In a letter to the editor, Jersey City Board of Education Trustees Dr. Matthew Schneider and Tia Rezabala address the arrest of Emily Pecot at their May 21st meeting, indicating such scenarios should only take place as a last resort.
The following statement reflects the views of Board Trustees Tia Rezabala and Matt
Schneider only and does not represent an official statement of the Jersey City Board of Education.
Dear Editor,
As members of this community, we recognize that speaking publicly about Board actions may expose us to criticism or even ethics complaints under New Jersey’s School Ethics Act.
Nevertheless, board members and community stakeholders alike have an obligation to uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and public trust that are embedded in New Jersey’s ethics standards for school governance.
The School Ethics Act requires board members to act in the best interests of the public, avoid conduct that undermines confidence in the board, and ensure that decisions affecting the community are carried out openly and fairly.
Remaining silent in moments of tension and controversy does not serve our students, families, or the democratic principles that guide public education.
At the recent meeting of the Jersey City Board of Education, a parent was arrested for defiant trespass after refusing to leave the meeting.
While we support maintaining decorum and ensuring meetings can proceed safely and orderly, we believe the situation escalated unnecessarily and that more could have been done to de-escalate tensions before law enforcement intervention became necessary.
Arrests at public meetings should remain a last resort reserved for situations where all reasonable efforts at de-escalation have failed unless there is a clear risk for harm.
We are also concerned by a broader pattern of decisions that have increasingly limited public participation without deliberation by the full board.
For several consecutive months, public comment has been reduced from the customary three-minute public comment period to two minutes per speaker.
Regardless of policy authority, decisions that directly affect public participation and trust should be approached with transparency, consistency, and care.
Under New Jersey school ethics standards, board actions should avoid even the appearance of impropriety or arbitrary decision-making that could erode public confidence in the governance process.
The First Amendment and the public’s right to be heard are foundational to democratic governance and public education. Public participation is essential to maintaining trust between a school board and the community it serves.
While disruptive behavior cannot be allowed to prevent the board from conducting business, arrests should remain a last resort, not an early response to heightened tensions.
We must strive to create an environment where both civility and public participation are protected.
We recognize that emotions in our community are high and that recent meetings have reflected deep frustration and concern from many parents.
In moments like these, leadership matters most and the board should seek to lower tensions, not raise them.
We believe it is the responsibility of all participants; elected officials, administrators, and members of the public alike, to help maintain an environment that is orderly, respectful, and worthy of the community we serve.
Our community deserves public meetings that protect both order and constitutional freedoms, where people feel heard even in moments of disagreement.
We know that seeing a member of our community placed in handcuffs at a public Board meeting was upsetting and painful for many of us.
Regardless of differing views on what occurred, we understand why this moment has shaken trust and heightened emotions across the Jersey City community.
As board members, we are committed to working toward a better path forward: one where our meetings reflect both respect for public participation and a shared commitment to civility, safety, and de-escalation.
Tia Rezabala & Matt Schneider
