Hillsborough School Board Discusses Ethics, Confidentiality, and Unified Sports Program Support

During the recent Hillsborough Township Board of Education meeting, an overview of board member ethics and confidentiality was provided, with an emphasis on the legal and ethical responsibilities inherent to their roles. Superintendent Michael J. Volpe and ethics trainer Steve Fery outlined the limitations of board authority, the importance of executive sessions, committee meetings, and the repercussions of ethical violations.

The board delved into the intricacies of the School Ethics Act as detailed by Superintendent Volpe and ethics trainer Steve Fery. They underscored the imperative for board members to act within the scope of their authority during public meetings and to maintain the confidentiality of student and personnel information. Fery stated, “We are only able to do those things which the legislature has provided that we may undertake.” He also elaborated on the necessity for requests for information and communication to funnel through the superintendent, emphasizing, “It would never be appropriate for a board member to direct the superintendent or the business administrator to prepare reports or provide information.”

Superintendent Volpe stressed that violations of the Code of Ethics could lead to serious consequences, including prosecution by the Attorney General’s office or penalties recommended by the School Ethics Commission, such as reprimand or removal from the board. He highlighted several cases where board members faced censure for actions that were either unauthorized or compromised personnel and the confidentiality of negotiations. For instance, one board member’s premature disclosure of negotiations with the NFL regarding the use of school athletic fields resulted in the forfeiture of a potentially beneficial opportunity.

Furthermore, Volpe advised against board members participating in the interview process for hiring personnel unless with the superintendent’s concurrence and without interactive involvement. He cited examples where board members overstepped their bounds, including one who attended an executive session on a harassment, intimidation, and bullying case involving her child, and another who organized a Unity walk on school grounds without proper authorization or communication with the board or administration.

The meeting also addressed the role of board members in acknowledging and supporting district staff and the administration. Fery highlighted that board members must act as a cohesive unit and that public dissent could undermine the superintendent’s effectiveness. He clarified that only the board president, Elaine Jackson, is authorized to speak on behalf of the board and that the superintendent is responsible for fielding press inquiries about school operations.

In terms of community engagement and recognition, the board president reported on the district’s planning session with the Hillsborough Youth Association and acknowledged Black History Month, in addition to an invitation from the mayor for students to speak at a Township committee meeting. The HR committee discussed revisions to job descriptions, new club proposals, and the 2024-2025 district calendar. Superintendent Volpe recognized a staff member for winning the school counselor of the year award and addressed the hiring of retired law enforcement personnel as building monitors.

A notable point of community interest was the discussion surrounding the Unified sports program. Public commenters Carin Dunn and Cindy Hamill advocated for the waiving of athletic fees for volunteers, emphasizing the program’s positive impact on special needs students. The board expressed that the matter was under active subcommittee review, with board members sharing their personal experiences of the program’s success. Superintendent Volpe noted the team’s qualification for the postseason and recounted the program’s success in his previous school district.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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