Dee Dee Dodson says she has not violated School Ethics Act.
By: Gwen Runkle
A member of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional Board of Education could be in danger of losing her position on the board before voters even have a chance to consider her for re-election.
Deborah DiColo, president of the district’s teachers’ union, recently filed a complaint with the state School Ethics Commission against board member Dee Dee Dodson, who is seeking re-election to her second term on the school board.
According to Ms. Dodson, Ms. DiColo’s complaint alleges she has violated the School Ethics Act, which outlines an acceptable code of behavior for school officials. Specifically, the complaint challenges her role as moderator of a Web site chat room, along with comments she made to the West Windsor & Plainsboro News, a free newspaper serving both townships, Ms. Dodson said, declining to be more specific.
"I received notice of the complaint Feb. 7," said Ms. Dodson, a Plainsboro resident. "It has to do mainly with my role as moderator of a Web site chat room on www.wwptoday.com. The subject of the chat room is schools, but it in no way influences my decisions or has any impact on me as a board member. I don’t see it as a conflict of interest."
Ms. Dodson said she has been a moderator of the chat room for about 3½ years and has decided to temporarily stop moderating the school chat room, due both to the upcoming election and the ethics complaint.
"Ms. DiColo isn’t the first person to suggest a conflict of interest between my two roles. I see this as an opportunity to finally settle the matter," Ms. Dodson added.
Ms. DiColo said she could not comment on the complaint, because the matter is supposed to be confidential.
"I wouldn’t even be making this limited statement, except that the board member chose to make this public," she said. "Everything is supposed to be confidential until the (School Ethics Commission’s) public hearing is held. I plan to abide by the procedures and rules. Clearly, Ms. Dodson has chosen to ignore those rules."
Lisa James-Beavers, executive director of the Schools Ethics Commission, which is part of the state Department of Education, said she could not comment on the specifics of the complaint either, due to confidentiality, but did outline the process by which the complaint will be considered.
"After a complaint is filed with the commission, the other party is given 20 days to answer," Ms. James-Beavers said. "Often board members seek attorney representation."
On Tuesday, the school board voted 8-0, with Ms. Dodson abstaining, to engage the board’s legal counsel at the law firm Parker McCay & Criscuolo to defend Ms. Dodson. Cost of representation is unknown at this time, according to Gerri Hutner, district spokeswoman.
After the commission receives an answer, the complaint is scheduled for discussion at a commission meeting, where the nine-member body makes a ruling as to whether there is sufficient evidence, or "probable cause," to go ahead with the complaint, Ms. James-Beavers said.
"Depending on the evidence, the commission could then dispatch the complaint to our Office of Administrative Law for a judge to review or the commission could ask for written arguments and make the decision themselves on the violation," she continued.
If the commission finds the violation did occur, the school official could receive a reprimand, censure, suspension or be removed from office. The commission’s recommended punishment would be sent to the state commissioner of education to accept or modify.
Ms. James-Beavers would not say when the matter of DiColo vs. Dodson would be coming before the School Ethics Commission, but did say the commission meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Its next meeting is scheduled for March 25.