The Prince George's County School Board will not seek back money paid to former District 1 representative Rosalind Johnson for the four months she held her seat in violation of state law.

Johnson resigned her seat on Oct. 15 after The Washington Post revealed she had moved out of her district in June to care for her ailing mother.

State law requires a school board member to resign their seat immediately if they move out of the district they represent.

School board members are paid $18,000 a year for serving.

Board chairwoman Verjeana Jacobs (Dist. 5) said Johnson was paid for the four months prior to her resignation, but the board would not be seeking the approximately $6,000 reimbursement for her pay.

"She was paid and she did perform the work,” Jacobs said. “Counsel did talk with the state Board of Elections and the state board advised us that there was nothing further they would do, so we've taken that advice."

State law requires a special election to be held if a seat is vacated more than 180 days before the start of a new term, a special election must be held to fill that seat.

Jacobs said after further consultation, Johnson's official address change was June 7, which is 178 days before the start of the next term.

The board, under legal advisement, also reviewed every motion that Johnson made or seconded since June 7 and voted unanimously to reapprove those measures.

janfenson-comeau@gazette.net