Deadline Looms for Ineligible Butler BOE Member

Sean Walsh, the member who was r by the state Department of Education for not completing a criminal background check by Dec. 31, has an appointment to fulfill his obligation on Jan. 31, according to Butler Public Schools Business Administrator Debra Naley-Minenna.

However, despite the state from announcing the ineligible members on Jan. 12, his appointment date is still past the new Jan. 27 cutoff date. If Walsh can get an appointment to fulfill the requirement before Jan. 27, he will be permitted to remain in his seat.

Carl H. Carabelli, manager for the New Jersey Department of Education, sent school administrators a letter about the extension on Jan. 13.

"Any board member that completes the fingerprinting requirement within two weeks–by Jan. 27–will be eligible to remain on their board. If a board member does not comply by that date, their ineligibility letter will become effective," he said.

Naley-Minenna said it is likely that many board members across the state who were deemed ineligible will be attempting to complete the background check in the next week.

"It's like trying to get an appointment to do your hair and nails before the prom," she said. "There's not that many appointments."

Walsh was not available by phone and did not respond to a request for comment via email, but Naley-Minenna said he has had the appointment scheduled for Jan. 31 for quite some time. She also said that while she has been in touch with Walsh by email, the district is unsure whether he plans to attempt to move up his appointment.

Board President Matt Lee was also unavailable for comment.

At Thursday's Board of Education meeting, Walsh was not present and the topic was not discussed. The board is scheduled to meet again Monday, but Naley-Minenna said the issue may still not be resolved by the meeting since the deadline is Friday.

"We'll just have to play this course it out," she said, adding that there is the possibility Walsh could attend a committee meeting where his eligibility could be discussed if he were to comply with the background check before the new deadline.

But as of Friday, Naley-Minenna said Walsh will not be eligible to serve unless she hears he has completed the requirement.

"Until I receive the letter that says he's completed the finger printing process before [Jan. 27], he can't be seated on the board," she said.