Marlboro School Board Completes and Passes Criminal Background Check

Each of the nine members of the Marlboro K-8 have satisfactorily completed a required criminal background check before the state deadline, and passed.

The background checks were required by NJ state law. The deadline to complete the process was Dec. 31, fees and applications could also be completed online through the NJ Department of Education.

Marlboro board members met all deadlines and is compliant with the law, according to Sharon Witchel, district Director of Special Projects, Grants, & School/Community Relations.

However, 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.

"All nine members of the Marlboro Board of Education have satisfactorily completed their background checks," Witchel said.

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.

None of the board members were flagged as a result of the background check, meaning the nine-member board has no criminal history.

The Marlboro BOE members are President Michael Lilonsky, Vice President Victoria Dean, and members Bonnie Sue Rosenwald, Raymond Eng, Paula Fasciano, Carol Gambardella, Cynthia Green, Edwin Madari and Joseph Waldman.