Before the School Ethics Commission
Agency Docket No.: 350-12/23
SEC Docket No.: T03-23
Resolution of Removal
I/M/O Marquis Garnett, Chesilhurst Board of Education, Camden County
Whereas, Marquis Garnett (Respondent) is a school official, as defined in the School Ethics Act (Act), serving as a member of the Chesilhurst Board of Education (Board), located in Camden County, at all times relevant to the matter at issue in the above-captioned matter; and
Whereas, by decision dated December 19, 2023, the School Ethics Commission
(Commission) found that Respondent failed to comply with the annual training mandate (the deadline was December 31, 2022) in violation of N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 and N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1; and
Whereas, because Respondent was previously issued a suspension for failing to complete his training requirement in a timely manner, the Commission recommended that the Commissioner of Education impose a penalty of removal, with such removal to become effective immediately upon adoption by the Commissioner of Education; and
Whereas, Respondent did not complete training following the issuance of the Commission’s December 19, 2023, decision; and
Whereas, by decision dated January 23, 2024, and because Respondent did not complete training following the issuance of the Commission’s decision, the Commissioner of Education concurred with the penalty recommended by the Commission, and ordered Respondent’s removal from the Board; and
Whereas, N.J.A.C. 6A:28-9.11(d) provides that for a penalty of censure, suspension or removal, a Resolution shall be adopted at the Commission’s next meeting following the Commissioner’s imposition of the sanction, and the Resolution shall be read at the Board’s next public meeting following adoption by the Commission, shall be posted in such places as the Board posts its public notices for no less than thirty (30) days, shall be published online on the District’s website, if available, for no less than thirty (30) days, and the reading of the resolution shall be memorialized in the Board’s meeting minutes, and once approved, a copy of the minutes shall be forwarded to the Commission; and Now Therefore Be It Resolved, the Commission adopts this Resolution stating that Respondent is hereby REMOVED as a school official for having been found to have violated N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 and N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1; and
Be It Further Resolved, that the Board is ordered to read this Resolution at its next regularly scheduled public meeting following the Commission’s adoption, to post it in such places as the Board posts its public notices for a period of thirty (30) days, and to publish it online on the District’s website, if available, for no less than thirty (30) days; and
Be It Further Resolved, the Board shall provide the Commission with the minutes, once adopted, from the meeting at which it reads the within Resolution.
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Robert W. Bender, Chairperson
School Ethics Commission
I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the School Ethics Commission at its special meeting on February 27, 2024.
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Brigid C. Martens, Director
School Ethics Commission