Bill Would Remove Accused
School Board Members—Web Extra

Legislation introduced this week would allow for the immediate removal of a school board member charged with a crime of the first, second or third degree that involves a minor.

“We have to recognize that when a school board member is charged with any crime involving a child, their service is called into question,” said Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (Union), sponsor of the bill. “For the sake of the other members serving honorably and without the taint of scandal, we need a mechanism in place where the charged member can be quickly removed from office. We have to take a zero-tolerance policy, especially given the school board's role of helping to shape the minds of young people in the district.”

Under the bill, when a school board member has been charged with a crime involving a minor, the School Ethics Commission would review the charges and recommend that the commissioner either immediately remove the person from service or take no action. The commissioner, in turn, would be given 10 days to adopt, reject, or modify the recommendation.

If the decision calls for removal, the board member would be notified of a disciplinary hearing as to whether the public interest would be served by his or her removal. Within 30 days of the hearing, the Ethics Commission would make a final recommendation, and the commissioner would provide the final action based on the commission’s recommendation.

Lesniak said he decided to introduce the legislation in response to a recent case in which a Middlesex County school board member had been charged with attempting to lure a minor. The senator also cited another case that occurred when an Elizabeth Board of Education member was convicted and sent to prison for a crime against a minor; the board member was allowed to serve his entire three-year term on the board while awaiting trial and under indictment.

The bill is expected to be referred to the Senate Education Committee after its introduction.

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