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Resident alleges conflict of interest involving board president and superintendent; president says he recused
Summary
A resident told the Belleville board he will file an ethics complaint alleging a conflict because Board President Leon is enrolled in a master’s program where Superintendent Alfonso serves as faculty; Leon said he recused himself from the superintendent’s evaluation.
A Belleville resident told the Board of Education he intends to file a complaint with the New Jersey School Ethics Commission and other state offices after alleging a conflict of interest between Board President Leon and Superintendent Dr. Eric Alfonso.
Michael Sheldon, a resident who identified himself from 47 Floyd Street, said the president’s enrollment in a Montclair State University graduate program where Dr. Alfonso is a faculty member ‘‘presents a textbook example of an inherent conflict of interest’’ under the School Ethics Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:12‑24). Sheldon said the relationship could create an appearance that academic leniency or employment advantage might flow between the two officials.
President Leon responded from the dais, saying he had already recused himself from the superintendent’s evaluation and had assigned Vice President Dr. Massaggio to take the lead on evaluation matters. Leon encouraged anyone who believes an ethics violation occurred to submit a formal complaint to the state, saying, “I already recused myself for his evaluation... I’ve already appointed Dr. Massaggio to take the point on that.”
Board officials did not take any formal action on the allegation during the meeting. Sheldon said he planned to file an ethics complaint and share the matter with the state attorney general and Education Department officials.
The allegation and the board president’s statement were the evening’s most contested public‑comment exchange; the president’s pledge of recusal addresses the specific procedural concern raised at the meeting but does not resolve whether the School Ethics Commission or other state bodies will take further action.
No formal ethics filing was recorded during the meeting.
