BY LAYLI WHYTE
Staff Writer

RED BANK - With the nomination of a new trustee, the Red Bank Charter School Board of Trustees will soon be up to its full complement.

Dr. Marilyn McNeil, athletic director at Monmouth University, has been nominated by the board's search committee to fill the remaining vacant seat on the nine-member board. She is expected to be sworn in at the Nov. 15 meeting.

Kevin Kelleher, who is the board's first parent-nominated trustee, was sworn in at last week's meeting.

McNeil's nomination was announced at the Oct. 18 board meeting by board President Bruce Whitaker, who said her experience in education is one of the reasons she was chosen for the post.

"She is very passionate about education," Whitaker said. "We were looking for contacts in higher education, and to bring in someone who has an education background this will give us ties to Monmouth University, which I think is a good thing."

McNeil has been at the university since 1994, and has an doctor of education.

"I've always been passionate about education," McNeil said in an interview last week, "and I'm passionate about all the things that happen outside of the traditional classroom. I like extracurricular activities and cocurricular activities. There's a lot to be learned on the playground. I hope to bring [to the board] the perspective of seeing the whole child."

McNeil, who lives in Long Branch, said she has known charter school Principal Meredith Pennotti since Pennotti was a guidance counselor at Shore Regional High School, where McNeil's daughter was a student.

"I'm always interested in what Meredith is doing," she said. "I understand the school has been doing a terrific job."

McNeil is also on the board of 180, Turning Lives Around, a nonprofit organization serving victims of domestic violence in Monmouth County.

The board of the charter school has not been up to full complement since July 2005 when then board President Michael Stasi was ousted. At that meeting, Stasi's supporters on the board also resigned, leaving the board with only five members.

Since that time, two other board members have resigned, and five members have been added, including Kelleher.