If you get onto Route 18 north from Milltown Road, your commute is about to change.
The New Jersey Department of Transportation has scheduled that ramp to close on Aug. 31 and stay closed for the length of a bridge replacement project that, by the state’s own timeline, runs into 2029.
The ramp — NJDOT calls it Ramp ME — carries Milltown Road westbound traffic onto Route 18 northbound. This is not an overnight closure. NJDOT’s project materials say it “will remain closed throughout construction.”
There is also a deadline attached to this that hasn’t been widely publicized: the public comment period on the project closes Sept. 10.
One caveat worth stating plainly: NJDOT describes the Aug. 31 date as tentative, and as of this week the department had not issued a separate closure advisory for the bridge project. NJDOT typically announces closures only a few days in advance.
What’s being built
This is a replacement, not a repair.
NJDOT is tearing out the Route 18 northbound bridge that crosses Conrail’s Sayreville Industrial Track — a rail line most drivers never notice, because it runs underneath the highway.
The bridge went up in 1931. The state describes it as being in poor condition, nearing the end of its service life and needing more and more maintenance to stay open. Its clearance over the tracks is also too low by current standards.
The new bridge will be a single span, and the roadway will be raised to give trains more room underneath. The rebuilt stretch adds an auxiliary lane and a six-foot sidewalk, and the center median is being replaced with concrete barrier and islands.
The work area covers roughly 1,750 feet — from the Route 18 and Milltown Road interchange north to about Icker Avenue, according to NJDOT’s project documents.
Where you’ll be sent instead
NJDOT’s detour keeps Milltown Road westbound drivers inside the existing interchange to get onto Route 18 north. The entrance to the highway will be stop-controlled, which the department says is meant to prevent confusion inside an active work zone.
The state’s own analysis calls the added travel time “minimal,” and notes that drivers who know the area may simply skip the detour and use Old Bridge Turnpike.
Pedestrians and cyclists get a separate route, along Cranbury Road, Old Bridge Turnpike and Icker Avenue, with high-visibility signs.
Your travel lanes aren’t affected yet
Here is the part that matters most for anyone who sat through the last few years of Route 18 construction.
NJDOT’s presentation materials state: “The NJDOT has made a commitment to East Brunswick that no lanes will be closed prior to January 1st, 2027 due to this project.”
So while construction and the ramp closure begin this year, the thing residents dread most — Route 18 losing travel lanes again — is not scheduled to start until 2027.
When lane reductions do begin, the project runs in two stages, and NJDOT says at least two lanes in each direction stay open the whole time:
Stage 1 — two lanes each way. Expected to finish December 2027, after which all three southbound lanes return.
Stage 2 — three lanes southbound, two northbound. Expected to finish October 2028, after which all three northbound lanes return.
Final closeout — expected May 2029.
Construction is expected to happen during normal daytime hours, Monday through Friday.
What the mayor told the council
Mayor Brad Cohen briefed the Township Council on the bridge project at its Aug. 24 meeting, about a week and a half after NJDOT held a public information session at the Community Arts Center on Cranbury Road.
He told the council it was “a separate project that’s being started after the new year,” called it “a two-year project,” and said it was “limited to a 1,800 foot area that goes between Milltown Road and” Icker Avenue.
His description of the footprint is close — NJDOT puts it at about 1,750 feet.
On timing, there are two different dates in play, and they’re easy to run together. The project itself, and the ramp closure, begin in 2026. NJDOT’s commitment not to close Route 18 travel lanes because of this project runs to Jan. 1, 2027. The mayor’s “after the new year” matches the lane commitment. The construction start and the ramp closure come sooner, and NJDOT’s schedule carries the work through spring 2029 rather than two years.
The ramp closure and the Sept. 10 comment deadline did not come up at the meeting.
On the larger point, the mayor has been consistent and correct. “I know everybody likes to think it’s the town, because it goes through East Brunswick,” he told the council, “but it is a state highway. It is run and completely operated by the Department of Transportation.” He said the same thing at a council meeting last October. The township does not set this schedule, and residents with complaints have to take them to Trenton.
Cohen also noted that the August session drew a thin crowd. “There were more DOT people there than residents,” he said. Councilman Kevin McEvoy, who went, said the presentation was thorough and that residents could talk one-on-one with state staff afterward.
Township Administrator Joseph Criscuolo told the council that NJDOT left materials behind and that a display of the project area, photos and handouts is set up at the East Brunswick Public Library.
The other Route 18 project isn’t finished either
The bridge job is separate from the construction East Brunswick has been living with since 2023.
That project — drainage and pavement rehabilitation — is an $86.1 million federally funded rebuild covering about four and a half miles of Route 18. And according to NJDOT’s own announcement on Aug. 4, it still has a way to go.
Overnight lane closures between Rues Lane and the New Jersey Turnpike are running 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday, through December 2026, for milling, paving and final striping. At least one lane stays open. NJDOT warns the overnight work will also close ramps and limit access to side streets and businesses, with posted detours.
The full project is expected to be completed in late 2027.
That squares with what the mayor told the council — that remaining paving would be “done at night so it doesn’t interfere with any commuter traffic,” and that daytime lanes were coming back. It is worth knowing, though, that the state’s own paperwork has the larger job running well past this summer.
How to comment — before Sept. 10
NJDOT’s 30-day public comment period on the bridge project runs through Thursday, Sept. 10.
Email: info@rt18nbbridgeoverconrail.com
Project website: rt18nbbridgeoverconrail.com — the full presentation, the traffic management plan and the construction plan are all posted there
After Sept. 10, questions go to Patience Sengbey, NJDOT Regional Coordinator, at 609-963-1982 or patience.sengbey@dot.nj.gov.
For day-to-day closures and real-time conditions, NJDOT points motorists to 511nj.org.
Why we’re telling you this now
A year ago, when Ryders Lane was closed around the clock for Conrail track work while Route 18 was down to two lanes, residents told this publication the same thing over and over. It wasn’t the work they objected to. It was finding out too late.
“It’s not that people don’t want the work done,” one resident said at the time. “It’s that everything is happening all at once, with no thought to how it affects the rest of us.”
The comment window on this one is still open. It closes Sept. 10.
Sources: New Jersey Department of Transportation — Route 18 Northbound Bridge over Conrail Replacement Project, Public Information Center presentation materials, Aug. 13, 2026; NJDOT news release, Aug. 4, 2026. East Brunswick Township Council meeting, Aug. 24, 2026 (EBTV).
“College is not high school. So when we say we want to prepare students for college, it doesn’t mean that we make them college students now.”
Those words from Board President Dr. Marianne Tanious captured an important theme of the August 20 East Brunswick Board of Education meeting.
Of course, we must prepare our children for what comes next, whether that is college, trade school, the military, or the workforce. But that does not mean forgetting who they are developmentally right now.
Throughout the meeting, I saw a Board of Education and administrative team willing to question familiar systems, consider new information, and remain focused on what is best for East Brunswick’s students. That shift in mindset deserves to be recognized. In the world of education and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) we call this a growth mindset.
Removing Midterms and Finals Does Not Eliminate Testing
East Brunswick High School Principal Dr. Bucior gave a thorough presentation explaining the decision to eliminate traditional midterms and finals.
When the district’s original email was released, many families understandably had questions. Without the full explanation, “eliminating midterms and finals” could easily have sounded like “eliminating testing” or “eliminating cumulative assessment.”
