Marysville board votes to censure member Jermaine Ferguson, removes committee assignments

The Marysville Exempted Village School District board adopted a resolution censuring board member Jermaine Ferguson after public discussion of an off‑duty incident and an arrest report. The censure was read into the record and the board voted to remove Ferguson from the policy development committee and to replace him as the board’s legislative liaison.

The resolution summarized the district’s concerns, citing an incident on May 24, 2025 that led to Ferguson’s arrest and charge of a second‑degree misdemeanor for allegedly obstructing official business during a police response. The resolution said the actions, if true, conflict with the board’s code of ethics and the expectations of a public official representing the district.

Board member (and former juvenile court official) spoke at length in favor of the censure, saying he had urged Ferguson to resign and describing the board’s duty to impose consequences where conduct undermines confidence in the district. The speaker framed the action as necessary to preserve public trust and distinguish board standards from those that apply to employees under contract processes.

Ferguson addressed the board during the discussion. He acknowledged making “bad decisions” that led to putting himself “in a vulnerable position” and said he “took ownership” of those actions. He told the board he wants to pursue supports and interventions and said he believes in “the power of redemption,” asking the board and the community for a chance to demonstrate restoration through his conduct.

The board’s resolution directs staff to appoint a new legislative liaison and records the censure in the minutes. The action was framed by the board as disciplinary and symbolic—intended to publicly document the board’s condemnation of the conduct and to remove Ferguson from leadership committee roles. The record shows the board voted in favor of the resolution; the meeting transcript records multiple board members voting yes on the censure.

Why this matters: censure is a formal board statement that publicly documents disapproval and removes committee responsibilities. It does not remove an elected member from office; Ferguson remains a board member unless he resigns or is removed through other legal processes. The action highlights the board’s expectations for public conduct by elected officials and the governance steps the board will take when an officer’s alleged behavior raises concerns.

Sources: the board’s read resolution and the public remarks of board members and Jermaine Ferguson during the meeting.