MOLINE, Ill. — A Moline-Coal Valley School Board member has been censured for alleged misconduct after a unanimous board vote Monday night.
Board Member Jason Farrell was initially asked to resign back on Monday, April 1 after allegations of misconduct began circulating online. The allegations were made public in a YouTube video posted on March 31 by Farrell's wife's ex-husband, Matt Harris.
Farrell has been serving on the school board since 2023 and provided the following statement to News 8 on April 4:
I have no intentions of resigning from my school board position. The allegations made against me are false. I have not been charged with any crimes but instead tried solely through social media. My wife and I, with the advice of legal counsel, will explore all of the options we have to respond accordingly to such heinous accusations.
During a board meeting on April 8, the Moline-Coal Valley School Board voted 6-0 to pass a resolution to censure Farrell. The resolution claims he "violated the spirit and letter of the Board Member Code of Conduct by failing to represent all School District constituents honestly and equally; failing to avoid the appearance of impropriety; failing to refrain from taking private action that might compromise the Board or administration; failing to respectfully listen to those who communicate with the Board; and failing to represent the interests of the entire community."
The resolution asks Farrell to resign from his position, along with requesting the superintendent to remove him. Numerous people spoke during public comment at Monday night's meeting asking for his removal.
School Board President Andrew Waeyaert provided the following statement on April 4:
The Moline-Coal Valley School District is a leader in educational excellence in the region. We take this role very seriously, including holding ourselves accountable. The content provided by Mr. Farrell's wife's ex-husband is truly disturbing not only to the Board but to the larger community as well and does not represent the Board of Education's values or high standards. The allegation and a corroborating video, while Mr. Farrell has not to my knowledge been charged with a crime, are enough to erode the public's trust in his ability to make decisions that are in the best interests of the students, staff, and community he is supposed to represent. That is why on Monday, April 1, 2024, I officially, as Board President, asked Jason Farrell to resign his position as a School Board Member on the Moline-Coal Valley Board of Education.
News 8 has reached out for comment from both Waeyaert and Farrell after Monday night's vote but has yet to hear back.
Court records show Harris has filed for an order of protection against Farrell in Rock Island County. A hearing is set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 11.
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