That is not what is happening.
Students will continue to be assessed through unit tests, common assessments, cumulative assessments, quizzes, writing, projects, labs, presentations, discussions, and performance tasks. They will still develop study habits, time-management skills, test-taking strategies, and the ability to perform under pressure.
Cumulative assessment is already taking place throughout the school year. Students learn a concept, receive feedback, and encounter that material again alongside newer learning. In almost any textbook unit, you will find review questions that revisit previously taught skills, along with opportunities for students to apply those skills in new and more complex ways. This is already happening, and those opportunities are not going away. In my professional opinion, they will not only increase but also become more meaningful and student-centered.
Board Vice President Dr. Wilbur Pan raised an important question about whether teachers would still be able to use their professional judgment when a particular class could handle, or needed, more rigor and challenge.
This is exactly what the change allows. Teachers will have the flexibility to respond to the students sitting in front of them, while the district establishes clearer guidelines for the number and variety of assessments students must receive.
This is not permission to assess less. It is an opportunity to assess more purposefully.
The district summarized the goal well:
“We’re not asking less of our students. We’re just asking our assessments to tell us more.”
One statistic deserves particular attention. Approximately 73 percent of seniors were already exempt from taking all their final exams.
Many students whose families are now concerned about losing the experience of high-stakes testing were often no longer taking these exams by the end of high school. Keeping traditional finals did not guarantee that every student received that experience.
Higher-performing students were often exempt, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 students, those already needing more academic support, were more likely to take every exam.
The district also reported that approximately 27 percent of students failed at least one final, while the overall high school course failure rate was approximately 4 percent. For some students, one heavily weighted exam could affect a course average, future placement in academic and or extracurricular activities, and inherently affect their confidence in their ability to succeed.
That raises an important question. If finals are necessary preparation for future high-stakes testing, why were so many of our highest-performing students excused from taking them? Why was exemption viewed as a reward, while replacing finals with cumulative assessments is now being described as reducing rigor?
The old system did not provide students with equitable opportunities to experience and prepare for high-stakes testing. Instead, it distributed the burden unevenly, often placing the greatest pressure on students who were already struggling.
This speaks directly to a larger priority identified by the Board. Children’s mental health and well-being must remain at the forefront of decision-making. It is refreshing to see a Board of Education authentically identifying its “why” through action, not just words.
Research, Growth, and Communication
Dr. Tanious deserves credit for looking beyond East Brunswick while researching this change. She contacted school districts in Massachusetts, a state often compared with New Jersey educationally, and examined the history of the high school assessment model.
High schools largely inherited midterms and finals from universities. That does not automatically make them ineffective. It does make it reasonable to consider whether two heavily weighted exams remain the best approach for today’s students.
Dr. Pan also raised legitimate questions about preparing students for consequential exams in college, the trades, the military, and licensed professions. He listened to the responses and acknowledged that this change could recover eight to sixteen instructional days, potentially providing 5 to 10 percent more learning time.
Our children need to see adults asking difficult questions, listening to new information, and being willing to reconsider their assumptions. That is part of thoughtful leadership.
The district could have done a better job with its initial communication. Dr. Buscior’s presentation was detailed and informative, but families should have received that explanation before being asked to accept a major instructional change. Earlier communication may have prevented some of the confusion and concern.
The Future of East Brunswick High School
The other major issue discussed was the future of East Brunswick High School.
No one wants a referendum or a higher tax bill. However, avoiding a referendum is not necessarily the same as avoiding the expense altogether. Unfortunately, the expense itself is unavoidable.
The architects discussed maintaining the existing school, relocating the temporary classrooms, constructing a separate academy for ninth grade or another grade level, and building a new four-grade high school.
The preliminary estimates were:
Up to approximately $300 million to maintain the existing high school.
Approximately $323 million to maintain it while relocating the temporary classrooms.
Approximately $386 million to maintain it while constructing a ninth-grade academy.
Approximately $385 million to $425 million for a new four-grade high school.
These are preliminary figures, not final bids or tax calculations. Further planning, state approvals, possible debt-service aid, financing, and environmental reviews are still needed.
Still, maintaining the current school while adding a ninth-grade academy could cost about the same as the lower estimate for a new school. It would not reset the life cycle of the existing building or resolve all of its shared-space problems.
Board members asked the architects about capacity, traffic, asbestos, underground infrastructure, construction disruption, and future enrollment. Because the original plans showing what lies beneath the 1958 building are no longer available, renovation could uncover unexpected problems. A full renovation could also take six to eight years, affecting an entire generation of students.
The Board has not formally selected a plan, and the community must receive complete information before voting on any referendum. However, the discussion made it clear that maintaining the existing school is not a simple or inexpensive alternative.
One brief exchange also deserves attention. After seeing the new housing along Route 18, an architect from PSA, the firm presenting the plans, assumed that the development would expand the tax base and help offset school construction costs. He was quickly reminded, “No, no. PILOTs.”
Before any referendum vote, the community deserves a clear explanation of how development, enrollment growth, PILOT agreements, and school infrastructure costs connect.
Other Community Updates
Several other updates were shared toward the end of the meeting:
ESL program: ESL Supervisor Mrs. DiBenedetti discussed East Brunswick’s multilingual learners, including areas of progress and areas where the district needs greater consistency. The presentation was informative and explanatory and received praise from the Board as a whole.
Graduation location: East Brunswick High School’s graduation will move from the Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton to Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway. Graduation is expected to move from June 18 to June 17, pending a calendar revision.
Dual enrollment: Students can currently take a three-credit Middlesex College course for $150. Some pathways may allow students to earn transferable college credits or work toward an associate degree.
Earlier information: The district is working to introduce dual-enrollment opportunities before students enter ninth grade, giving families more time to plan.
These updates reinforce the fact that our students will follow different paths and that our schools must prepare them for more than one definition of success.
The August 20 meeting showed a Board and administration willing to research, question, listen, and grow. They may not agree on every detail or every proposed solution, but that kind of thoughtful discussion is important.
Student-centered decision-making requires a Board of Education to look beyond any single outcome, tradition, or perspective and understand the educational ecosystem as it exists today. Our schools, our students, and the world they are preparing to enter are constantly changing. Effective leadership means recognizing that bigger picture and being progressive enough to navigate the path forward through that lens.
As the upcoming Board of Education election approaches, we should expect anyone seeking a place in this space to continue on that trajectory. Candidates should be prepared to ask difficult questions, listen to new information, and make decisions with the entire educational ecosystem in mind. Our district’s experiences over the past decade have shown us how important it is to have leadership that remains focused on the bigger picture and responsive to the changing needs of our students.
Whether we are discussing assessments, programs, communication, or a multimillion-dollar investment, the question guiding every decision should always be:
During the July 23 East Brunswick Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Dr. Mammon raised a topic that could impact many students and families in the district: the future role of midterm and final exams.
The discussion may not have been the biggest item on the agenda, but it raised an important question about how students are assessed and how schools continue to adapt.
Are traditional midterms and finals still the best way to measure what students know?
For decades, semester exams have been a familiar part of the high school experience. Students prepare for cumulative tests that cover material from a marking period or semester, and those exams become one piece of their overall grade.
But education continues to change, and districts across the country continue to look at how students demonstrate learning.
That does not mean there is one right answer.
The discussion around midterms and finals has become a balance between maintaining academic expectations while also looking at student stress, mental health, and whether traditional exams provide the most complete picture of student understanding.
