MARLBORO – It’s never good for a candidate to pop up in a police report at election time – even if the transgression is minor.

That was the case in this town with incumbent school board member Aldo Patruno and on Tuesday, he finished sixth in a six-person race.

The report in question, dating back to April 16 of this year, says that witnesses in the board of education’s central office said that Patruno “verbally and physically intimidated” district staff, “disrupting school activities.”
Police responded and an officer found Patruno communicating “loudly” with Superintendent of schools Michael Ballone. Patruno left the premises peacefully shortly after police arrived, the report said.

That may not seem all that horrible, but the report was publicized in the midst of a contentious election.

The issues involved “parental rights,” which leads to a lot of related issues, including books and curriculum.

There were two competing slates of three candidates each.

One was Partners Improving Education. Running on that team were Nirav Kadakia, Jenna Corraro and Brian Cohen.

The other – Marlboro Values Protected, which warned against “left wing extremists,” threatening the district. On that team were Patruno, Danielle Bellomo and Gill Iny.

On Tuesday, two members of the Partners Improving Education team won  – Cohen and Corraro,

One person on the Marlboro Values Protected slate won – Bellomo.

Corraro said on behalf of the team that won two out of three seats:

“We are deeply grateful for the trust and support you’ve shown in this election. On behalf of Brian and myself, we’re honored to serve the community as part of a Board committed to educational excellence for our students. Together, we can build a strong foundation rooted in transparency, accountability, and a shared vision for our schools.

We’ve already reached out to the Board and district leadership to start building that partnership!  We look forward to working with the continuing board members, including Danielle Bellomo, following her successful election last night.

We also look forward to working closely with our community and families, exploring new ways to foster positive, productive relationships with everyone who cares so deeply about our children’s future.
Lastly, Brian and I are saddened that Nirav won’t be joining us on this journey next year, but we’ll carry forward his commitment and vision in our work. We’re encouraged by his dedication to the success of all Marlboro students. Thank you, Nirav, for being such a driving force in the Partners Improving Education campaign.”