New Law Requires N.J. School Board Members to Pass Criminal Background Checks

Before to attend his son's baseball game against St. Joseph Regional High School in Montvale on Tuesday, he found time to put a little work in, namely signing legislation that would require New Jersey School board members to pass a criminal background check.

The signing would disqualify anyone convicted of certain crimes from serving on a board of education or charter school school board, the Associated Press reported.

Wyckoff Board of Education President Robert Francin told Patch he fully supported the measure. "It makes a great deal of sense to have board of education trustees adhere to the same background checking requirements that school employees are held to," Francin said. "The role of a board member is becoming increasingly more complex and, I imagine, the legal requirements for this role should be raised to match the level of expectation parents and taxpayers place on the school boards."

Wyckoff Board of Ed member Raymond Hovey chimed in saying the law "Sounds like a good idea to me. We hold a position of trust and we have to have credibility.  The community expects the Board of Education members to not have a checkered past.  The credibility of all the leaders throughout the district is important."

The new law, according to the AP report, would disqualify anyone convicted of certain crimes ranging from reckless endangerment and drug possession to burglary and murder from serving on a board of education.