Why Some Educators Still See Value in Midterms and Finals
Supporters of traditional exams point to the skills they can help develop.
Preparing for a large exam requires students to organize information, manage their time, and take responsibility for their own learning. Those are skills that can be valuable in college, careers, and everyday life.
A cumulative exam can also show whether students understand material beyond a single assignment or project.
For some students, learning how to prepare for a high-pressure situation is an important part of their education.
Why Some Schools Are Rethinking Traditional Exams
At the same time, many educators have questioned whether one or two major exams should carry significant weight in determining a student’s understanding of a subject.
A student may understand the material but struggle during a high-pressure testing environment. Another student may perform well on a test but have difficulty applying that knowledge outside of an exam setting.
Because of this, some schools have placed more emphasis on ongoing assessments, projects, presentations, writing assignments, and other ways for students to demonstrate what they have learned.
The goal is not necessarily fewer expectations. The goal is finding the best way to measure learning.
The Mental Health Conversation
Another important part of this discussion is the impact major exams can have on student stress.
The weeks leading up to midterms and finals can be challenging for many students as they balance multiple exams, assignments, activities, and other responsibilities.
That does not mean students should avoid difficult experiences. Learning how to handle pressure, prepare, and manage responsibilities are important life skills.
The question is how schools can maintain those expectations while also supporting student well-being.
During the BOE meeting, Dr. Mammon also spoke about balancing leadership responsibilities with everyday life, including the excitement of welcoming a new baby. That moment was a reminder that the people making decisions for our schools are also people managing the same challenges of balancing responsibilities and priorities.
Update: The following section was added after the original publication to provide additional context and transparency. As the discussion continued and more questions were raised, we wanted to include additional information gathered during our follow-up reporting.
How Comparable Districts Are Approaching Midterms and Finals
One of the most important parts of this discussion is looking beyond East Brunswick and seeing how other comparable districts approach student assessments.
This is not about whether schools value academic achievement. They do. The question is how those districts measure student learning and whether traditional midterms and finals are still the best way to accomplish that goal.
When looking at districts often compared with East Brunswick academically and demographically, there are several different approaches.
Edison and J.P. Stevens have moved away from a traditional midterm structure. According to the comparison reviewed, the district eliminated midterms years ago and adjusted its assessment model.
South Brunswick takes a more course-specific approach. Rather than having a separate districtwide midterm schedule, assessments depend on the individual course and are given during the regular class period.
West Windsor-Plainsboro North and South have moved away from the traditional midterm and final exam model, according to the comparison reviewed.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional has also taken a different approach. The district still uses final assessments, but the format can include different options such as projects, videos, and alternative demonstrations of learning.
Monroe Township and Montgomery have moved away from traditional midterms while maintaining end-of-year finals.
Other districts in the comparison have also adjusted their assessment structures:
South Plainfield eliminated midterms, moved to quarterly assessments, and later adjusted its approach again to focus on final exams.
Woodbridge High School, including JFK and Colonia, uses a semester-based block schedule, meaning what may traditionally be considered a midterm functions differently because assessments occur within the course structure.
North Brunswick does not use a separate midterm schedule and follows a quarterly approach.
Sayreville uses quarterly assessments rather than traditional midterms.
Highland Park does not use finals and uses quarterly assessments in areas such as English and math.
East Brunswick remains one of the districts using a more traditional midterm and final structure.
The larger takeaway is that districts with similar academic expectations have not all made the same decision. Some have removed traditional midterms, some have reduced their role, some have kept finals, and others have created different ways for students to demonstrate mastery.
The conversation happening in East Brunswick is not about lowering expectations. It is about asking whether the current assessment model is still the best fit for students today.
What Could This Mean for East Brunswick?
The conversation around midterms and finals is part of a much larger discussion happening in education.
Schools are constantly evaluating whether long-standing practices still align with their goals for students.
The question is not simply whether students should take exams.
The bigger question is whether the current approach gives educators the best understanding of what students know and what skills they are developing.
East Brunswick is now having that conversation.
Any changes to the district’s approach would require input from educators, administrators, students, and families. It is a discussion that will likely continue as schools look at how to balance academic rigor, student preparation, and the changing needs of today’s learners.
Sometimes the most important conversations at a Board of Education meeting are not about a final decision that has already been made.
They are about the questions being asked before those decisions happen.
While watching the July 23 East Brunswick Board of Education meeting, one brief conversation caught my attention. It was not the longest discussion of the night, and I would guess many people watching may have moved right past it.
It was about artificial intelligence.
The district discussed the growing role of AI and the importance of understanding how this technology fits into education. Like many industries, schools are trying to figure out how to adapt to a tool that is already changing the way people learn, work, and solve problems.
For me, this was one of the most interesting parts of the meeting because I have been seeing this shift happen firsthand in my own business.
AI Is Not Replacing the Human Element
Over the past year, I have been using AI tools like Claude extensively in my own business. Claude, created by Anthropic, is an artificial intelligence assistant that can help analyze information, organize complex projects, identify patterns, and assist with problem solving.
The biggest thing I have learned is that AI does not remove the human element. It creates more room for it.
Claude is not coming up with my ideas, making my decisions, or replacing my experience. The strategy is still mine. The creativity is still mine. The final judgment is still mine. What AI does is give me another set of eyes.
It helps me review information faster, identify areas that need improvement, uncover opportunities, and spend more time on the decisions that actually require experience.
That same concept is what makes AI so interesting for education.
During the BOE meeting, Dr. Mammon talked about the reality of balancing the responsibilities of leading a school district with the demands of everyday life, including the excitement of welcoming a new baby. It was a simple reminder that the people making these decisions are also people managing a tremendous amount of responsibility.
A superintendent is constantly balancing students, staff, families, budgets, policies, operations, and unexpected challenges. The challenge is finding enough time to handle what needs attention today while still working on the improvements that make an organization better tomorrow. Leaders are often forced to choose between being reactive and proactive. The immediate issues in front of them usually demand attention, while the work that creates long-term improvements can get pushed aside. AI has the potential to help change that by allowing leaders to respond to today’s challenges while still identifying opportunities to improve for the future.
That is the same challenge I face in my own work.
There are always immediate tasks that need attention. There are deadlines, questions, and problems that need to be solved. But some of the most valuable work is often the easiest to push aside because it is not urgent.
Looking for ways to improve.
Reviewing what is already working and what is not.
Finding problems before they become bigger problems.
Building better systems.
AI helps create the space to do both.
In my business, I can continue building new projects while also reviewing existing work, finding opportunities, correcting past issues, and improving processes. For a school district, the same idea could mean helping leaders analyze feedback, identify trends, organize information, and bring attention to areas that may otherwise be overlooked.
The AI is not making the decisions.
The superintendent still needs judgment. The teacher still needs the ability to connect with students. The business owner still needs experience and creativity.
The difference is that AI can help people get to better decisions faster.
That is the part many people misunderstand about artificial intelligence. The value is not that a computer thinks for us. The value is that it helps us think better.
What Could This Mean for Education?
This is where I think the connection to East Brunswick schools becomes exciting.
The same way AI can help me review information, find patterns, and identify opportunities in my business, it has the potential to help educators and administrators do the same.
Imagine a superintendent who has better tools to analyze feedback, identify trends, organize information, and bring attention to areas that may otherwise be overlooked.
