This letter is somewhat out of character in that elected officials in one community do not typically offer praise and support for candidates for school board in another community.
My family has known the Tilis family for a long time. As a matter of fact, Dr. Howard Tilis presented me with my high school diploma. Dr. Tilis, while serving Marlboro and the Freehold Regional High School District, brought his educational expertise to help bring guidance counselors to Marlboro in the late 1970s.
At Freehold Regional, he was one of the driving forces for creating academic learning centers at each of the five (now six) high schools. These programs became the model for other school districts to do the same.
Dr. Tilis volunteered as a soccer coach for many years. He only recently retired from coordinating one of the soccer divisions. He was a founding member of the Marlboro Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
There is no doubt Dr. Tilis will contribute to Jackson in the same way. For the good of your schools and the entire Jackson community, I hope you support Dr. Howard Tilis in his quest to represent you on the school board.
Jon Hornik Mayor, Marlboro