Brower's Name Not Mentioned At First Regular Board Of Ed Meeting Since Her Departure

It was little more than a month ago that Sandra Brower presided over the Lacey Township Board of Education meeting and the school district.

But her name was never mentioned at the May 20 board meeting.The meeting was held in the Lacey Township High School auditorium to accommodate the crowd of parents and students.

Acting Superintendent Vanessa Clark was at the helm as school officials handed out award after award to students and honored the teachers of the year from each of the district's six schools.

Board President Eric Schubiger said the awards "couldn't have come at a better time," after Superstorm Sandy and other obstacles during the school year.

"Sometimes it takes our kids to teach us how to deal with ," he said. "That is a really good sign for Lacey Township. I need to be reminded that everything doesn't always work out as planned. Tonight was a perfect night. Amen to that."

More than 70 elementary school students •were handed certificates and medals for achieving perfect scores in various areas on the grueling, four-day New Jersey ASK tests. The tests measures proficiency in mathematics, science and language arts literacy.

One boy literally ran up on stage, high-fived school officials and danced his way past board members.

School officials also presented plaques for the "Teacher of the Year" for each school. The teachers include:

• Barbara Bell, Lacey Township High School

• Tammy Meyh, Lacey Township Middle School

• Scott Boedigheimer, Forked River School

• Jennifer Verge, Lanoka Harbor School

• Jennifer Boedigheimer, Cedar Creek School

• Courtney Norcross, Mill Pond School

Brower, 46, of Wall Township, was indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury earlier this month.

She is charged with second-degree official misconduct, third-degree hindering apprehension and fourth-degree obstruction for failing to immediately report a teacher's possible sexual assault of a 4-year-old special needs student while she was Wall Township's assistant superintendent.

Brower pleaded not guilty to the three charges brought against her during an appearance before Judge Francis J. Vernoia at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold. She also refused to resign.

Board members at first suspended her with pay, then suspended her without pay at an emergency meeting earlier this month.