Matter of Jeffrey Baker v Poughkeepsie City School District

Petitioner, a Business Manager for the Poughkeepsie City School District, brought about this Article 78 proceeding to review a determination of the School District adopting the recommendation of a hearing officer which found petitioner guilty of eight charges of misconduct and incompetence and terminated his employment.

In July 2007, petitioner was charged with eight counts of misconduct and incompetence and subjected to a disciplinary hearing where two members of the Board testified. The hearing officer found the petitioner guilty of all the charges brought against him and recommended termination. The members of the Board then issued a final determination terminating the petitioner’s employment which resulted in petitioner bringing about this article 78 proceeding.

The two Board members that testified at the disciplinary hearing were personally involved in the matter and should have disqualified themselves from reviewing the recommendation and being involved in the decision of this matter. Also, the petitioner is entitled to pack pay and benefits regardless of whether he is terminated or not.

Accordingly, the Court granted the petition, annulled the determination, with costs, and remitted the matter to the Board of Education for a review of the findings of the hearing officer and a determination of the back pay amount and benefits owed to the petitioner.

Read more about this Article 78 termination case here.

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