Board of Education Members Complete Background Checks

The eight members of the Madison have completed and passed criminal background checks as required by the state.

State law mandates the background checks for individuals serving on school district boards. New Jersey is the only state to do so.

The state Department of Education set a Dec. 31 deadline for the process to be completed.

Madison met the deadline and all individuals are compliant with the law. "We're all set," said Superintendent Michael Rossi.

However, NJ.com reported that more than 350 school board members statewide failed to complete a criminal background check.

Legislation passed in 2010 states that board members who did not complete the criminal background checks by Dec. 31 would be required to resign or face criminal charges.

The background check legislation is intended to hold school board members to the same standards as teachers working in the district, its supporters say. Opponents said the law will also find decades-old, minor offenses, and disqualify those school board members.

Madison Board of Education members are President Lisa Ellis, Vice President Patrick Rowe, and members Thomas Haralampoudis, Kevin Blair, David Arthur, Shade Grahling, Linda Gilbert, and Harding Liaison James Novotny.

-- with reporting by Catherine Galioto, Toms River Patch.