Board affirms NJSBA code of ethics after attorney's training on conflicts, recusals and disclosures

The Hunterdon Central Regional Board of Education held an ethics training led by the board attorney that reviewed the School Ethics Act (including 18A:12-21 and conflict provisions at 18A:12-24), recusal rules, financial-disclosure obligations and limits on use of confidential information. After the presentation the board moved and adopted the New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics by roll-call vote.

Attorney Kyle reviewed practical examples from case law, including a described local case involving Friends Retirement Concepts and a referenced Berkeley Heights matter that addresses whether a board can authorize a member to file an ethics complaint. He emphasized the differences between abstention (a vote that does not count) and recusal (exiting the discussion), described circumstances that may require recusal, and noted the School Ethics Commission’s probable-cause process and the need for specific evidence for certain violations.

The attorney highlighted the annual training requirement administered through the New Jersey School Boards Association, the requirement to file financial-disclosure statements (deadline noted as April 30) and cautioned members about social-media accounts that identify the user as a board member. Counsel recommended that members route complaints through the superintendent or chair and that the board as a whole consider whether to release privileged attorney advice.

Following the training, the board took a motion to adopt the NJSBA code, recorded a roll-call vote and announced the motion carried.