TRENTON, January 6, 2014—The New Jersey Department of Education this afternoon issued the following clarification concerning the swearing-in of new school board members whose criminal history record checks are pending completion:
- For clarification on swearing in newly elected Board Members at your reorganization meeting.
- Any board member who can truthfully swear or affirm that he possesses the qualifications of membership prescribed by law, including a specific declaration that he is not disqualified as a voter pursuant to R.S. 19:4-1 and a specific declaration that he is not disqualified due to a conviction of a crime or offense listed inN.J.S.A. 18A:12-l, may take the oath of office notwithstanding that results of the criminal history background investigation required by N.J.S.A. 18A:12-1.2 are not yet available. Members who have not submitted fingerprints to the Commissioner should be reminded of their statutory obligation to do so.
The NJDOE Criminal History Review Unit may be reached at (609) 292-0507.
Approximately 500 board members were elected to office for the first time in November 2013. Organization meetings for school boards with November elections take place during the first week of January.