UPDATED 8 p.m.—Hoboken School Board Completes Background Check

While 350 school board members across the state failed to complete their background checks before Dec. 31, 2011 and will be forced to step down, but Hoboken's nine board of education officials all completed theirs in time.

The background checks were required by state law, unique to New Jersey. The deadline to complete the process was Dec. 31. Late last week, the New Jersey Department of Education said it would release the names of the 350 people in question.

The background check legislation is intended to hold school board members to the same standards as teachers working in the district, its supporters say. Yet opponents said the law will also find decades old, minor offenses, and disqualify those school board members.

In an email late last week, Superintendent Mark Toback declined to comment until the Department of Education released the list.

As of Monday afternoon, the department hadn't released the 350 names yet.

Board President Rose Marie Markle and Board Members Irene Sobolov said all the Kids First board members—also including Leon Gold, Theresa Minutillo and Ruth McAllister—completed their background checks.

Board members Peter Biancamano, Carmelo Garcia, Maureen Sullivan and Frances Rhodes Kearns all independently said they completed the background check in time.

The Board of Education meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

This story has been updated to show that Maureen Sullivan responded to say she completed the background check.