BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
To fill the vacant Freehold Township seat on the panel, the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has found Mr. Wright.
At their May 8 meeting, the board members selected Michael A. Wright Sr. to represent Freehold Township.
In March, former Freehold Township representative Chia Whitehouse resigned from the board.
At the May 8 meeting at the FRHSD offices in Englishtown, the board members interviewed four Freehold Township residents who applied to serve on the panel. The candidates were Eve Caruso, Thomas Caiazza, Barry Fulmer and Wright.
During the public comment portion of the meeting before the interviews commenced, Earl Fulcher, first vice president of the local chapter of the NAACP, endorsed Wright, an African-American.
“He brings an element of youth and need,” Fulcher said. “It’s about time we have more inclusion and diversity on that board.”
Wright moved to Freehold Township from Richmond, Va., four years ago after a job transfer. He is the vice president of human resources for Altria Corporation Services. Wright is married and has a 5-year-old son.
During his interview, Wright expressed his desire to serve.
“I have always gotten involved,” he said. “I feel I can bring a different point of view. I am a team player and I want to make a difference.”
On his appointment, he said, “I think this year will be a learning experience. I hope to understand my constituent base and say we should not be doing anything that isn’t for the help and benefit of the kids.”
Wright said his son helped drive his decision to seek appointment.
“I firmly believe today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders,” he said. “Whatever I can do to help my own son, but the entire community, too, helps pave the way for a brighter future.”
Board Vice President Ron Lawson described what Wright brings to the panel.
“He has an interesting background,” Lawson said, referring to Wright’s experience in human resources. “It’s one we don’t currently have on the board.”
Lawson said he was “very excited” about bringing Wright aboard.
“I was very impressed with his resume and more impressed with the answers he gave during the interview,” he said.
During that interview, Wright described himself as “passionate, caring, a listener and empathetic.” He finished his statement by saying, “I have a lot of energy and I feel I can add a diversity of opinion.”
The FRHSD board has nine members, one each from Colts Neck, Englishtown, Farmingdale, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Manalapan and Marlboro, and two from Howell.
The district has six high schools and a present enrollment of about 11,700 students.