Board reads censure resolution for former member Deborah Bole following ethics decision

The South Planefield Board of Education publicly read a resolution memorializing the commissioner of education’s decision to censure former board member Deborah Bole for violations of the school ethics act.

Board member Mr. Rosselli provided historical background, saying the complaint was filed in August 2022 and proceeded through an administrative-law hearing. According to the background read into the record, the administrative law judge issued an initial decision concluding that the respondent violated the code of ethics; the commission adopted the judge’s factual findings but modified the recommended penalty to censure. The commissioner of education issued a final decision on Jan. 16, 2026, concurring with the commission’s findings and imposing the censure.

The resolution read by the board states the respondent is censured and records statutory and regulatory posting and publication requirements: the resolution must be posted where the board posts public notices for at least 30 days, published online for at least 30 days if the district website is available, and the reading must be memorialized in the board minutes. The minutes are to be forwarded to the commissioner once adopted. Mr. Rosselli noted that reading the resolution is a legal obligation; the record states that no board vote on the censure itself was required at this meeting.

The board’s reading did not include a response from the subject of the censure during the public session. The resolution and the requirement to publish it will be reflected in the district’s public notices and minutes.