At the gathering, a substantial segment of the Mahwah School Board meeting was dedicated to annual ethics training and the review of several ethics cases involving board members. Mr. Zmer led the training, emphasizing adherence to the New Jersey School Ethics Act, which requires officials to act in the best interest of the community and avoid conflicts of interest. The training included examples of prohibited acts and the code of ethics, with Zmer outlining sanctions for violations such as reprimand, censure, suspension, and removal from the board.

Several ethics violation cases were discussed. One case involved a board member expressing dissatisfaction with the school chorus not performing at an event, leading to an ethics charge. Another case concerned a board member attending a session where her husband’s candidacy for the board was discussed, which was deemed a violation. Confidentiality breaches were also addressed, such as when a board member forwarded an email regarding the potential use of the school stadium by the NFL without authorization.

Additional cases included a board member voting on a contract despite being a teacher in another district and a member of the NJEA, and another falsely claiming to represent the board when contacting vendors. One board member was advised to abstain from voting on a shared services agreement due to her spouse’s role on the borough council. The meeting’s discussion on these scenarios highlighted the importance of understanding and adhering to the ethics code to maintain integrity and public trust in the board’s decisions.

Superintendent Michael DeTuro presented the state of the district, celebrating the achievements and initiatives. DeTuro also praised the Mahwah Schools Foundation for their support and encouraged voting for two students nominated for the “Student of the Week” award. He discussed the NJQSAC, detailing the district’s accomplishments in the components of fiscal governance, operations, and personnel, and awaiting results for instruction and program.

Miss Marquetti shared updates on high school activities, from successful fundraisers and student nominations to the highly anticipated Winter Guard show and social media education assembly. International Night was celebrated, and excitement built for the Harlem Wizards event supporting Project Graduation.

Board member reports included Mr. B’s acknowledgment of the Buildings and Grounds Department’s efforts in handling weather-related schedule changes and Ms. Fair’s news of Mahwah High School’s recognition for female representation in the AP Computer Science Principles course and a graduate’s research contributions.

Dr. Mory discussed committee assignments for the year, highlighting the roles and responsibilities of each. The dialogue on ethics continued with a report from Dr. Mor about the regular meetings of various committees and the ethical conduct expected from board members.

The potential change in local election voting age sparked a debate among board members about its impact on the school’s civics education curriculum. Opinions varied, with some seeing it as an opportunity to enhance civics education, while others were concerned about the readiness of 16-year-olds for such responsibility.

The meeting also celebrated community and student achievements, including a successful International Night and the anticipation for the M High School chamber coffee house event. The DECA competition was praised, and the importance of preparing students for such opportunities was emphasized.

The public participation session saw a township council member express appreciation for the return of middle school sports programs and the positive collaboration between the town and the school board. The meeting concluded with the board going into executive session and subsequently adjourning without further action.