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Lisa Moyer, a member of the board of education in Allamuchy Township, violated several sections of the school ethics board, after her child was suspended for harassment, intimidation and bullying in 2022, the School Ethics Commission ruled. The board recommended Moyer be reprimanded for her actions in a ruling released in April.
Moyer, however, says she was just trying to defend her son.
Paperwork obtained by Daily Voice shows Moyer's son, 13 at the time, was found to be a victim of harassment, bullying, and intimidation in December 2021. Moyer says her son was suspended, likely in-school, for two days, over code of conduct violation, which ended up on her son's record.
"He tried to fight back and defend himself," Moyer said, opining that was something he never should have been punished for.
Moyer says the board took an issue with her defending herself, and trying to get her son's record "stricken" of the charges due to her position on the board. Moyer maintains she had the right to fight for her son as a parent.
The board, however, felt Moyer took things too far.
Moyer and her husband had been involved in ongoing efforts to clear their son's record. The Superintendent denied their requests, so, Moyer contacted the superintendent directly in an effort to reverse the findings, the ethics board said.
Moyer threatened the superintendent's job, and the superintendent felt so threatened, she retained legal counsel, the ethics board said. Moyer also e-mailed each board member about their child's suspension, the ethics board said.
"No offense, but my legal counsel runs rings around you and your firm," state paperwork says citing Moyer. "There is also a moral obligation that a normal person would naturally feel after hearing what happened to a child. But because your client is devoid of any of those natural feelings we are now all in the mess that we are finding ourselves in.”
Moyer's husband also spoke out at a school board meeting and later filed a lawsuit against the school, which was resolved. Moyer testified she did everything to advocate for her child, who she feels was unfairly treated, the ethics board said.
Multiple board of education members complained about Moyer's conduct. Moyer claimed a board member retaliated against her by having her removed as representative liaison to Hackettstown High School, without the knowledge of the full board. A complaint filed by Moyer against the school board in 2022 was dismissed by the commission.
[Moyer] acted inappropriately," an Administrative Law Judge overseeing the case said. [Moyer's] were self-serving in nature and she would secure a personal benefit if the Code of Conduct violation were changed.
The Administrative Law Judge called it an unfortunate situation where Moyer and husband got carried away.
"They thought was zealous advocacy for their [child], which was compounded by Moyer's refusal to adhere to instructions from board counsel and other members of the Board," the judge said.
The commission ruled while Moyer acted inappropriately, she was merely advocating for her child, not contrary to the needs of all children.
According to the Allamuchy Township School District website, Moyer is no longer on board.
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