Opinion ID: 2351075
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: PREFERRED ELIGIBILITY LIST UNDER R.S. 18:13-19 AS AMENDED BY L. 1942, c. 269, sec. 1:

Text: The petitioner by these proceedings sought to have her name placed upon a preferred eligibility list for re-employment as an assistant superintendent of schools. It is apparent that she is not entitled to the relief she claims. The benefit she seeks is created by R.S. 18:13-19, as amended by L. 1942, c. 269. sec. 1. The pertinent portion of this statute reads: Nothing contained in sections 18:13-16 to 18:13-18 of this title shall be held to limit the right of any school board to reduce the number of supervising principals, principals or teachers employed in the school district when the reduction is due to a natural diminution of the number of pupils in the district.    (Italics supplied.) Following the quoted portion, the statute provides that persons having tenure in the designated positions shall be dismissed only in the order of seniority based upon their years in service (juniors being first affected) and those dismissed shall be and remain upon a preferred eligible list for re-employment in the order of their years of service. There are two contentions upon which the city board relies in opposition to the petitioner's claims. The first of these is that by the terms of the statute petitioner's office was not protected. In 1942 assistant superintendents had no tenure status under the existing statutes and there was therefore no logical reason to accord them preferred eligibility for re-employment under R.S. 18:13-19. Subsequently by L. 1948, c. 470, sec. 2 (amending L. 1938, c. 288, sec. 1; see N.J.S.A. 18:13-16.1) assistant superintendents were placed in tenure status. This change in policy resulted in the enactment of L. 1951, c. 292, sec. 1, the effect of which does not enure to the benefit of petitioner, as hereinafter discussed. The second contention of the city board is to the effect that the statute, R.S. 18:13-19 as amended by L. 1942, c. 269, sec. 1, supra, does not apply where reduction of the number of officers named therein occurs as a result of economy rather than due to a natural diminution of the number of pupils in the district. This must likewise be resolved in favor of the city board. In the first place, the statute as it then read did not apply to instances where an office or position was abolished, but only to cases where the number of persons holding such office was reduced. In the record before us there is no indication that there was a mere reduction of the number of assistant superintendents. The matter has been presented here as well as before the administrative tribunals below on the premise that the office of assistant superintendent was abolished. Secondly, the statutory language refers only to reduction by reason of natural diminution of the number of pupils in the district, and not by reason of economy. Economy may well be construed as inclusive of the statutory reason (natural diminution of the number of pupils), but the converse is not acceptable. Economy may dictate a reduction of the number of principals, superintendents or teachers or the abolition of an office even where there is a natural increase in the number of pupils. The necessity may result from an improvement of teaching methods or administrative practices or from an increased cost of maintenance of the school system arising from causes other than natural diminution of pupils. Compare Werlock v. Bd. of Education of Twp. of Woodbridge, 5 N.J. Super. 140 ( App. Div. 1949). These views are not inconsistent with Seidel v. Bd. of Education of Ventnor City, 110 N.J.L. 31 ( Sup. Ct. 1933). In that case it was held that where a board in absence of statute reduced the number of teachers, those qualified and having tenure should have been retained until those not qualified and not having tenure were released. In the matter before us the question of retention in the office of assistant superintendent was not raised by the petitioner and in addition the facts as presented indicate that the position was abolished.