[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6722671,"mediaKeyId","2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45","parentId",2220376,"title","Princeton board receives annual School Ethics Act briefing on limits, recusal and social media","audioSeconds",2684,"startMs",156000,"endMs",2840000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45&start=156&end=2840","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45/thumbnail_156000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6722671/New-Jersey/Princeton-board-receives-annual-School-Ethics-Act-briefing-on-limits-recusal-and-social-media","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6722671-338164a7784830ba8b5556b883283ada/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149574&Signature=Hhq8INEzexoxhkgx0kK~HnSptpF9yQWjvRde8t1cfv-Ck4eUCYYgZGkWIYv0d5k0n0BNHf89enwRC80vvzjQouzNIditkeHiO~88F6piHwWkFPmEwQpntiIY5QaiMd6PjP0frXKJtQM0uOtadCuDZvH2UIC11GNBKCScMRGDvlTr6RJiLYqdeH8RCqqTQgBQtTlfAN6n-bUsPLnq37AkJwuQipC6WT7AqiFf1bkZaTScb5jdKwTvlf32YRVhYJ7MRaAF0QCsjdaKYuWjfJLKtVYSwVAoWmoTqiZFxhv75M0UyiQ9fEuXjtc6hJJaG0lQn0~jwKy7bILNzaFf6SbFzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Princeton Public School District","date","2025-02-05T03:13:24.987Z","article","Mr. Lapura, an attorney from Freudian Harrah, delivered the Princeton Board of Education’s annual training on the School Ethics Act, reviewing board members’ duties, confidentiality obligations and recent advisory opinions and commission decisions.

Lapura told the board that members’ powers come from state law and the New Jersey State Board of Education’s rules, and emphasized that board action should be limited to policy-making, planning and appraisal rather than day-to-day administration. “You don’t run the school district — you act on recommendations of the superintendent,” he said.

He reviewed key ethical limits: preserving confidentiality for executive-session matters and personnel issues, avoiding private actions that could compromise the board, not using official position for unwarranted personal advantage, and recusing from negotiations or votes when relatives are affected. Lapura said advisory opinions and School Ethics Commission decisions in the past year reinforced those rules.

The training covered several recent commission findings: a board member who campaigned in an official-looking video was censured for using her office to endorse candidates; a volunteer coach who was later appointed to a board seat was found in violation but received no penalty because of the specific facts; and a board member who delivered a staff member’s letter to other board members while excluding the superintendent was suspended for 60 days after the commission found she had represented the employee against the district.

Lapura walked members through examples where participation in contract negotiations or personnel-related discussions creates conflicts — for instance, when a board member’s relative is employed in the district or the board member has an ongoing professional relationship with district personnel.

He also cautioned about social media and private statements: a disclaimer saying “this is my personal view” does not override requirements to protect confidential information or to avoid defamatory statements, and it may not prevent an ethics complaint if the content violates the School Ethics Act.

Board members asked clarifying questions during and after the presentation. Lapura said advisory opinions are available and that boards often consult counsel when situations are ambiguous. He encouraged members to contact him or the district attorney for specific questions about recusal and conflicts.

The training concluded with guidance on when board members must refer constituent complaints to the superintendent, and a reminder that violations of the School Ethics Act can result in public reprimand, censure, suspension or removal depending on the offense.

The presentation was provided to the board and will be shared electronically on request, the chair said.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Princeton Board of Education - February 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","An outside attorney briefed the Princeton Board of Education on the School Ethics Act, covering board duties, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, recusal rules and recent commission decisions.","taxTitle","Princeton Public School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",38734,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6722662,"Princeton Board approves consent agenda in unanimous roll-call vote",38,6058000,6096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45&start=6058&end=6096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45/thumbnail_6058000.jpg","/articles/6722662/New-Jersey/Princeton-Board-approves-consent-agenda-in-unanimous-roll-call-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6722662-8689124ea28787a93fd08d19d042f812/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149574&Signature=DkmBF-g4SPN26D4NFkU6yG5eJCGbjEWjxP1V4MS29zUig7F7rdo5t71DIMYbhJ4UE8t0yi33lvcbWLkXcHSV9~OeDXKEJKQAu2KeibtEPUM29sjVQJu5ksW4kH3g1NK-aNDMtkdKg3ZfvB9FVVzTzBegIVN9ERAUimekQ4OVVebJV5vzgCWLpIL8kOchA0RU6VxGPrITN8yH4wIesDQm9vS-~nHlrFnzO0~coXaq-VQD8FafCA4wWDeEc4~ehe0Q39ZlQDvFNNJ7Fht0TZIAzbpEZTtDojYNU8scZK38oyiRbJ03kD2lVDJihjexNwJj6f1BDDRy1jV5M8pHWSQDvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Princeton Board of Education approved the meeting’s consent agenda by unanimous roll-call vote following a motion and second.

