Recently, a letter to the editor in Hudson County View featured a group of current and former Hoboken Board of Education trustees—Sharyn Angley, Malani Cademartori, Sheillah Dallara, Chetali Khanna, and Ailene McGuirk—throwing their support behind two candidates in the upcoming election. While I take no position in endorsing or opposing any candidate, I do feel compelled to remind the community of this group’s track record. Words like “integrity, equity, and respectful collaboration” may sound noble, but when measured against actual actions, these trustees fall short.
First, integrity. For more than a decade, Superintendent Johnson falsely claimed to hold a doctorate. Not one of these trustees held her accountable for deceiving the public. Silence in the face of dishonesty is not integrity—it’s complicity.
Second, equity. District test scores consistently reveal a troubling truth: Black and Hispanic students in Hoboken lag significantly behind their White peers across the entire K–12 spectrum. Yet rather than tackling these disparities with urgency, the trustees continue to congratulate themselves and focus on image. Equity isn’t achieved through slogans—it requires real work, and that work has not been done.
Third, integrity again. Ailene McGuirk and her allies on the Board spent tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars on a public relations campaign branding all district schools as “blue ribbon schools.” This was flatly misleading. A handful of schools earn the Blue Ribbon designation nationally each year; Hoboken’s schools did not. Spending scarce resources to mislead the public is the opposite of integrity.
Finally, collaboration. In 2022, these same trustees attempted to push through a massive $241 million bond referendum ($330 million with interest) with minimal community input. Respectful collaboration means engaging stakeholders, listening to concerns, and building consensus. Instead, the Board tried to ram through the largest capital project in the city’s history under the radar. That is not collaboration—it is arrogance.
Taken together, this record paints a clear picture. These trustees may be polished in their messaging, but when it comes to governance, transparency, and accountability, their actions reveal a consistent pattern: prioritize optics over substance, spin over truth, and public relations over the hard work of improving schools.
As voters weigh this election, they should remember: words are cheap. What matters is the record. And this record shows that Hoboken’s students, families, and taxpayers deserve better.
I support no candidate or slate in this election.
