.

Obviously, Mr. Auciello must think in a similar fashion to Mr. O'Brien for them to be running mates. Mr. Bartlett, one can only assume, thinks that these two men think as he does or he would not be willing to participate in their campaign. He must feel that Mr. O'Brien will stay the current course that they have helped design and that Mr. Auciello will pick up where Mr. Bartlett left off.

Where are the "fresh ideas" then? Where are the "new thoughts" to help Spotswood's educational system expand and improve? Certainly, these cannot be coming from a member of a school board (Mr. O'Brien) who never wavers from voting "yes" in votes that come before the board, and his running mate. Does this seem to be a way to get new ideas on the board?

I would hope the voters of this town remember how Mr. Bartlett and Mr. O'Brien helped to preside over the "new thought" of eliminating all world languages except Spanish in February 2008. What a "fresh idea" the general public felt that was. As I recall, there was such a tremendous backlash that the board was forced to change its decision.

Mr. Bartlett was a public servant who gave tremendous amounts of time to the Spotswood Board of Education. However, I, for one, am not sorry to see him go. I can only hope that the voters of Spotswood make sure he takes Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Auciello with him because, for the Spotswood school board, "It's time for new thoughts and fresh ideas."
Dominick Turitto Sr.
Spotswood