The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced it filed an ethics complaint against South Orange Maplewood (SOMA) Administrator, Frank Sanchez, for allegedly accepting a gift of free travel to Israel in violation of New Jersey’s School Ethics Code.
The complaint, filed with the School Ethics Commission of New Jersey, cites a violation of the School Ethics Act, which states that school administrators must not accept gifts with the purpose of influencing their official duties.
SEE: School Ethics Act
SEE: CAIR-NJ LETTER
BACKGROUNDER:
Frank Sanchez, principal at Columbia High School in SOMA, accepted a previously undisclosed gift of free travel to Israel in January 2024. OPRA records reviewed by CAIR-NJ show the invitation listed the trip as a fully reimbursed and organized trip to Israel for state legislators, educators, and community leaders.
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter said:
“As Principal, Frank Sanchez holds direct authority over how sensitive topics such as Israel and Palestine are handled in school. When an administrator with that level of influence allegedly accepts an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel organized and funded by an organization with a clear goal of shaping public opinion in favor of Israel, the public has every right to ask whether that judgment has been compromised.
“Beyond the legal concerns, this issue is a moral one. Those in positions of authority set a bad example when they accept a free propaganda trip to a nation currently carrying out a genocide, as recognized by the U.N. Commission on Inquiry, and various human rights organizations.
“As violence against the people of Palestine continues unabated, New Jersey officials entrusted with educating children should recognize this trip for what it is: an effort to shape the narrative around Israel and Palestine in our public schools. It is beyond unacceptable to accept such a gift and attend such a trip.”
The CAIR-NJ letter states in part:
“Under New Jersey’s School Ethics Act (N.J.S.A. 18A:12-24(c) and (e)), a school official’s acceptance of substantial privately funded benefits from an organization whose advocacy interests bear directly on matters within the official’s authority raises a serious concern of an ethics violation and warrants the Commission’s review. Accepting all-expenses-paid trips of this kind undermines the independence, objectivity, transparency, and public trust that the School Ethics Act is designed to protect.
“For the reasons set forth below, we respectfully ask the Department and the Commission to review this practice, investigate whether any applicable ethics or disclosure requirements were violated, and issue clear guidance to the District and to districts statewide so that public confidence in school governance may be preserved.”
CAIR-NJ Addressed their Letter to Brigid Martens, Director New Jersey Department of Education, Chairperson Dennis Roberts, and Members of the School Ethics Commission
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter, [email protected], 908-921-1238