From Censure to Removal: The Cost of Incomplete Training

As board members from across the state travel to Atlantic City this week for the annual New Jersey School Boards Association (“NJSBA”) Workshop, we take this opportunity to remind board members of their legal obligation to complete mandated training under N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33.

The following training is required:

• Governance II: 1st Term, 2nd full year of service (Finance and Student Achievement)
• Governance III: 1st Term, 3rd full year of service (Policy and Labor Relations)
• Governance IV: Any subsequent term, 1st full year of service (Legal Update)

Over the summer, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education issued over a dozen decisions reinforcing the importance of compliance. In these cases, board members who failed to complete their training by the statutory deadline of December 31^st were issued Orders to Show Cause and were recommended for removal from their boards by the School Ethics Commission. In cases where the board member subsequently completed the mandated training following the OTSC but before a decision was rendered, censures or suspensions were imposed.

These outcomes serve as a clear warning for all board members: Failure to complete training in a timely manner can lead to significant consequences, ranging from censure to removal from the board. The NJSBA Workshop provides a prime opportunity to complete any outstanding training before the end of this year.

Districts should confirm that all board members are in compliance with training requirements. If you have any questions about ethics compliance, training deadlines or recent decisions, our firm is available to assist.