MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea is promising to intervene in the ongoing turmoil within the Middletown school district, vowing to reopen three shuttered schools if he wins the election.
In a post on social media, Spadea addressed parents, teachers, and students directly, stating, “When I’m Governor we will get these three schools open. Our Department of Education will be a protector for parents and kids when local boards fail.”
Spadea also voiced support for school board members Mark Soporowski and Joe Fitzgerald, while taking aim at Middletown Board of Education President Frank Capone and Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, calling them “incompetent, arrogant and morally bankrupt.”
Both Capone and Tobacco have been at the center of political controversies and have publicly supported Spadea’s GOP rival, Jack Ciattarelli.
The response is seen as a checkmate for Middletown that puts Ciattarelli between a rock and a hard place. The board members at the center of the scandals in Middletown have not only openly campaigned for Ciattarelli, they are closely aligned with the former state legislator.
The situation in Middletown has drawn wider attention, with some officials warning other districts to take note. “Be careful NJ BOE members who you follow and emulate… A focus on fiscal responsibility to your taxpayers could prevent this from happening in your district,” tweeted Kirsten Light.
The debate over school closures has intensified as the district faces financial struggles and leadership disputes, making it a focal point in the 2025 gubernatorial race.
Key Points
- Bill Spadea pledged to reopen three closed schools in Middletown if elected governor.
- He criticized the current school board leadership while supporting two board members.
- The Middletown school district remains embroiled in controversy as election tensions rise.