Internet message has ugly feeling
For years, editorials in this newspaper have encouraged residents to get involved in what is going on in their communities. One of the best ways for people to do this is to attend meetings of local governing bodies and committees and to express an opinion on issues of local importance.

When residents attend meetings and speak directly to their elected and appointed officials, things get done.

Government representatives cannot operate in a vacuum. They need the input of the people they represent in order to make decisions that affect the lives of those they govern.

The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has been in the news a lot lately because of the situation surrounding the advanced degrees that were obtained by several administrators. The degrees were obtained through a discredited online institution.

It has been gratifying to see residents of the FRHSD show up at meetings to question the administrators and the board members. The media cannot ask all the questions or fight all of the battles. When it comes right down to it, residents must take responsibility for what is happening in their community.

The tenor of the comments and questions has at times frayed nerves and caused tension at the meetings, but that is part of the deal board members signed up for when they chose to seek public office. They get the good and the bad of being a representative.

But we have to say that things got a little creepy on the Internet last week when a local resident — and give him credit because he signed his name to a message board posting where many people would have just done it anonymously — came close to issuing a threat to FRHSD Superintendent of Schools James Wasser.

The resident wrote: "Everytime [sic] you turn around Jim, I'll be there, everytime you apply to go somewhere, I'll tell them about you. Everytime you try to do anything inappropriate or threatening, I'll talk."

We felt like washing our hands after reading that, or maybe even calling the authorities.

Public discussion about many issues in the FRHSD is way overdue, but threatening administrators and board members is over the line. You don't like a board member? Vote him out of office. You don't like an administrator? Tell the board.

But please, keep the creepy stalker messages to yourself.