Social Media Policy Introduced For Toms River School Board

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Two months after controversy erupted over Facebook posts by one of its members, the Toms River school board introduced a social media policy to govern members' interactions in the future.

The policy, which will be posted for a final vote in October, says members of the Toms River Regional Board of Education "must avoid conduct which is in violation of the public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated."

"Board members shall recognize they are held to a higher standard than the general public with regard to standards of conduct and ethics," the policy says.

In July, screenshots of comments made on Facebook by Daniel Leonard about two congresswomen were circulated and denounced as anti-Muslim, and sparked protests at the July and August school board meetings.

Board member Michael Horgan noted at the July meeting that the board would need to put a social media policy in place. One had been recommended to school districts all across New Jersey by Strauss Esmay. The company consults with districts on policies to help them stay on top of changes made as a result of state legislative changes and policy changes made by the state Department of Education.

Leonard, who represents Beachwood, has refused requests by board President Joseph Nardini and board attorney Stephen Leone to resign his seat. His term ends Dec. 31 and he is not seeking re-election.

On Wednesday, a handful of protesters returned to again denounce Leonard and to also criticize the school board, and it led to one protester being forced to leave the meeting.

Daniel Cummings, a Brick resident who said he previously taught in Toms River, started to criticize Leonard at the microphone during public comment on agenda items, but Nardini stopped him.

"We're not going to be attacking any board members," Nardini said.

As Cummings tried to object, a man sitting in the front row began yelling at the board, calling the board racist.

"This is just a racist town," the man yelled repeatedly, interrupting both Cummings and Nardini, and he continued to yell each time Nardini tried to speak. Police officers and security officers escorted the man from the meeting, with him yelling the entire walk to the back of the auditorium.

"I'm not going to allow any incivility," Nardini said.

During public comment at the end of the meeting, Cummings again tried to denounce Leonard at the microphone, but Nardini cut him off.

"We are here about the kids," Nardini said, setting off jeers from the cluster of about 10 protesters, some of whom held signs saying "RESIGN NOW."

One woman, who had been targeted in a post on the Team Leonard Facebook page in August, asked Leone if the school board could take away Leonard's ability to vote on board business.

"Can't you just shut his mic off and skip him?" said Chris Simoes of Toms River, who also expressed frustration that board members did not file ethics charges against Leonard. Leone has said the process would have taken months longer than the remainder of Leonard's term.

"A board member is an elected official and has full rights as one," Leone said.

Ironically, Simoes' comments came after Leonard didn't vote on several items on the board's agenda, because he stepped out of the room.

The policy on social network use by board members includes reminders to not post items that would violate policies governing board members; to avoid defamatory statements about the board, district staff, students or families; not reveal confidential information, and a reminder to avoid having discussions about board matters with other board members through social networks to avoid any potential violation of the state's Open Public Meetings Act.

This article has been updated to clarify information on Leonard's voting during the meeting.

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