The AI does not replace the superintendent’s experience.
It gives the superintendent more information to use that experience.
A teacher’s ability to connect with a student cannot be automated. A school leader’s understanding of a community cannot come from software. Relationships, empathy, and judgment will always matter.
But if technology can reduce repetitive work and help leaders see more clearly, it creates more time for the parts of education that only people can provide.
That is where AI becomes interesting.
East Brunswick’s Conversation Is Worth Watching
Education is not always known for moving at the same pace as technology. There are good reasons for that. Schools have a responsibility to think carefully about any change that impacts students, families, and staff.
At the same time, technology continues to move forward whether organizations are ready or not.
The districts that succeed will not be the ones that ignore AI. They will be the ones that learn how to use it responsibly while keeping people at the center.
I think East Brunswick deserves recognition for having this conversation. The AI discussion during the BOE meeting was brief, but it pointed toward a much larger question about the future of education.
I would actually like to hear more from the district’s technology leadership about how they see AI evolving over the next several years. Not just from a policy standpoint, but from an innovation and efficiency standpoint.
Because the most exciting part of artificial intelligence is not what the technology can do by itself.
It is what people can do when they have better tools.
Last Wednesday’s Town Hall wasn’t what I expected.
I walked into the meeting thinking the biggest discussions would revolve around redevelopment, affordable housing, retail, and some of the long-term decisions shaping East Brunswick’s future. Those topics certainly dominated much of the evening, and I expected there would be disagreement. That’s healthy. Public meetings are supposed to include difficult questions, differing viewpoints, and passionate opinions from both elected officials and residents.
What I didn’t expect was to leave thinking almost entirely about communication.
That’s unfortunate because, in my opinion, Mayor Brad Cohen had a lot of worthwhile information to share. Throughout the evening, he explained how redevelopment fits into East Brunswick’s affordable housing obligations, why attracting businesses isn’t as simple as convincing a retailer to open its doors here, and why municipalities often have to make decisions that aren’t always popular but may be necessary. He also spoke about garbage collection contracts, changes to the Township’s insurance, utility providers like Optimum and Verizon FiOS, and several initiatives he believes have saved taxpayers money over the years.
Whether you agree with every policy or not, I thought many of those explanations were informative. In fact, there were several moments when I found myself nodding along because I thought he made a fair point.
That’s exactly why I left disappointed.
The information itself wasn’t the problem. The delivery was.
Before I go any further, I want to be clear about what this article is. This isn’t a straight news recap. It’s an opinion column that includes factual observations from the meeting, my own opinions, and, where I clearly identify them, my personal speculation. My goal isn’t to convince you that I’m right. In fact, I encourage everyone to watch the Town Hall meeting for themselves and decide whether you agree with my conclusions. You may see things differently than I did, and that’s perfectly fair.
I also want to make something else clear. This isn’t an article about whether redevelopment is good or bad. Reasonable people can disagree on that. It’s also not about whether every decision made by the Township has been the right one. Instead, this is about something I think is equally important in local government: communication. More specifically, it’s about how the way a message is delivered can sometimes overshadow the message itself.
As I reflected on the meeting afterward, I realized I wasn’t replaying statistics or planning documents in my head. I wasn’t thinking about housing formulas or retail projections. I was thinking about conversations. I was thinking about the exchanges between the mayor and residents, moments where sarcasm crept into the discussion, opportunities where curiosity could have replaced defensiveness, and how a meeting that could have educated a room full of people instead left many talking about the tone rather than the substance.
That’s a missed opportunity.
Giving Credit Where It’s Due
If you’re going to criticize an elected official, I believe you also have a responsibility to acknowledge what they did well. Politics has become so polarized that too often people refuse to give credit to someone simply because they’re on the other side of an issue. I don’t think that’s productive, and I don’t think it’s fair.
One of the strongest parts of the evening was Mayor Cohen’s willingness to tackle complicated topics head-on. Redevelopment, affordable housing obligations, PILOT agreements, retail recruitment, and municipal finance aren’t exactly light conversation. These issues are complicated, often misunderstood, and sometimes impossible to explain in a thirty-second soundbite. To his credit, he didn’t avoid those discussions. He spent considerable time trying to connect the dots and explain why many of these issues are intertwined.
Take redevelopment, for example. For years, residents have debated whether East Brunswick should continue approving apartment projects or pursue a different path. Some people see redevelopment as progress. Others see it as overdevelopment. Many fall somewhere in between. During the Town Hall, the mayor attempted to explain why municipalities don’t always have as much flexibility as residents might assume. Affordable housing requirements, state mandates, market forces, and private investment all play a role in shaping what ultimately gets built.
Whether those explanations changed anyone’s mind is another question, but I appreciated that he took the time to explain the reasoning rather than simply asking people to trust the process.
The same could be said for some of the Township’s financial decisions. The mayor discussed efforts involving garbage collection, municipal insurance, and utility competition, arguing that these were examples of work happening behind the scenes that rarely receives public attention. He’s probably right about that. Residents tend to notice ribbon cuttings, new buildings, and road projects. They don’t usually notice the negotiations that save money on contracts or the administrative decisions that may reduce long-term costs.
If those efforts have saved taxpayers money, they deserve recognition.
That’s actually one of the themes I agreed with most during the evening. Local government isn’t just about announcing new projects. It’s also about managing the day-to-day operations that most people never see. Success isn’t always measured by what’s built. Sometimes it’s measured by what costs less, works better, or avoids becoming a larger problem down the road.
Those aren’t exciting headlines, but they’re important responsibilities.
Ironically, I think those accomplishments deserved to be the focus of more conversations after the meeting. Instead, much of what people talked about afterward had little to do with redevelopment, garbage collection, or municipal finances.
They talked about the tone.
When Delivery Becomes the Story
One of the reasons I found the meeting frustrating is because I’ve seen Mayor Cohen communicate exceptionally well before.
During his congressional campaign, I thought he was prepared, focused, and disciplined. He answered difficult questions directly, stayed on message, and presented himself as someone who understood the issues he was discussing. Whether voters agreed with his positions or not, he came across as composed and confident. That’s the version of Brad Cohen I expected to see at this Town Hall.
Instead, there were moments where the conversation seemed to become more personal than productive.
Several times throughout the evening, I found myself thinking, “That’s actually a really good answer.” Then, almost immediately afterward, I found myself wondering why it had been delivered with a sarcastic remark or a tone that felt unnecessarily dismissive.
Communication is more than facts. It’s also about whether people feel heard.
A mayor can have the right answer and still lose an audience if residents walk away feeling like their concerns were brushed aside. That’s not because they suddenly disagree with the facts. It’s because people don’t just remember what was said. They remember how they were made to feel.
That’s why I don’t think the biggest story from the Town Hall was redevelopment.
I think the biggest story was communication.
As the evening went on, there seemed to be a recurring pattern. Residents would ask a question or make a comment, and instead of simply responding to the concern being raised, the conversation would sometimes shift toward correcting the resident, challenging the premise of the question, or pushing back against what the mayor appeared to believe they were implying.
Maybe that wasn’t his intention.
Maybe it was simply frustration after answering similar questions for years.
Maybe it was fatigue.
I don’t know.
That’s where opinion ends and speculation begins, and I don’t want to pretend I know what was going through his mind.
What I do know is how those exchanges came across to me as someone sitting in the audience.
