>Board of Education Trustee screening deadline nears
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011
BY ALLISON PRIES
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
The state Department of Education mailed notices to 465 school board members and charter school trustees last week to remind them of the Dec. 31 deadline to have their criminal histories checked.
If they don’t comply with the new law by next week their “membership on the board must immediately cease,” according to the Education Department.
A state law signed in May by Governor Christie requires the people who make decisions on local school policies and spending to be fingerprinted and have their backgrounds studied for any criminal offenses. School board members who fail the screening are barred from serving. Disqualifying crimes include murder, robbery, luring of a child, assault and drug possession or distribution.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/136052173_Trustee_screening_deadline_near.html
By the numbers
Public boards of education
Number of school board members: 4,707
Number who have completed the screening: 3,797
Number who are in the process of being screened: 89
Number who have been disqualified: 9
Charter schools
Number of school trustees: 231
Number who have completed the screening: 218
Number who have been disqualified: 4
Source: New Jersey Department of Education
Nine board of education members — including one from Ringwood — and four trustees were forced to step down, according to data from the state.
https://www.northjersey.com/news/136052173_Trustee_screening_deadline_near.html