[VIDEO of Board President’s resignation] At the BOE meeting held on Thurs Feb 3rd, the Lakewood BOE fired a tenured teacher without any prior process. While tenure is a long standing ritual in union law in the State of NJ and across the country, many, including Governor Christie, have made it an issue of concern recently. The teacher in question was caught twice on video acting inappropriate with the children in his class.
While tenure laws would prevent the Board from firing him, the Board voted to fire him anyways. This was done in direct opposition to the recommendation of both the Superintendent and the Board Attorney.
“This move is expected to make waves across the State and possibly the country”, an official who wishes to remain anonymous told TLS.
These guys are great! Keep it up! The Town is solidly behind you!
Why should a tenured teacher be above the law?
What did the teacher do????
I’m not necessarily a fan of tenure, but I am a fan of due process. If they are going to make a big deal out of firing this teacher they better have a VERY good reason for doing so without following the proper process. If not, they just opened the town up for a MAJOR lawsuit! Do you want your tax dollars paying for that? I don’t think so.
Inappropriate is a very vague and broad term. Perhaps the “inappropriate” act was of a nature so unconscionable that the Board felt certain beyond doubt that its action was completely warranted to protect our young ones.
I am not aware of what the “acts” were, but if the teacher does file a suit against the Board, I guess at that time we will all find out..
it’s about time some at the BOE had the courage to stand up to poor teachers. Lakewood needs to move more teachers out and bring in teachers who want to teach our children. How many more years do we want failing schools.
Keep up the good work and ask parents of students for our help
While i would agree if indeed there was more than just a probable cause for his being fired they may have made the right decission ,however from this article we won’t know that because there is no reason given other than a very vague statement of “acting inappropriately”which by itself is really not enough information for anyone to say whether they acted appropriately in his firing . This could open the door to a huge lawsuit if taken to court and we find out it was just a minor infraction that occured ~ time will tell , Im sure this is not the end of this story
due process if not correctly done will cost us $$$$$. as a taxpayer i do not understand how a member of the boe could, would,did ignore the board attorney who advised him that this will cause a law suit. since when does the boe just ignore legal advice? If the inappropriate behavior mandated investigation follow that and then if found guilty[oh yes, this is America, not guilty till proven otherwise] press tenure charges
won’t this be interesting if it turns out to be someone yelling. caught on tape makes one suspicious, might that be students doing the filming?
I don’t believe that the schools video their teachers. I don’t think we should be proud of our board’s behavior, they are acting like spoiled children who are showing off.
Can we have full video of the meeting posted thanx TLS
As well is there any more background to this story what does it mean “sometimes we do what we want to do” are these members being advised by independent counsel when they disregard the board attorney
I was listening to the video and heard what the Board of Ed president said about why he is resigning. Am I the only one who thinks its a chillul hashem?
Question to our board of ed members
How can you fire a teacher even if you think its the right reason when a person with 25 years of experience in the legal field and a superintend tells u not to?
Good for them! I just hope that the ‘inappropriate’ behavior will be universally understood as such and that the Teachers Union (bound to show up sooner or later) will keep thweir noise to a minimum.
There is almost certainly a liability, which may translate into a substantial sum, for failing to go through legally required process. Since the Board apparently felt that the teacher’s conduct was inappropriate (and was repeated), the Board could attain the objective of protecting students by suspending the teacher and commencing the process for termination, thereby also complying with the law and reducing risk of liability.
Was his behavior ilegal?
To # 8. The full meeting is available in our video section.
You’re either supposed to suspend the teacher to get him/her away from the children (if the “inappropriateness” was indeed drastic) or go through due process.
I am embarressedto have these members represent me. I’m sure it must feel good to get all that attention but you have a responsibility to act a little more civilized on Lakewoo’s behalf.
Stop making us look like a town of ignoramous fool!
Is there no proper protocol to follow, even murderers have their day in court and are not just locked up for life or put to death because it was “obvious they were guilty”
Thinking about the way this was handled I believe this is giong to be a costly mistake on the part of the BOE
to all the negative people. Do you want opur schools to keep failing is that it?. The judicial system in our country has failed all Americans. Do you want that life for your child?
At least the board members are trying to do whats right, give your children a life where they can be better people, is this not what you want. I have an idea, if you disagree keep your children home. The taxpayers don’t have to pay for schooling for them. What did the BOE do that was so wrong. Lakewood has had failing schools for how many years? change is good and you as parents should demand it.