Board President requested a motion; the motion was moved by Board Member Ari Meisel and seconded by Board Member Debbie Braunfeld. The board then conducted a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

The transcript does not list the specific items included on the consent agenda; the board’s clerk or posted agenda would list the individual resolutions and approvals subsumed under the consent motion.","The board voted unanimously to approve the evening’s consent agenda; specific items on the consent agenda were not specified in the meeting transcript.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6722667,"Budget workshop outlines revenue mix, referendum impact and projected pressures on Princeton schools",2712,3308000,6020000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45&start=3308&end=6020","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220376-39bab850d7ccd5e408f6024a4bf35c45/thumbnail_3308000.jpg","/articles/6722667/New-Jersey/Budget-workshop-outlines-revenue-mix-referendum-impact-and-projected-pressures-on-Princeton-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6722667-f7d133b515c4013750deb53144a5a5ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149574&Signature=U5w4Ysd7wPMNNyyx-0givjYQ3g1P3y1ZG3mtox4kGMDKSeRIL1D7-wbH8BK2rVWj9e3fDkb6i6oFM5mlsqJkOMQxTxucaCp960xscN3OclZTMhObG1SihG7PXIBCur5YMJ0cKLYTG9hE-4VxmzuWWE2OkIA-LyPbPM5s7DuwEd~DwnvClkco6kP9NIR49N5~b3s3Dt20E0q53L557ash9FByqBPGE6uk~AY9xg3W036GPx2jNbRiSvZZCG1Y6zrZavI6eHqtRWGXf5AV~uT4xgd8l9uFwAf8CsSk-H0NGUOsqzThGkdFDCKYwcEXQG~BNIhcYqetyriLjL5e77YgKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Princeton Public Schools staff presented a budget workshop to the Princeton Board of Education on Feb. 4, 2025, outlining the district’s revenue mix, the financial effects of a recently passed referendum and projected budget pressures for the coming years.

Matt Bolden, speaking for district finance staff, said local sources provide about 92% of the district’s revenue while state funding accounts for roughly 8 percent. He told the board that a recent referendum passed by voters will increase the district’s debt service levy to support capital projects and that Moody’s will re-review the district’s bond rating as new debt is issued. “We maintained our AAA rating,” he said of past issuance, noting the larger borrowing planned will receive scrutiny.

Bolden walked the board through the budget calendar: the governor’s budget address and state aid release are scheduled for late February, the board aims to adopt a tentative budget March 18 (statutory submission follows) and the public hearing and final adoption are scheduled for April 29. He said the district uses a largely zero-based budgeting approach and has been holding staffing stable in recent years.

Superintendent Dr. Foster thanked voters for passing the referendum and described steps the district is taking to ensure student safety and communicate with families about federal executive orders. Dr. Foster also outlined adjustments to school calendars: for 2024–25 the district will move a flex professional-development day that had been scheduled for June 3 in response to the change in the state primary date; for 2025–26 she said the board will designate Nov. 4 as a school day (election-day scheduling) and close Jan. 2 so students and staff return Jan. 5, and she described other scheduling shifts the administration plans to present to the board.

Committee members and the public asked about several expense drivers: healthcare costs, which the administration said are a major pressure; out-of-district special education tuition, which can be volatile; rising transportation and contracted-service costs; and charter tuition impacts. Bolden said the university’s multiyear pledge to the district supplements operating and special-program funding but that charter tuition and state categorical flows affect net resources.

Board members asked about transportation options, opt-outs for families, and shared services with Montgomery (maintenance and bus repair). Bolden said shared services have helped reduce costs and improve vehicle maintenance and inspection timeliness.

Bolden summarized reserves and fund-balance strategy: the district has been building fund balance and capital reserves while noting New Jersey’s strict rules on allowable reserves and the state’s 2% tax-cap limitation. He warned that, absent extraordinary revenue events, the district faces recurring gaps that will require choices about services, use of reserves or pursuing voter approval of operating increases.

The board heard the overview, asked questions and was told the administration will continue to update numbers as state aid and final figures become available.","District staff presented a large-picture budget workshop covering revenues, the recently passed referendum, calendar adjustments, rising costs for health care and transportation, and timelines for the tentative and final budget adoptions.","actionData","errors"]

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Princeton board receives annual School Ethics Act briefing on limits, recusal and social media

Princeton Board approves consent agenda in unanimous roll-call vote

Budget workshop outlines revenue mix, referendum impact and projected pressures on Princeton schools