Article 78 appeal to teacher's termination denied
Matter of Kevin Cummins v New York City Department of Education
Petitioner brought about this Article 78 proceeding to appeal his termination by the New York City Department of Education, claiming it was arbitrary and capricious and made in violation of his right to due process.
Petitioner began working for the Department of Education in 2000 as a non-tenured teacher. In March 2008, he was accused of corporal punishment and sent to a reassignment center. Later that year he was denied his Certification of Completion of Probation and it was recommended that his license be terminated. The Department of Education’s reason for termination was two unsatisfactory classroom observations, two allegations of verbal and corporal abuse, and a history of lateness. At the hearing, the Chancellor’s Committee upheld the recommendation to deny certification. Petitioner then commenced this Article 78 appeal to annul the determination.
Petitioner argued that he was not allowed to call witnesses to his hearing and therefore the determination to terminate his employment should be annulled but he did not raise this objection at the time of the hearing and therefore it cannot be considered for the first time in reviewing the administrative proceeding.
Since petitioner was a probationary employee and probationary teachers can be terminated at any time during the probationary period for any reason and petitioner failed to establish that the Department of Education’s determination was arbitrary and capricious or an abuse of discretion, the Court must uphold the respondent’s decision.
Accordingly, the Supreme Court denied the petition and dismissed the proceeding.
Read more about this Article 78 NYC Department of Education appeal.
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