Extension Should Allow Kalmbach to Serve on School Board

The New Jersey Department of Education has extended the deadline background checks by two weeks, which should likely eliminate any concerns about Charles Kalmbach serving on the Princeton Regional Board of Education.

Kalmbach was on a list released Thursday by the Department of Education of 186 school board members and charter school trustees statewide who did not complete the background exam by the Dec. 31 deadline.

Kalmbach, who chairs the school board's finance committee, said he was on his way to the appointment for a third background check in December when a rock hit his windshield, shattering it. The police advised him to go home. Kalmbach said the next available appointment was Jan. 9, an appointment he kept.

"I was told by the Department of Education that within 24 hours of the company finally scheduling me, I would be reinstated," he said. 

The Department of Education has so far been unable to confirm Kalmbach's reinstatement, but on Friday granted a two-week extension to all board members who missed the deadline.

“Our priority throughout this process is to ensure compliance with the law while minimizing disruption to boards of education,” read the department’s statement in part. “Acting Commissioner Chris Cerf has granted an extension to board members that received a letter of ineligibility earlier this week. Any board member that completes the fingerprinting requirement within two weeks – by January 27 – will be eligible to remain on their board if they are cleared through the background check.  If a board member does not comply by that date, their ineligibility letter will become effective.”

The school board members/charter school trustees who fail to meet the extended deadline must vacate their positions immediately, according to a Department of Education spokesperson Allison Kobus.

The background checks were required by the New Jersey general assembly in legislation passed last year, to require school board members and charter school trustees to meet the same standards required of school teachers.

New Jersey is apparently the only state to require the background examinations.