Instead of feeling like a conversation between residents and their mayor, parts of the meeting felt more like a debate where every question needed to be won rather than explored.
That’s an important distinction because local government isn’t Congress. Residents aren’t political opponents. Even when someone asks a frustrating question or voices criticism you’ve heard a hundred times before, they’re still your constituents. Sometimes they aren’t looking for a perfect answer. They’re looking to feel like they’ve been heard.
And that’s where I think the meeting began to lose some of its momentum.
Why Farrell’s Was Never Really About Farrell’s
One exchange from the evening kept replaying in my mind long after the meeting ended. It wasn’t because of the specifics of the redevelopment discussion. It was because I think two very different conversations were happening at the same time.
Residents were talking about memories.
The mayor was talking about policy.
Those are not the same conversation.
Throughout the meeting, references were made to Farrell’s and what many longtime residents remember as “the old East Brunswick.” My impression was that Mayor Cohen interpreted those comments as criticism of the Township’s direction or as an argument against redevelopment. I walked away seeing something very different.
I don’t think most people who bring up Farrell’s are asking to turn the calendar back forty years. I don’t think they’re suggesting East Brunswick should reject every redevelopment project or ignore the legal realities surrounding affordable housing. I think they’re talking about something much simpler.
They’re talking about memories.
Anyone who grew up here remembers places that no longer exist. Farrell’s wasn’t just an ice cream restaurant. Brunswick Square Mall wasn’t just a shopping center. The movie theater, the arcade, the stores we hung out in after school, those places became part of people’s lives. They were where teenagers got their first jobs, where families celebrated birthdays, where friends met on Friday nights, and where countless memories were made.
Missing those places doesn’t automatically mean someone opposes progress.
It simply means they’re nostalgic.
There’s an important difference.
A few months ago, Rachel and I recorded one of my favorite podcast episodes we’ve done together called Mall Rats: A Trip Down Memory Lane. The entire episode was nothing more than two people reminiscing about growing up in East Brunswick. We talked about the mall, the stores, Farrell’s, and all the places that shaped our childhood.
It wasn’t political.
It wasn’t criticizing Mayor Cohen.
It wasn’t criticizing the Township Council.
It wasn’t even about redevelopment.
It was simply two lifelong residents smiling while remembering what it was like growing up here.
That’s why I found this part of the Town Hall frustrating. I think the mayor may have been hearing criticism when many residents were simply expressing nostalgia.
Those aren’t the same thing.
People are capable of saying, “I miss Farrell’s,” while also understanding why East Brunswick has changed over the last several decades.
They’re capable of missing the old mall while also recognizing that retail has changed nationwide.
They’re capable of supporting redevelopment while still wishing a few places from their childhood were still around.
Those ideas can exist at the same time.
In my opinion, that’s where an opportunity was missed. Rather than acknowledging those emotions and then explaining why the Township has changed, the discussion sometimes felt like it became a defense of redevelopment itself. Once that happened, I think two conversations that could have complemented each other started moving in opposite directions.
Sometimes the best response isn’t another statistic.
Sometimes it’s simply saying, “I miss it too.”
That small acknowledgment can completely change the tone of a conversation.
Listening Versus Preparing a Response
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from interviewing people over the years is that listening and waiting for your turn to talk are two completely different things.
When someone asks a question, there are really two questions being asked.
There’s the literal question.
Then there’s the reason behind it.
I don’t always think those reasons were recognized Wednesday night.
There were several moments where residents appeared to be expressing frustration, confusion, or concern, yet the response focused on correcting the details of what they said rather than understanding why they felt that way in the first place.
One exchange in particular stood out to me. A resident expressed disappointment with an answer they had received. Instead of the conversation becoming about why the resident felt disappointed, it shifted toward explaining how the question should have been asked.
Technically, perhaps that was fair.
Practically, I don’t think it accomplished much.
Imagine telling a friend they’re upset the wrong way. Even if you’re right, they’re probably going to leave feeling more frustrated than when the conversation started.
Public meetings aren’t debates to be won. They’re opportunities to build trust.
Sometimes that means answering the question someone asked.
Sometimes it means answering the question they were trying to ask.
Those aren’t always the same thing.
There was another moment when the phrase “stop whining” entered the conversation. Some people will undoubtedly say it wasn’t a big deal. Others will argue it was taken out of context.
That’s fine.
Everyone is entitled to their interpretation.
Intention and perception are two very different things. My reaction was simple. Comments like that immediately change the atmosphere in the room. Whether intended jokingly or seriously, they shift attention away from the issue being discussed and toward the exchange itself. Once that happens, people stop listening to the explanation because they’re thinking about the remark.
Again, that’s unfortunate because there were genuinely good explanations throughout the evening.
The Mayor I Remember Seeing
Part of my disappointment comes from knowing Mayor Cohen is capable of communicating differently.
During his congressional campaign, I watched debates where he came across as calm, prepared, and persuasive. He answered questions directly and rarely appeared rattled, even when challenged. That’s one of the reasons Wednesday surprised me.
This wasn’t someone who lacked knowledge.
Quite the opposite.
If anything, the mayor’s command of the issues was one of his strengths. He clearly understands redevelopment, municipal finance, and the challenges facing East Brunswick. I don’t question that for a second.
What I question is whether that knowledge is always reaching the audience the way he intends.
Knowledge and communication aren’t the same skill.
Someone can be an expert on a subject and still struggle to connect with people who disagree with them.
Someone can have every fact on their side and still lose the room.
That’s what I believe happened at several points during this meeting.
Social Media Isn’t the Problem
Another theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout the evening was social media.
To be fair, misinformation absolutely exists online. Every community deals with rumors, incomplete information, screenshots taken out of context, and posts that spread faster than facts. East Brunswick isn’t unique in that regard.
But I don’t think social media itself is the problem.
In many ways, social media has become the modern version of people talking over the backyard fence or gathering at the local diner. It’s where residents ask questions, share concerns, celebrate accomplishments, and yes, sometimes spread information that turns out to be wrong.
That isn’t going away.
The answer isn’t pretending those conversations don’t exist.
It’s participating in them effectively.
Eyes on EB exists because people want information.
Our Facebook page exists because that’s where many residents already are.
The Township uses social media.
The Police Department uses social media.
Schools use social media.
Parents organize through social media.
Businesses advertise through social media.
It’s simply part of modern communication.
When officials become frustrated with conversations happening online, I understand why. Nobody enjoys being criticized. Nobody enjoys reading inaccurate information about themselves or their decisions.
But criticism isn’t created by Facebook.
Facebook simply gives it a place to be seen.
Likewise, praise isn’t created by Facebook either.
It simply amplifies conversations that were probably happening anyway.
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that when official pages disable comments or limit interaction, the conversations don’t stop. They simply move somewhere else. Instead of asking questions directly on an official page, residents ask them in neighborhood groups, private conversations, or community pages where Township officials aren’t participating.
Personally, I’d rather see more conversation, not less.
Yes, it can be messy.
Yes, misinformation has to be corrected.
But dialogue is almost always healthier than silence.
To me, Wednesday night’s Town Hall reinforced that point. Communication isn’t just about presenting information. It’s also about understanding where people are getting their information, what concerns they have before they walk into the room, and why certain topics keep resurfacing year after year.
Ignoring those conversations doesn’t make them disappear.
Addressing them thoughtfully might.
