At the Nov. 20 meeting of the Evesham Township Board of Education, resident Sue Wilder once again continued her calls for the resignation of board member Kevin Stone. Wilder has alleged that Stone released confidential school board information to her with instructions to leak the information to news media.
This comes after the October board meeting during which board members Lisa Mansfield, JoAnne Harmon and Trish Everhart also joined the calls for Stone to step down.
Wilder, who claims she was once a friend of Stone and his wife Nicole, also a board member, first called for Stone’s resignation during the August board meeting.
During that August meeting, Wilder alleged Stone, just a week prior, had placed a letter in her mailbox containing confidential district personal information and had given instructions to leak the information to the media.
At the September board meeting, Wilder continued her allegations against Stone, and gave the board an email she alleged Stone sent her in February that contained confidential teacher workshop pay and school report card analysis, again with the instructions to “leak” the information to the media.
Wilder also gave a copy email to The Sun, which showed the email as from “Kevin Stone” the subject line “can you leek (sic) this” and the emailing having been sent from the domain of “thejughandleinn.com.”
Stone owns the Jug Handle Inn bar and restaurant in Cinnaminson.
Board president Joe Fisicaro Jr. and other board members have since stated they believe the information Wilder alleged Stone sent her and told her to leak in the email was in fact not confidential and could have been requested by any member of the public.
As for the letter Wilder alleged Stone placed in her mailbox, the board has been unable to act on or make any determination because Wilder has not presented the letter publically to the board.
Wilder said she has not given the letter to the board for fear that the possibly confidential information contained within would become public information.
At the most recent Nov. 20 meeting, Wilder attempted to use Stone’s own words against him by reading from a letter Stone sent to members of the press and the district in 2013 asking former board member Rosemary Bernardi to resign after alleged anti-Semitic statements that Bernardi made during a board meeting.
“The time has come, Mr. Stone. Resign, you are not trusted to be effective on the school board,” Wilder said. “Parents, staff, residents no longer trust you with information or decisions being made by you.”
Wilder also challenged Stone to submit his fingerprints and handwriting for comparison to the letter left in her mailbox.
Stone has had no comment during any of the past several board meetings regarding any of the allegations against him.
As was discussed by the board at the October meeting, the board is limited to what action, if any, it could take against board member thought to have violated board ethics.
According Evesham BOE solicitor William Donio, members of boards of education in New Jersey who are thought to have violated board ethics must have charges brought against them through the School Ethics Commission under the State Department of Education.
Donio has also previously stated a board, as a body, cannot remove its own members for ethics violations and as a body cannot file charges against board members with the School Ethics Commission — only individuals can do so.
Wilder has previously stated she hoped Stone would resign because she did not want to file charges with the School Ethics Commission due to the board and district being legally required to defend board members accused of violations, a long and costly process for the district.
However, after several months of Stone remaining on the board and not commenting on the allegations, Wilder said she does plan file charges against Stone with the School Ethics Commission before the end of the year.
“I’m just going to start the process,” Wilder said.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. at DeMasi Middle School.
