The embattled Camden school advisory board president has resigned after months of protests

After months of protests and demands for his resignation following a civil sex abuse scandal, Wasim Muhammad is stepping down from the Camden School Advisory Board, his attorney said Friday.

Muhammad submitted his resignation to state-appointed Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs, according to his attorney, Troy Archie. McCombs last week called for Muhammad to resign, saying it was in the best interest of the South Jersey school system.

» READ MORE: Who is Wasim Muhammad, Camden’s school board president accused of sexually abusing a student?

In a statement from his attorney, Muhammad said he was stepping down “with a heavy heart,” and that he had “become a distraction through the blatant misinformation that has been spread by a small group of critics.”

“I will no longer serve in my capacity on the board or as its leader,” the statement said. Muhammad said he plans to remain active in the community.

McCombs, in a statement, said she hoped the resignation would “help our community come together and begin to heal as we refocus our efforts and priorities on what matters most — providing a bright future for our students.”

“As we recently welcomed students back to school for their first day, I want to assure our students, families, and staff that the district remains committed to providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for all,” said McCombs.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Camden activists began calling for Muhammad to resign in January after a 2021 civil lawsuit surfaced that was filed by a former student who accused him sexually abusing her starting when he was her social studies teacher in 1994 at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School. Muhammad has denied the allegations.

“The governor … is pleased to see that he has stepped down,” said deputy press secretary Maggie Garbarino. “He encourages the Camden School Advisory Board to do the hard work necessary to regain the trust of the school community by putting the needs of students first.”

The acting state Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer joined McCombs last week in calling for his resignation.

“It just weighed on his mind,” Archie said. “At the end of the day, he wanted to do right by the children. He maintains his innocence.”

The district and Muhammad reached a $2 million settlement in June with the former student, Salema Hicks Robinson. The case cost the school system more than $800,000 in legal fees.

Robinson and community activists heralded Muhammad’s resignation. It was not immediately known whether a special election would be scheduled or a replacement would be appointed to complete his three-year term.

“It should have not taken this to get him out,” said Vida Neil, one of the activists who headed the campaign to oust him from the board. “He should have done the honorable thing and stepped down immediately.”

Muhammad took a leave of absence in January pending the outcome of the trial. He sparked controversy in August when he announced his return to the board. Protesters disrupted the two meetings that Muhammad attended so that no business could be conducted, and vowed to return.

A six-member jury in May found that Muhammad, formerly known as Donnie Walker, had not sexually abused Robinson, but “recklessly or intentionally committed extreme and outrageous conduct” upon her. Robinson alleged that the abuse began when she was 14.

During the trial, Muhammad, a Muslim minister in Camden, testified that he married Robinson when she turned 18. He said he is married to his childhood sweetheart and has four more wives under his Islamic faith. Robinson said the two were never married.

» READ MORE: These are the depositions in the Wasim Muhammad case

Among her allegations, Robinson told the jury that she engaged in a threesome with Muhammad and one of his wives and that he took Robinson to a porn theater and forced her to have sex with a stranger while he watched and masturbated.

Robinson, 45, was awarded $1.6 million, which was increased to $2 million under the settlement. She had called for Muhammad’s ouster and was pleased to hear about his resignation.

“I’m very happy for this outcome,” Robinson said. “I will sleep a little easier tonight.”

The jury held Muhammad, 56, and the district liable for counts including “willful misconduct” and negligence in supervising Muhammad, and for permitting “a sexually hostile educational environment.” The jury did not offer insight into its findings.

» READ MORE: Hear what Salema Hicks Robinson has to say about the civil sex abuse lawsuit she filed, what she’s lost and how she’s triumphed

Muhammad had served on the nine-member school advisory board since 2013 and had been president since 2020. The board has been rocked by scandal. Clayton Gonzalez stepped down last November after his arrest on gun-related charges in a domestic violence case.

“This is a message to our politicians and their committee people that we are fed up and fired up,” said Elton Custis, a community activist who launched a petition drive to remove Muhammad. “The people will be the voice.”

Because the district is under a 2013 state takeover, the board serves in an advisory role only, without any authority. McCombs makes decisions for the district, which enrolls about 6,300 students.

Robinson filed the lawsuit under a 2019 state law that allows child sex abuse to sue their abusers up until they turn 55. She was initially identified in the case as “Jane Doe,” but decided to come forward after the verdict to encourage other victims to speak up.

Her attorney, Jeffrey Fritz, wants the district to conduct its own investigation into Robinson’s allegations. He also wants to make sure the district reviews its sexual harassment policies and provides training “so that this never happens to another student in Camden.”

“Our work is still only half done. We’re not giving up,” Fritz said.