State's BOE Members Told to Comply with Law --- Or Else

Members of school boards as well as charter school trustees across New Jersey face disqualification if they do not immediately register for a criminal background check, according to a notice issued this weekend by the New Jersey School Boards Association.

As of today, the notice states, the state Department of Education will send out letters to non-compliant trustees and board members. They will have to “immediately cease serving on their school boards,” the notice also states.

In Belleville, five members of the board of education have submitted proof of their background checks, said Peter Zangari, the board’s president. Two members -- Judy Piscatowksi and Vincent Strumolo -- have not.

Piscatowksi said, however, that she had signed up to have a background check performed on Nov. 8, but that appointment was rescheduled due to the snow storm the weekend of Oct. 30. Piscatowksi has scheduled another appointment for Dec. 6, she told Patch today.

“There is no issue. I have an appointment scheduled,” she said.

Strumolo, meanwhile, said he was fingerprinted Nov. 4 and is just “waiting for the results.”

Neither Strumolo nor Piscatowksi would face disqualification, unless the background checks reveal they had committed any of a broad range of crimes.

Zangari, the board president, said all members have had ample warnings about the background check requirement, which was signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie in May.

“Board members were informed in the beginning of July about [the law] and informed that in the event we either refused to comply or were unable to complete a successful background check, we would be removed from office,” Zangari said via email. “In previous meetings I reminded fellow board members. Also, the administration sent a warning home to board members that they received from the [Department of Education] that last month reminding us time was about to expire. I recall the meeting when Vice-President Patricia Inaugurato showed her certificate during reports by board members and publicly submitted it to express the importance of complying with the law.” 

The law states that anyone elected or appointed to a board of education or to the board of trustees of a charter school must undergo a criminal background check within 30 days of being elected or appointed. The law does not provide a specific deadline for those already in office, such as Piscatowksi or Strumolo.

The law also bars anyone convicted of any of various crimes from serving on a board of education or as a charter school trustee. Those crimes include virtually any illegal activity involving children, force, weapons or drugs. Also prohibited from serving are those convicted of first- or second-degree crimes.