The Missing Middle
As the meeting continued, I found myself thinking about a topic that wasn’t discussed nearly as much as I had hoped: teenagers.
East Brunswick has always done a good job creating programs for young children. Between the Recreation Department, the Library, youth sports, camps, and countless seasonal activities, families with younger kids have plenty of opportunities to stay involved. The Township has also made significant investments in programs for seniors, recognizing that older residents want opportunities to stay active and connected to the community. Those efforts deserve credit because they improve the quality of life for a large portion of our population.
What seems to get overlooked, at least from my perspective, is everyone in between.
Talk to enough parents of middle school and high school students and a common theme starts to emerge. Many of them find themselves driving to neighboring towns for volleyball leagues, basketball courts, open gym nights, or simply places where teenagers can spend time with friends. It’s not that East Brunswick offers nothing. It’s that many parents feel there could be more. Teenagers eventually age out of children’s programs, but they aren’t adults yet. They still need places to gather, stay active, and feel connected to their own community.
When the discussion turned to recreation and the future of the Community Arts Center and the Township’s designated “open space” areas, I kept waiting for someone to acknowledge that gap. Instead, much of the conversation centered on preserving open space and existing amenities. Those are worthwhile goals, but I couldn’t help thinking that the needs of teenagers deserved a larger place in the conversation. If we’re serious about building a community where families want to stay, we should be asking what life looks like not just for a five-year-old or a retiree, but for a fifteen-year-old looking for something to do on a Friday night.
One example stood out. During the discussion, the ice rink was mentioned as a place for kids of all ages, with the mayor specifically focusing his attention on the seniors in the room, informing them of the many “community rooms” that can be rented for a grandchild’s birthday party, and how the third floor can be used as a walking track for free. But not once was there any mention of programs being offered by the Township itself at that location for children and/or young adults.
After the meeting, Rachel had an opportunity to continue that conversation with Mayor Cohen, inquiring about the possibility of some sort of community recreation center being created anywhere in our town. She told me that he shared broader ideas and future plans that the Township has been exploring for youth programming beyond simply skating at the ice rink itself. Hearing that made me think, “That’s exactly the kind of information people wanted to hear.”
If those conversations are happening behind the scenes, that’s encouraging. But why not share them during the Town Hall? Why were our children not part of the dialogue beyond just e-bike concerns and a new high school referendum? Residents are often asking for more opportunities for pre-teens and teenagers without realizing there may already be ideas being explored. Once again, it felt less like a problem with the work being done and more like a problem with communicating that work to the public.
Does the Administration Have Its Finger on the Pulse?
This is probably the most subjective part of my opinion, and I fully recognize that someone else may have watched the same meeting and reached a different conclusion.
Still, I left wondering whether the administration truly recognizes what many residents are trying to communicate.
Not everyone. East Brunswick is a large, diverse community with thousands of opinions, and no elected official is ever going to satisfy everyone. But certain themes come up over and over again. Residents talk about traffic. They talk about redevelopment. They talk about preserving the character of the town. They talk about wanting more for teenagers. They reminisce about places that are gone. Whether those conversations happen at Town Hall, on social media, or over coffee at a local diner, they’re remarkably consistent.
I don’t believe those conversations are driven by people who simply dislike change. More often than not, they’re driven by people who care deeply about the community they’ve called home for years. They want reassurance that today’s decisions will still leave East Brunswick feeling like East Brunswick twenty years from now.
That’s why I keep coming back to the discussion about Farrell’s. To me, it became symbolic of something much larger than an ice cream restaurant. Residents weren’t asking for the Township to rebuild Farrell’s. They were talking about memories, traditions, and the places that shaped their lives. A simple acknowledgment of that nostalgia could have changed the tone of the entire conversation before moving into an explanation about why redevelopment has changed the landscape over the years.
Sometimes people don’t need to be convinced before they feel understood.
Sometimes they need to feel understood before they’re willing to be convinced.
A Conversation That Stayed With Me
After the meeting ended, Rachel had a brief conversation with Mayor Cohen that has stayed with me ever since.
She told him, “We’re on your side.”
His response was something to the effect of, “Well, it doesn’t seem like it.”
Neither comment struck me as confrontational. In fact, I think they revealed something far more important.
From our perspective, Eyes on EB has always tried to support this community. We’ve promoted Township events, highlighted local businesses, celebrated student achievements, covered Board of Education and Township meetings, and shared information that helps residents stay informed. At the same time, we’ve also asked difficult questions and published criticism when we believed it was warranted. That’s part of covering local government honestly.
Criticism isn’t the same as opposition.
Holding elected officials accountable isn’t the same as rooting against them.
In fact, I’d argue the opposite is true. Communities improve when people can disagree respectfully while recognizing they’re ultimately working toward the same goal. We all want East Brunswick to succeed. We may have different ideas about how to get there, but I don’t believe that makes anyone an enemy.
When the mayor said it didn’t feel like we were on his side, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps it reflected the same communication gap that surfaced throughout the meeting. We believed we were supporting the community by asking questions and encouraging discussion. Perhaps he saw those same actions differently. Whether that’s true or not, it’s worth thinking about because it highlights how easily intentions can be misunderstood when communication breaks down.
Final Thoughts
Walking out of Town Hall, I didn’t think the meeting was a failure. If anything, I thought it came surprisingly close to being one of Mayor Cohen’s strongest public appearances.
He clearly understands the issues facing East Brunswick. His explanations about redevelopment, affordable housing, municipal finance, and other complex topics demonstrated that. There were several moments where I found myself agreeing with his reasoning, even if I understood why others might not. That’s what makes this article difficult to write, because the biggest takeaway should have been the information he shared.
Unfortunately, I think it was the way some of that information was delivered.
People rarely remember every statistic or every chart shown during a presentation. They remember conversations. They remember whether they felt respected. They remember whether they felt heard. Those impressions often last much longer than the details of any policy discussion.
Mayor Cohen has shown before that he can be an exceptionally effective communicator. I have no doubt that version of Brad Cohen is still there, and I hope future Town Halls reflect more of that approach.
As I said at the beginning, this article is a combination of facts, opinions, and clearly identified speculation. I encourage everyone to watch the Town Hall themselves and reach their own conclusions. You may agree with me. You may think I’m completely off base. That’s the beauty of public discourse.
What I hope everyone can agree on is this: Town Halls matter. They give residents an opportunity to ask questions directly, hear answers firsthand, and participate in the future of the community they call home. I hope the Township continues holding them, I hope more residents attend, and I hope the conversations become even more productive.
Because at the end of the day, everyone in that room wants the same thing.
Artificial intelligence is changing faster than almost any technology we’ve seen before. It’s affecting classrooms, businesses, healthcare, and even the careers today’s students will pursue. Because of that, it’s becoming one of the most important conversations communities can have.
That was the focus of the East Brunswick Human Relations Council’s latest Coffee & Conversation event, which brought together school leaders, technology experts, business professionals, and East Brunswick students to discuss how AI is already impacting education and what the future may hold.
What made this discussion especially interesting wasn’t that everyone agreed. It was that each speaker brought a different perspective, giving the audience a balanced look at both the opportunities and the challenges AI presents.
Teaching Students to Use AI Responsibly
One of the first topics discussed was how East Brunswick Public Schools are approaching artificial intelligence.
Rather than viewing AI as something to ban or ignore, district leaders explained that the goal is to help students learn how to use it responsibly while maintaining academic integrity.
As Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joyce Boley explained, the district has spent time bringing together students, teachers, administrators, and parents to help shape its approach.
“We want our students to use AI… but with academic integrity concerns, we wanted to make sure that staff, students and parents were on the same page.”
She also acknowledged that no one knows exactly what AI will look like five or ten years from now, making it important for schools to remain flexible as the technology continues to evolve.
Privacy Is Just as Important as Innovation
Nick LaTronica, Chief Information Officer for East Brunswick Public Schools, discussed another challenge many people don’t immediately think about: protecting student information.
While AI tools can be incredibly helpful, he reminded the audience that schools also have a responsibility to safeguard student data and carefully evaluate the platforms students are using.
One comment that stood out was his reminder that free technology often comes with hidden tradeoffs.
“When a product is free, it usually means you’re the product.”
That perspective helped shift the conversation beyond simply asking what AI can do and toward asking how it should be used responsibly.
AI Is Changing the Workforce Faster Than Schools
Entrepreneur and AI educator Andrew Zhang shared how rapidly artificial intelligence is transforming today’s workplace.
He explained that businesses are already seeing dramatic productivity gains while many colleges are still struggling to adapt their curriculum to keep pace with the technology.
His advice wasn’t to fear AI, but to learn it.
Students entering today’s workforce will likely benefit from understanding AI tools alongside the traditional skills they’ve already been developing.
The Student Discussion Was the Highlight
Perhaps the most engaging part of the evening came when East Brunswick students took over the conversation.
Rather than offering simple answers, they openly discussed both the benefits and concerns surrounding AI.
Several students said schools should spend more time teaching students how to use AI correctly instead of simply warning against it.
Others talked about using AI as a research tool while recognizing that information still needs to be verified.
The discussion also turned toward careers, with students wondering how artificial intelligence may influence the majors they choose and the jobs available after graduation.
One topic generated particularly thoughtful discussion: whether AI could ever replace great teachers.
Several students argued that while AI may become an excellent educational tool, it can never replace the encouragement, mentorship, and human connection that teachers provide. They also questioned whether creativity, music, art, and other deeply human experiences could ever truly be replicated by artificial intelligence.
It was refreshing to hear students discuss technology with both optimism and healthy skepticism rather than viewing it as simply good or bad.
Why These Conversations Matter
Artificial intelligence isn’t a future issue anymore. It’s already affecting classrooms, workplaces, and daily life.
Events like Coffee & Conversation give residents an opportunity to hear from educators, technology professionals, and students while exploring questions that don’t always have easy answers.
A thank you to the East Brunswick Human Relations Council for organizing the event and to EBTV for recording and making these discussions available to the public.
If you haven’t watched this episode yet, it’s well worth your time. Whether you’re a parent, student, educator, or simply curious about how AI is changing our world, you’ll come away with plenty to think about.
The East Brunswick Township Council held its June 22 meeting Monday night, recognizing a longtime township employee, reviewing a new Community Energy Master Plan, and approving several projects and resolutions.
Kevin O’Connor Honored for 37.5 Years of Service
The Council recognized Kevin O’Connor on his retirement after more than 37 years with East Brunswick’s Department of Recreation and Parks. Officials thanked him for his dedication and wished him well in retirement.
Community Energy Master Plan Presented
The meeting’s main presentation focused on East Brunswick’s new Community Energy Master Plan, funded through a $10,000 state grant.
Representatives from Blue Sky Power explained that the plan serves as a roadmap for future sustainability efforts rather than a mandate. The presentation outlined potential initiatives including expanding electric vehicle infrastructure, increasing energy efficiency, promoting solar energy, exploring community solar programs, and improving outreach about clean energy incentives.
During the discussion, township officials noted that East Brunswick is already ahead of many communities in implementing sustainable practices, including EV charging infrastructure and municipal solar projects, while emphasizing the plan provides additional opportunities for future improvements.
Council Opposes Proposed State Housing Legislation
Among the resolutions approved was one opposing New Jersey Senate Bill S-1836. Township officials argued that the proposal would weaken local control over land-use decisions by allowing certain developments to bypass the municipal planning process. The resolution urges state lawmakers to reject the legislation.
Other Business Approved
The Council also approved:
Construction of new post-tension concrete pickleball courts at Community Park for up to $552,500.
Purchase of two hybrid Ford Escape vehicles for the township fleet.
Renewal of several liquor licenses.
Grants supporting historic preservation and recycling projects.
Approval for the Middlesex County Fair, Diwali Festival, and related fireworks permits.
The East Brunswick Board of Education approved a wide range of summer curriculum projects during its June 18 meeting, authorizing teachers and staff to participate in workshops to review, update, and develop curriculum across multiple subject areas.
While much of the public discussion at the meeting focused on other topics, the curriculum work approved through personnel recommendations could affect students throughout the district in the upcoming school year.
Literacy and Language Arts Receive Significant Attention
Several of the approved projects focused on literacy instruction and curriculum development.
Among the initiatives approved were revisions to Grades 7 and 8 ILA assessments, updates to English 12 and College Writing Honors coursework, and work on assessment and scope-and-sequence development at Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School.
Additional projects include K-2 WIN Language Arts planning, Grades 3 and 4 vocabulary instruction updates, Grades 3 and 4 Patterns of Power work, and pilot teacher planning initiatives.
The number of literacy-related projects suggests continued district focus on reading and language arts instruction following recent curriculum discussions and presentations made to the Board throughout the school year.
Gifted and Talented Programs Included
The Board also approved curriculum development work related to gifted education.
Projects include Gifted Tier 1 lesson development for K-6 teachers, curriculum and lesson updates for FOCUS and gifted teachers, and FLEX program development and revisions.
These efforts are designed to review and enhance instructional opportunities available to advanced learners across the district.
Math Curriculum Updates Planned
Several math curriculum projects were approved for the summer months.
Teachers will work on updates to the Math K and Math 1 curricula, revisions to the Math 7 and Math 8 coursework, and updates to the geometry curriculum.
The district regularly uses summer curriculum workshops to review standards, update instructional materials, and prepare for implementation during the upcoming school year.
Other Subject Areas Included
In addition to literacy, gifted education, and math, the Board approved curriculum projects in health and arts education.
Health staff will participate in curriculum articulation work focused on grades 6 through 8, while arts education teachers will work on curriculum updates and development of new course offerings.
Looking Ahead
The curriculum projects approved by the Board will take place throughout the summer and involve teachers from multiple schools and grade levels.
While curriculum work often receives less public attention than facility projects or budget discussions, the revisions and updates developed during the summer can directly influence classroom instruction and student learning across the district when schools reopen in September.
As Eyes on EB approaches 3,000 Facebook followers, it seemed like a good time to reflect on how this all started and how much it has changed over the past two years.
When Eyes on EB launched, it wasn’t intended to be a traditional local news source.
In fact, the inspiration came from a website called Not the Bee.
For those unfamiliar, Not the Bee shares real news stories that are often so bizarre, ridiculous, or unbelievable that they almost read like satire. The stories are real, but they’re presented with a tone that makes readers stop and ask, “Wait, this actually happened?”
That concept resonated with us because, at times, local discussions in East Brunswick felt exactly the same way.
Whether it was social media arguments, community controversies, neighborhood debates, or public meetings, there were moments when the stories were simply too absurd to ignore. The stories themselves were always real, but they were often written with a tongue in cheek style because reality was doing most of the work for us.
