Board of Education
Pamela E. Thomas, Chairman • Brock Ridge, Vice Chairman
Joel Churchwell • Jonathan Merritt • Earl Taylor • Paul Wiggins • Bob Williams
Superintendent
Rick Stout
April 4, 2017
Letter of Censure
Jonathan Merritt
Onslow Board of Education Member
Following the unanimous (6-0) vote of the Onslow County Board of Education at their special
meeting of March 31, 2017, The Onslow County Board of Education hereby issues this Letter
of Censure to Jonathan Merritt as a result of your actions and behaviors that run counter to
the Board of Education's acceptable standards.
In September 2016, your use of alcohol was addressed verbally and communicated by letter.
Several reports had been shared by different individuals concerning the "odor" of alcohol on
your breath while you were at Board of Education meetings. At that time, you admitted
having 3 or 4 beers at a local bar and restaurant before the meeting. You even named the
person with you. It had also been reported you were drinking when taking the Oath of Office,
while attending the North Carolina School Boards' Association's Regional meeting, as well as
other Board of Education meetings. Just prior to your recent DWI arrest and subsequent
charges for driving while impaired, drink beer/wine while driving, and civil revocation of
driver’s license, it was reported you were drinking at the March Board meeting and at the
Onslow County Government complex which was the site for our Close-Up event, an inside
look at government for our high school juniors. This recent allegation shows total disregard
for the position you were elected to hold, the students you represent, and to the policies and
laws by which we should live.
Further behaviors of this nature will erode the public image of the Board of Education and
will undermine the integrity and reputation of the Board, which this Board
values. Accordingly, this behavior must be addressed.
Your conduct is unethical and is not congruent with the ethics and standards which members
of the Board of Education endorse and swore to uphold when taking the Oath of Office. In
May 2016, our Board voted on revisions to Policy 2120, the code of ethics for the Board. You
were not on the Board at the time but did address the Board during the public comment
session and relayed your opposition to the revisions of Policy 2120. This serves as a reminder
that you were not supportive of standards of conduct then.
Five members of the Board have voiced their belief you should resign due to the lack of
personal control, disobeying the Board’s policies as well as the laws of the State of North
Carolina and down-playing your actions to an addictive personality. You have made no effort
to adhere to the "no drinking" before or at a Board meeting from September 16, 2016 through
March 17, 2017. Therefore, it is difficult for us to trust you will change that now.
Any future reports of alcohol use or odor of alcohol use at any school function will result in a
letter banning you from all school events including Board of Education meetings. This is in
P.O. BOX 99, JACKSONVILLE, NC 28541-0099 ▪ PHONE (910) 455-2211 ▪ ONSLOW.K12.NC.US
line with our own code of ethics and alcohol and drug policy. Since there have been the
perception and reports you are drinking at the Board meetings, you will refrain from bringing
any outside drinks into meetings.
As a public figure, we expect you to hold yourself to a higher standard of conduct, one that
shows a conscious awareness of your role as a Board of Education member. This awareness
should display dignity and integrity, showing you worthy to be a Board of Education member.
Mr. Merritt, do not let this define your future. It is our sincere hope you will move forward and
surround yourself with people who model good character and ethics, people who will lift you
up and who will assist you in becoming the person you want to be.
Regards,
Onslow County Board of Education
__________________________
Pam Thomas, Chair
________________________
Brock Ridge, Vice-Chair
_________________________
Joel Churchwell, Member
________________________
Earl Taylor, Member
_________________________
Paul Wiggins, Member
_________________________
Bob Williams, Member