Wkae up, the teachers don’t care one bit about your children, they care only for there pension plan which we all pay. If they cared for your children do you think wewould continue to have failing schools year after year. C-mom, use your heads
“The judicial system in our country has failed all Americans. ”
are you saying its OK not to abide by the laws that govern us ?
I agree there is always room for change, however I must disagree with that statement ,if its so bad then maybe you should move to someplace else thats better ~ OH wait there is no better nation on this earth than th U.S.A. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you feel strongly that there is a need for change then go about it in a legal way ,you just can’t pick & choose which laws you will abide by and the one’s you won’t
The teacher may have been fired, however the action taken by the Board is non binding. Since it is illegal in the State of NJ to fire a tenured teacher, the action of the Board is null and void. This is theatrics. It will cost nothing as there is no ramification of the action that the Board took. They did succeed in one area though. That is to create awareness and an uproar over tenure laws in NJ. For this we must all be thankful.
afilu ee avid lo mehani..
Is or isn’t the teacher coming in to work on Monday??
Do you really want to blame teachers for everything that is wrong with the schools? Do you all think that you could come in and make these kids successful, despite the lack of family education/support? The children in the public schools have everything stacked against them, and you want us to turn them into children as successful as those in Westfield or Livingston? For the record, I doubt that I will ever see my pension, and that is the LAST reason I chose to be a teacher. I make a difference with many of my students, but your expectations are unrealistic. Teachers can’t fix society’s issues.
Tosetting the record says:
February 6, 2011 at 6:21 pm
The teacher may have been fired, however the action taken by the Board is non binding. Since it is illegal in the State of NJ to fire a tenured teacher, the action of the Board is null and void. This is theatrics. It will cost nothing as there is no ramification of the action that the Board took. They did succeed in one area though. That is to create awareness and an uproar over tenure laws in NJ. For this we must all be thankful.
Typical of how this BOE opperates
#23 and #24- please tell us all what to do with the schools. We all know whats wrong, explain how to fix. Over the past ten years budgets have increased year after year with no results. If we all agree, we must take another course of action. What would you do.
I have been going to many BOE meetings as a parent of a child entering high school. To be candid I am scared stiff for my child. I am not sure if sending my daughter to private school is better for her or seeing if she will excel in a gang infested atmosphere.
To it’s time says:
the first step would be to make sure as many of the parents who have children in school attend every BOE meeting to have a loud and clear voice and show your concern There is power in numbers so you need to rally as many parents As possible to be a force that cannot be ignored.
I WHOLE HEARTLY AGREE WITH #23 & #24. BACK IN THE 70’S WHEN I WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT THERE WAS A PROFESSIONAL BOARD OF EDUCATION AND I MEAN PROFESSIONAL. THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. THE BOARD ACTED IN AN ILLEGAL FASHION AND THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISMISSED UNTIL ALL EVIDENCE WAS TOTALED UP AGAINST HIM/HER. THE BOARD SHOULD BE REPLACED HOW AND WHEN IS A MYSTERY TO ME. THIS BOARD HAS CAUSED SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE A DISGRACED TO THE COMMUNITY AND TO THE DISTRICT. WHY DO YOU THINK THE BOARD PRESIDENT RESIGNED AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT BEFORE HIM MR. GALDO. THIS BOARD IS A BIG JOKE. THE BOARD ATTY ALSO DOES NOT SEEM TO HELP EITHER. WHAT CAN WE ALL DO ABOUT THIS, WHO KNOWS. GET RID OF THEM. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN A PERSON SELICITS TO RUN FOR THE BOARD YOU HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE JEWISH POPULATION WHO HAS A PERSON OF THEIR FAITH TO RUN AND THEY VOTE FOR THEM. THAT IS HOW THEY GET IN. THE OTHER HALF ARE MINORITIES WHO ARE PROBABLY NOT HERE LEGALLY TO BE ABLE TO VOTE. THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF NON-PUBLIC STUDENTS. THE VOTERS ARE THE BLAME FOR NOT GOING OUT THERE TO VOTE.
it is not hard to see what has taken place here in Lakewood , the system is broken .Why do I say that ,well we have a BOE made up of members who have no students in the public school system and although that is not a requirement it certainly is a conflict of interest that they have diverted funds to private schools (non essential courtesy busing)
We must be able to withstand a major lawsuit, since the word DUE PROCESS HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN.
HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST THE TAXPAYERS, ?
Perhaps the School Board members shoul.d take a course in SCHOOL LAW.
####28—you are 100% correct===well said