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Board adopts updated staff sexual-harassment policy; public urges standards and training for board members
Summary
The board advanced an updated sexual-harassment policy for staff and scheduled training for board members. Public commenters praised the policy but urged the board to adopt equivalent accountability measures and training for trustees, including censure or removal mechanisms for misconduct.
The Marlboro Township Board of Education moved forward on an updated sexual-harassment policy for staff and related policy items during its meeting; administrators said the policy aligns federal and state guidance and combines separate certificated and non-certificated staff policies into a single document.
Policy committee chair Ms. Correra said the updates incorporate state and federal guidance and were circulated to board members for comment prior to the meeting. The board scheduled a training session for trustees on May 5, led by NJCASA, to address sexual-harassment prevention and procedures.
During public comment, advocate Valentina Mendez said the staff policy is necessary but urged the board to adopt the same standards for board members — proposing clearer reporting lines, timelines, interim measures and consequences such as censure or removal from leadership roles. Mendez delivered draft notes to the board and said existing civility resolutions and prior proposals for board-member training had not produced required actions. She referenced New Jersey statutes (NJSA 10:5-12 and NJSA 18A:12-24) in describing legal protections and standards of conduct and asked the board to close what she called a credibility gap by applying parallel expectations to trustees.
Officials acknowledged the public concerns and reiterated that the policy before the board applies to staff; administrators and counsel also noted that board training on harassment and conduct will occur May 5. The board expressed appreciation for the advocacy and accepted the publicer’s notes for consideration.
Other public commenters raised separate issues during the meeting, including a parent request to resolve a home-instruction dispute for a student whose in-home services had been suspended; administrators said home instruction can begin retroactively and be ratified at the next board meeting while noting privacy concerns that may require executive-session review.
