Washington Township board votes to release 340‑page conflict‑counsel report with redactions and publishes law firm resignation letter

At the Washington Township Board of Education’s October work session, members voted to make the conflict‑counsel investigation into an ethics complaint publicly available with redactions for personnel names, titles and medical information, and separately voted to release a resignation letter from the Bush Law Group.

The motion to publish the 340‑page report, as amended, requires the district to redact employees’ names and titles and any protected medical records before release. The board carried that motion by a simple majority; roll call in the meeting recorded 3 yes, 2 no and 2 abstentions. The roll call explicitly recorded Board members Mister Serrano and Mister Ross voting yes; Mister Laliberte and Miss Chilla voting no; and Miss Bloom and Miss Kozempo abstaining. The board later approved release of the Bush Law Group resignation letter by a 4–3 vote, with roll call answers recorded in the meeting showing Mister Serrano, Mister Ross, Miss Bloom and Miss Kozempo voting yes.

Why it matters: The investigation and the district’s handling of it have been the subject of months of public attention. The independent conflict‑counsel review cleared Superintendent Dr. Eric Hibbs of misconduct in connection with the complaint, but the process and the district’s earlier actions — including a five‑month administrative leave for the superintendent and a Superior Court ruling finding Open Public Meetings Act violations — prompted calls for transparency from parents and community members. The board’s votes aim to balance that demand for disclosure with legal limits on personnel and medical privacy.

Discussion and alternatives

Board members and the superintendent argued both for full transparency and for caution. Dr. Eric Hibbs read the conflict‑counsel finding into the record, summarizing the written conclusion that "I have found no evidence of misconduct being committed by Dr. Eric Hibbs," language attributed to conflict counsel Christopher Subsidy in his written clearance. Multiple members said they wanted the public to see the full investigation to clear the superintendent’s name; others warned that the report contains confidential personnel statements and medical information that could create further legal exposure for the district if released without careful redaction.

At the outset of the discussion, one board member proposed releasing the entire 340‑page document with no redactions. Several colleagues and the board’s legal adviser cautioned that many interviewees were told their testimony would be confidential and that statutory protections (including medical privacy rules) and personnel privacy concerns would limit what could be published without additional legal risk. One board member proposed, as an alternative, publishing a short attorney summary stating the allegations investigated and the counsel’s no‑evidence conclusion; proponents of full release said the short form would leave lingering public questions.

Votes and formal actions

- Release of conflict‑counsel investigation report (amended): The board approved an amended motion to release the finalized 340‑page conflict‑counsel report with redactions limited to employee names and titles and protected medical information. The meeting transcript records the motion as proposing that the "meat and potatoes" of the report be made available while protecting employee anonymity and medical records. The roll call recorded 3 yes, 2 no and 2 abstentions; recorded yes votes included Mister Serrano and Mister Ross; recorded no votes included Mister Laliberte and Miss Chilla; Miss Bloom and Miss Kozempo were recorded as abstaining. The motion carried by a simple majority.

- Release of Bush Law Group resignation letter: The board voted 4–3 to release the resignation letter from the Bush Law Group, which notified the board it would resign as board counsel and criticized a decline in "civility, trust, and respect" within the board. Roll call answers recorded in the meeting show Mister Serrano, Mister Ross, Miss Bloom and Miss Kozempo voting in favor; the motion carried 4–3.

Context and background

The release vote followed an extended, emotionally charged public discussion. The conflict‑counsel report concluded the independent investigator found no evidence supporting allegations against Dr. Hibbs; the meeting transcript includes the investigator’s summary language and the superintendent’s public request that the full report be released so community members may see the facts. Separately, a Superior Court judge previously ruled that the board violated the Open Public Meetings Act during a March meeting and ordered the board to reimburse approximately $16,202.66 in attorney’s fees and costs; that ruling was repeatedly referenced during public comment and by board members as context for the calls for transparency and accountability.

Legal and administrative cautions

Board counsel and other speakers cautioned the board that redacting a large document would be time‑consuming and would likely require additional legal fees. Several members noted that even if privilege is waived, other legal protections (personnel privacy and medical privacy/HIPAA protections) may require redaction regardless. Members discussed options including obtaining signed releases from interviewees, redacting by counsel, or providing a short, formal letter from the investigator summarizing conclusions and cautions.

What the board directed next

Board members agreed to proceed with making the conflict‑counsel report publicly accessible, subject to the redactions specified in the motion and legal review to identify what must remain confidential. The board also directed that the resignation letter from the Bush Law Group be posted, and the district posted the letter after the vote.

Ending

Board members said the votes were intended to respond to community requests for information while acknowledging legal obligations to protect personnel and medical privacy. Several public commenters urged full, unredacted disclosure; others and the board’s counsel warned of likely legal consequences and additional costs if privileged or protected information were released without proper review. The district will proceed with counsel to redact the finalized report and publish the documents according to the board’s instructions.