Ethics Commission To Review Mehta's Conduct: South Brunswick BOE

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ – The South Brunswick Board of Education passed a resolution asking the New Jersey School Ethics Commission to review the recent conduct of board president Joyce Mehta.

The resolution was passed unanimously on March 24, during the Board of Education meeting. Mehta was not present at the meeting. Allegations against Mehta include misrepresentations made to the public and fellow BOE members, “improper social media posts”, comments “negatively impacting” the district and employees and emails sent to district employees, BOE vice president Mike Mitchell said.

“Unfortunately, these allegations have become a distraction to the board and its ability to accomplish its objectives,” Mitchell said while reading from a prepared statement. “This action is critical to ensuring and preserving the public’s confidence in its elected officials while providing the board president with the ability to defend against the allegations.”

During the special board meeting held on March 15, Mehta acknowledged not being transparent about her conversations with the board attorney. The matter came to light during the board retreat on March 3, when it was revealed that Mehta spoke to the board attorney in January. It caused controversy as Mehta refused to divulge details, thereby invalidating the hours billed by the attorney to the school district.

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Mehta had asked for an opportunity to present witnesses and evidence on her behalf, during the March 15 meeting. Taking the case to the ethics committee will give Mehta that opportunity, Mitchell said.

The vice president said the board was not a proper venue for such a hearing and neither was the board in a position to make a decision on whether an ethics violation occurred.

“Instead, the school ethics commission was formed for this very purpose — to provide a neutral body where allegations of ethical violations can be fairly decided,” Mitchell said.

Mehta will be entitled to an attorney, paid for by the board, to represent her during the hearing. “The only way for the board to move forward, while maintaining the public’s trust is to follow the proper process,” Mitchell said.

BOE members will present evidence of ethics violations to the commission, which will be followed by a hearing. The commission will then determine if any ethics violation was committed.

BOE member Smitha Raj said the decision to defer to the ethics commission was “due process.”

“I think South Brunswick deserves better, deserves answers to all questions. There cannot be an effective democracy without accountability and this is a good opportunity,” Raj said. “This is not a kangaroo court and neither am I the jury and prosecutor. She (Mehta) rightly called for due process, complete with legal representation, and I wholeheartedly support it.”

Lisa Rodgers said there was “disbelief,” since people from outside the community spoke during the March 15 meeting, defending Mehta and disparaging board members and administration. “We have no measure of their credibility, yet they came to disparage and ridicule us. It was disgraceful,” Rodgers said. “I respect this board and I’m humbled and honored to serve on it. We have all done good things for this district but that does not mean we are allowed to receive a pass if we fail to follow the laws that we are each required to enforce.”

Mehta refused to resign from her position on the board during the March 15 meeting. She apologized for not being transparent. "I truly regret the handling of the situation for which I have publicly apologized for my lack of transparency," Mehta said.

The evening saw one of the most disruptive Board of Education meetings in South Brunswick, with members of the public heckling, booing and shouting at various times.

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