A Capehart Scatchard Blog

Tag: teachers

Appellate Division Affirms Decision to Revoke Teacher’s Certificates

By: Gabi Aste-Molina, Law Clerk Editor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On October 6, 2023, the Appellate Division of New Jersey affirmed the revocation of the teacher’s certificates in In re Certificates of Rita O’Malley by the State Board of Examiners for repeatedly failing to test and evaluate her students with learning disabilities. Woodbridge Township School District (“District”) employed the teacher in 2000 as a special education teacher and Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant. She was responsible for testing and diagnosing learning disabilities, developing individualized education programs, and meeting with parents and teachers to discuss the special education needs of her students. […]

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N.J. Legislation Expands Uses of Sick Leave for School District Employees

By: Gabi Aste-Molina, Law Clerk Editor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On July 3, 2023, Governor Murphy signed legislation that expands sick leave for school district employees. Bill A5060/S3440 amends the law by allowing school district employees to use their sick leave for preventative care, care of a family member, recovery from domestic or sexual violence or that of a family member, bereavement of a family member, to attend their child’s school-related conference or meeting, and when their child’s school or place of care is closed. Previously, school district employees could only use sick leave for a personal disability due to […]

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N.J. Supreme Court Holds Teacher Maintains Tenure Because She Did Not Knowingly Waive That Right

By: Eric M. Richwine, Law ClerkEditor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On June 12, 2023, the New Jersey Supreme Court in Parsells v. Board of Education of the Borough of Somerville held that a New Jersey teacher did not knowingly waive her tenured right to a full-time teaching position under the Tenure Act when she voluntarily moved to a part-time position, unaware that she had no right to return to her full-time role.    Catherine Parsells, a full-time, tenured teacher employed by the Somerville Board of Education (“Board”), requested a transfer from full-time teaching to an available in-district, part-time teaching position […]

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Appellate Division Defines Arbitrator’s Authority Regarding Tenure Charges

By: Erika Vasant, Law Clerk Editor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On August 25, 2022, in Sanjuan v. School District of West New York, the New Jersey Appellate Division in a published decision addressed the scope of an arbitrator’s authority under N.J.S.A. 18A:6-16 regarding tenure charges against a teacher. The Appellate Division held that an arbitrator may uphold a suspension without pay if a teaching staff member’s conduct was unbecoming. However, arbitrators lack the authority to demote teaching staff members from their positions. In this case, the West New York Board of Education (“Board”) demoted plaintiff Sanjuan from assistant principal to […]

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Appellate Division Rules School Boards Must Notify Tenured Teachers of Job Consequences Prior to Voluntary Transfer to Part-Time Positions

By: Becky Batista, Law Clerk Editor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On June 6, 2022, the New Jersey Appellate Division issued a published decision in Parsells v. Board of Education of Somerville in which it decided that school boards have a duty to notify full-time teachers, in advance, of adverse job consequences before they are appointed to part-time teaching positions, even when the teacher voluntarily seeks the part-time position. In reaching this decision, the Appellate Division reviewed the holding of the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision in Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association v. Board of Education of Bridgewater-Raritan School District. This case concerned […]

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NJ Supreme Court Holds Adverse Employment Action Not a Required Element of a Failure to Accommodate Claim

By: Gitika Kapoor, Law ClerkEditor: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On June 8, 2021, the Supreme Court of New Jersey held in Richter v. Oakland Board of Education that an employee is not required to establish adverse employment action such as demotion or termination in a failure to accommodate disability claim brought against an employer under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“NJLAD”).  In addition, the Court considered whether the plaintiff’s claim was barred by the exclusive remedy provision of the Workers’ Compensation Act (“WCA”). The Court held that the NJLAD and WCA are not in tension with each other, and […]

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N.J. Supreme Court Decides Issue on Compensation for Unused Sick Time

On April 20, 2020, the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an important decision regarding a teacher’s right to compensation for unused sick leave at the time of retirement or separation from a board of education. In Barila v. Board of Education of Cliffside Park, the State’s Supreme Court held that the unambiguous terms of the collective bargaining agreement between the teachers’ union and the board of education dictated the right to sick leave compensation upon retirement and such agreement did not violate a vested right. The Cliffside Park Education Association (“Association”) is the exclusive collective bargaining representative for all teachers […]

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N.J. Supreme Court Reverses; Refuses to Allow “Tyranny of Labels” to Compromise Analysis in Tenure Case

Last week, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided a teacher tenure case which it warned served as a cautionary tale that “demonstrates the ability of labels to cloud an analysis.”  Melnyk v. Bd. of Educ. of Delsea Reg’l High Sch. Dist., 241 N.J. 31 (2020).  The Delsea Regional School District (“District”) had employed the petitioner, Paula Melnyk, as a tenured special education teacher since 1991.  In 2002, the district began also employing Melnyk to work evenings as a teacher in its after-hours alternative program, in addition to her position as a special education teacher during the regular school day.  Melnyk […]

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Appellate Division Rules Teacher Not Entitled to Tenure in Extracurricular Assignment

*Please note that on January 20, 2020, the New Jersey Supreme Court reversed the Appellate Division in this matter. You can find our blog article on the Supreme Court’s decision here.* On December 17, 2018, the New Jersey Appellate Division in Melnyk v. Board of Education of the Delsea Regional High School District upheld the Commissioner of Education’s decision that a teacher who already has attained tenure based upon his or her years of service in a particular position cannot also acquire separate tenure in an extracurricular assignment if the teacher is not required to possess a different certificate other […]

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Commissioner of Education Rules Bedside Tutor Position Not Eligible for Tenure Accrual

On November 9, 2018, the New Jersey Commissioner of Education (“Commissioner”) concurred with an Administrative Law Judge’s finding in Mirda v. Board of Education of the Union County Educational Services Commission that the position of Bedside Tutor fell within the substitute teacher exception and is not eligible for tenure accrual. The Union County Educational Services Commission Board of Education (“Commission”) provides various services to school districts in Union County, including one-to-one bedside instruction at hospitals to students enrolled in Union County schools. Bedside Tutors are paid at an hourly rate, do not receive benefits or paid holidays, and are not guaranteed a […]

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