A Scoreboard Upgrade, a Backstop Removal… and Nobody to Answer for It?
In a move that’s left many East Brunswick residents scratching their heads, the Township Council recently approved an $11.5 million bond ordinance. The money will be used for a long list of school district “capital improvements,” including:
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A new roof for Irwin School ($3.5 million)
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A replacement scoreboard
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Turf field installation
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PA systems and camera upgrades
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Five new school buses
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And, for reasons unknown to mankind, $28,000 to remove a backstop
Let that sink in. In a district that just weathered a multimillion-dollar budget crisis—with program cuts and staff layoffs—we’re borrowing money to tear down a backstop. Not fix it. Not replace it. Just remove it.
And the person behind this list of upgrades? The outgoing superintendent, who—along with the assistant superintendent—refused to show up and explain any of it. Councilman Wendell had asked them to attend a public meeting prior to the vote. They ghosted. Twice.
One Councilmember Deserves Credit
While most of the Council voted yes, Councilwoman Dana Winston abstained—a quiet but clear signal that something doesn’t sit right. In East Brunswick politics, that’s as close as you get to standing up and saying, “Nope, I’m not cosigning this mess.”
And she’s right.
How does a town approve millions in new debt when the very people requesting it won’t even face the public? How do you justify scoreboard upgrades and turf fields while cutting programs and preparing for another shortfall?
Some Things Are Needs. Others Are Just Expensive Impulses.
No one’s arguing that the Irwin School roof doesn’t need to be replaced. That’s real. Built in 1958, it’s been patched for decades. A bad roof ruins classrooms and costs more the longer you wait.
But a new scoreboard? A turf field? A $28,000 backstop removal?
That’s like saying, “Yeah, I can’t afford rent next month… but I really want a 75-inch TV and some patio lights to brighten the mood.”
If you’re broke, you don’t swipe the credit card on nonsense. You cut what’s non-essential and focus on survival. But in East Brunswick, the strategy seems to be: act like the money will magically appear, and hope no one notices until it’s too late.
Spoiler: people are noticing.
Red Flags Everywhere: What the Public Is Saying
Residents sounded the alarm well before this passed.
“While the need for a new roof may be justified, the remaining proposed projects do not appear to be urgent or of critical priority… The reappearance of this ordinance on the agenda, without substantial public discussion, raises concerns about a lack of transparency and the possibility of decisions being made outside the public eye.” – JW
There’s also the issue of how this bond is being handled. Several residents pointed out that if the school board had issued the bond directly, it would’ve required a public vote—and potentially even state reimbursement of 40%.
But they didn’t. They used the township’s bonding authority instead, likely to bypass voters and avoid scrutiny. That’s the kind of maneuver that would make a political strategist blush.
“If there’s money left over—say the roof comes in at $3M instead of $3.5M—that extra $500K can just roll into the Board of Ed’s general fund. They can spend it however they want, within legal bounds, and no one gets a say.” – Jonathan F.
“The fact that it is back on the agenda suggests a lack of transparency meeting must have happened. Who knows what was said at that time.” – JW
“Apparently Valeski, McEvoy, Brad, Guas, and Wendell had a private meeting about this bond. Who knows what promises were made.” – JW
“They didn’t even show respect when asked to show up and justify their request.” – Ronni W.
“Total and complete mismanagement of money yet again. Behind closed door deals. East Brunswick, New Jersey, Washington, D.C.—shit flows downhill.” – David C.
Recap
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✅ $28,000 to remove a backstop—during a budget crisis
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✅ New scoreboard and turf field—while academic and arts programs are cut
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✅ Superintendent and assistant superintendent ghosted every public meeting
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✅ Councilwoman Dana Winston abstained from the vote—and deserves credit for it
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✅ Residents are demanding transparency and accountability
Final Thought
If this is what we call “capital improvements,” East Brunswick needs to rethink its definition of urgency.
You don’t finance vanity projects when your district is bleeding cash. And you sure as hell don’t wrap a necessary roof repair in a blanket of fluff so you can sneak it all through in one vote.
But here we are.
📢 Your move, East Brunswick.
