Ocean Gate BOE President Deemed Ineligible

The Ocean Gate Board Of Education loses its president.

Reports say, Juan Alicia had to step down because he failed to complete the fingerprint portion of the state-mandated criminal background check.

Alicia was the only Ocean County school board official that was on the State Department Of Education’s list of 183.

State education officials confirm that a school board member from Keansburg failed the background check.

State Education Department spokesman Justin Barra says the letters of ineligibility will be rescinded for anyone who cleared a background check before the letters went out. And he says members who clear background checks after getting the letter may still be reappointed by their county school superintendents.

In the meantime, superintendents are to begin appointing replacement board members.

School board members and charter school trustees had to complete the reviews by Dec. 31.

More than 4,500 background checks have been completed, with only 13 officials statewide disqualified as a result.

The Associated Press contributed to this report