MARLBORO – The overriding battle for the White House may be overshadowing school board races, but not everywhere. And certainly not in this Monmouth County town of about 41,000.

A recent social media post making the rounds highlights Marlboro’s “safe nurturing environment.”

But wait! That peace and tranquility is being “threatened” by out of town “left wing extremists” who seek to control public schools.

There is nothing unusual about the rhetoric. Local school boards became a political prize two years ago.

This is only one school board race in a state that has hundreds of them. But it does seem like a microcosm of a larger philosophical battle. As stated, it may be a bit under the radar in a presidential year, but passions remain high here and, in all likelihood, in other towns as well.

Adding to the mix was Monday’s state Senate committee vote along party lines endorsing the Freedom to Read Act. Opponents said it allows school libraries to distribute “pornography.”

This district is no stranger to controversy. Marlboro, along with two other districts in Monmouth County – Middletown and Manalapan-Englishtown – were sued by the state last year because of their transgender policies.

The current fight involves six candidates for three seats on the 9-member board.

There are two slates.

One is called Partners Improving Education. Running on that team are Nirav Kadakia, Jenna Corraro and Brian Cohen.

The other – Marlboro Values Protected. That is the slate responsible for the relevant post. Running on that team are Danielle Bellomo, Aldo Patruno and Gill Iny. Bellomo and Patruno are incumbents.

In the post, the candidates commit themselves to “keeping outside politically motivated influences from infiltrating Marlboro schools.”

One of those outside influences is identified. He is Michael Gottesman, the founder of the New Jersey Public Education Coalition.  Its goal is simple: to combat right wing extremism in public schools.

In truth, Gottesman’s group was a latecomer to the party.

Republicans and conservative groups in general seemingly began paying attention to school matters in 2021 when Glenn Youngkin used the issue quite effectively to win the Virginia governor’s race.

For a while, Democrats seemed to ignore the issue, but no longer, as is seen by the New Jersey Public Education Coalition.

Gottesman declined to respond directly to the post in question.

A look at recent history shows that last year, three candidates unaffiliated with the philosophy of the Marlboro Values Protected slate were elected.

The post warns that if that reoccurs, the public school landscape will be changed and that students will be in danger.

Curiously perhaps, the post doesn’t explain precisely what awful things may befall students if the opposition wins the election other than a general fear of schools “co-parenting with the government.”

Corraro of the Partners Improving Education slate said in an email:

“This is an exciting time, and we’re committed to serving our community. We will not engage in fear-mongering or cyberbullying of candidates, and when necessary, we will always respond with factual, defensible statements. As grassroots candidates with no prior experience running for elected office, we are fully supported by local residents who want change.”

An email to the Marlboro Values Protected slate was not answered.

A debate among the candidates is set for Oct. 16.