Ethics Complaint Against Wayne Education Trustee Still Looms

WAYNE, NJ — The New Jersey School Ethics Commission will issue a ruling Oct. 31 on several ethics complaints filed against Board of Education trustee Catherine Kazan, who was already found not to have violated state ethics laws regarding a petition she signed involving bringing full-day kindergarten to the district.

State Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson ruled in March that Kazan did not violate state ethics regulations when signed a petition seeking to invalidate the results of a 2015 referendum on full-day kindergarten. The petition alleged electioneering by poll workers. The filers sought Kazan's removal from office. Cookson ruled Kazan "did not violate the ethics restraints upon board members." (Read Cookson's full decision here.)

Kazan was allowed to stay on the board as a result of the ruling.

The filers, four current board trustees and two former, alleged 10 ethics violations against Kazan. Although Cookson consolidated the violations with the original removal filing, the filers asked for two extensions regarding Cookson's decision.

RELATED: Board Of Education Approves Full-Day Kindergarten For September

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The filers asked for one extension because their lawyer quit the case and another to have Kazan's attorney update his request for a dismissal.

"Why do they need another extension?" Kazan asked. "The case has been decided, the judge ruled. I think it's time to move forward and put an end to this matter. This is not what any of us were elected to do. It should have ended months ago."

Six board trustees, including Kazan, voted to implement full-day kindergarten at the board’s organizational meeting in January 2016, but it was later decided the program could not be implemented due to budget constraints. The board later voted 7-2 to rescind the earlier vote. Residents twice rejected implementing the program.

Ethics charges have not been brought against any of the board members who voted the same as Kazan on full-day kindergarten, according to Cookson.

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Photo: Catherine Kazan, Wayne Board of Education trustee/Patch file photo by Daniel Hubbard