Ironically, many people thought the stories weren’t real.
Some assumed we were exaggerating.
Others thought we were writing satire.
We weren’t.
The meetings happened.
The comments happened.
The arguments happened.
The screenshots were real.
Sometimes the truth was simply stranger than fiction.
Those early posts generated attention. People shared them. People debated them. People laughed at them. Most importantly, people talked about them.
But as the page continued to grow, another question emerged.
Would people eventually get tired of it?
We didn’t want Eyes on EB to become a novelty. We wanted it to become something people could rely on.
At the same time, we noticed something else happening.
Many of the larger media outlets covering local stories were doing exactly what they were supposed to do: reporting the basic facts. But often the nuances were missing. The context was missing. The follow up questions residents were asking never seemed to get answered.
Stories would end at the headline.
We became interested in everything that came after the headline.
Why did a decision get made?
Who supported it?
Who opposed it?
What details weren’t making it into the initial coverage?
What questions were residents still asking?
Instead of simply reporting what happened, we started digging deeper into why it happened.
That shift changed everything.
Gradually, Eyes on EB evolved from a social media page into a local news and community platform focused on context, accountability, and awareness.
The website launched and quickly became an important part of that mission. Today, Eyes on EB attracts thousands of readers every month, allowing us to go beyond social media posts and provide more detailed coverage of the stories that matter to residents. Our Facebook page reaches hundreds of thousands a month and our Instragram tens of thousands.
The topics expanded as well.
Township Council meetings.
Board of Education meetings.
Local elections.
Development projects.
Community issues.
School programs.
And one area that has become especially important to us: local sports.
Some of our favorite stories involve highlighting the accomplishments of East Brunswick students and athletes. Whether it’s a sectional championship, a state qualifier, or a student achieving something extraordinary, those stories deserve attention too.
The growth eventually led to another milestone: the Eyes on EB Podcast.
Alongside Rachel, we’ve been able to bring conversations to a different format, discussing local issues, interviewing guests, highlighting community stories, and occasionally just having fun. Some topics work best in an article. Others work best in a conversation. The podcast gave us another way to connect with the community.
Through all of these changes, one thing has remained the same.
Curiosity.
We ask questions.
We read the documents.
We attend the meetings.
We follow the discussions.
And sometimes we uncover details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
That doesn’t mean we’ve abandoned the spirit of the original page.
Far from it.
If you’ve followed Eyes on EB for any length of time, you know we still enjoy the lighter side of local life. We still appreciate the humor that comes from living in a town where debates about everything from school issues to traffic patterns can somehow turn into multi-hundred-comment discussions.
We still enjoy pointing out the occasional absurdity.
The difference is that today we’re just as interested in understanding the serious stories as we are in laughing about the funny ones.
Looking back, it’s remarkable to see how far this community has come in such a short period of time.
What started as a page inspired by Not the Bee has evolved into a website, a podcast, a sports outlet, and a growing source of local information for thousands of East Brunswick residents.
Most importantly, it has become a community.
To everyone who has followed a page, read an article, listened to a podcast, shared a post, sent a tip, corrected an error, offered feedback, or simply spent a few minutes of their day keeping up with what’s happening in town, thank you.
The 3,000 followers matter.
The thousands of monthly website readers matter.
The 300,000 to 600,000 Facebook and Instagram views per month matter.
The podcast listeners matter.
But what matters most is the community that has formed around all of it.
Eyes on EB has always been about paying attention to what’s happening in East Brunswick, especially the things that aren’t always obvious at first glance.
We believe that’s what sets us apart.
We try to dig a little deeper.
We try to provide context.
We try to explain the nuances.
And every once in a while, we still like to have some fun.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
Here’s to the next chapter.
And as always, thank you for keeping your Eyes on EB.
Eyes On EB is built and run by Five Star SEO, a local marketing agency focused on real visibility.
A discussion about East Brunswick’s literacy program became one of the more notable moments of the June 4 Board of Education meeting, as a parent’s concerns about her daughter’s reading development prompted additional questions from Board President Marianne Tanious about how struggling readers are monitored and supported throughout the school year.
The exchange highlighted a topic that has become a major focus for the district: how students who fall below benchmark levels are identified, assessed, and provided interventions.
District Outlines Literacy Rollout
Earlier in the meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Academics Dr. Joyce Boley provided an update on the district’s literacy initiatives and the phased implementation of new reading programs.
The district’s literacy rollout began with kindergarten through second grade and will continue expanding over the next two school years. Plans call for CKLA implementation in grades three through five next year, with a full K-8 literacy rollout expected the following year.
District officials also discussed additional instructional support, teacher training, classroom coaching, and progress-monitoring procedures intended to improve literacy outcomes.
A Parent’s Frustration
During Good of the Cause, a concerned East Brunswick parent addressed the board, expressing frustration with her daughter’s reading progress.
According to the parent, her daughter scored below the benchmark in September and remained below it throughout the year, despite repeated concerns raised by the family.
The parent said she had been advocating for her daughter since the fall and recently learned that her child was reading at a first-grade phonics level despite being a third-grade student preparing to enter fourth grade.
“What concerns me the most is that these assessments were not administered until May 22,” the parent told the board.
She questioned why phonics assessments were not conducted earlier, after screening results indicated concerns related to decoding and reading skills.
The parent also questioned how students who remain below benchmark throughout the school year are monitored and what accountability exists when interventions do not produce the desired results.
Board President Seeks Clarification
Following the parents’ comments, Board President Marianne Tanious asked Dr. Boley several follow-up questions regarding student assessments, intervention timelines, and progress monitoring.
Tanious asked whether student data from fall screenings was reviewed and acted upon when students initially fell below benchmark levels and whether assessments were conducted again later in the year.
Boley explained that reading specialists continuously monitor student growth, develop intervention plans based on individual student needs, and regularly review student progress throughout the year.
“The reading specialists are constantly monitoring student growth,” Boley said.
Tanious continued to press for additional details on how frequently progress is reviewed and whether there are established metrics for monitoring student growth.
When asked whether there was a set metric and timeline for monitoring progress, Boley responded that it depends on the assessment tool used, the intervention provided, and the specific student needs being addressed.
Tanious then asked whether the board could receive additional information regarding those monitoring metrics.
“Can the board see what that metric is?” she asked.
“Certainly,” Boley responded.
A More Standardized Process Next Year
One of the key points discussed during the exchange was how progress monitoring will evolve as the district’s literacy rollout continues.
Boley noted that while reading specialists currently assess and monitor students on an ongoing basis, the district expects the process to become more standardized as the new literacy program is implemented.
According to district officials, students who fall below benchmark levels will continue to receive monitoring and interventions, while new procedures are expected to provide greater consistency across schools and grade levels.
A Continuing Focus
The district’s literacy initiative remains one of the greatest academic efforts currently underway in East Brunswick schools.
Throughout the presentation, administrators discussed curriculum implementation, reading assessments, instructional coaching, professional development, and plans to provide regular updates to the Board of Education.
The June 4 discussion demonstrated that while new curriculum programs and instructional initiatives are important, many parents remain focused on a more immediate question:
How quickly are struggling readers identified, and what happens once concerns are raised?
Eyes On EB is built and run by Five Star SEO, a local marketing agency focused on real visibility.
Eyes On EB is built and run by Five Star SEO, a local marketing agency focused on real visibility.
