Politics & Government

Bloomfield School Board Meets Criminal Background Check Deadline

All school board members in the state required to complete criminal background check, under new law

 

As of today, all of the members of the Bloomfield Board of Education appears to have completed a required criminal background check before the state deadline, and passed.

"I'm happy to report that all Bloomfield BOE members have undergone fingerprinting and background checks," stated BOE President Mary Shaughnessy via email to Patch on Monday.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When an individual has not met the deadline, the district receives a letter bearing that person’s name, stating that they must resign immediately.  That has evidently not happened in Bloomfield.

The background checks were required by state law, unique to New Jersey. The deadline to complete the process was December 31, and the state Department of Education said the names of the board members who didn’t comply would be released soon.

Find out what's happening in Bloomfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although Bloomfield board members have apparently met their deadlines, NJ.com reported that more than 350 school board members statewide failed to complete a criminal background check.

Legislation passed last year states that board members who did not complete the criminal background checks by Dec. 31, would be required to resign or face criminal charges.

The background check legislation is intended to hold school board members to the same standards as teachers working in the district, its supporters say. Yet opponents said the law will also find decades old, minor offenses, and disqualify those school board members.

The Bloomfield school board, led by President Mary Shaughnessy and Vice President Shane Berger, includes Catzel Bumpus, Robert DeMarino, Joseph Lopez, Dianna Fuller, Maribel Perez, Emily Smith and Paula Zaccone.


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