Court Opinion

ID: 5741153
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-12 16:41:54.504715+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:41:04.441916
License: Public Domain

Proceeding under article 78 of the Civil Practice Act, to annul the determination of the respondent Board of Education, made June 28, 1961 after a hearing, to the effect: (a) that the petitioner, a music teacher, had been willfully tardy in reporting for duty on 38 specified occasions — charge No. 1; (b) that she had failed to report, pursuant to direction, to assist in the supervision of a student examination — charge No. 4; (c) that she had improperly registered her time of arrival on one occasion — charge No. 6; and (d) that she had failed to mainrain a complete “ plan book ” — charge No. 7; and dismissing her from her position as such music teacher. By order of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, made November 24, 1961, pursuant to section 1296 of the Civil Practice Act, the proceeding has been transferred to this court for disposition. Determination modified on the law and the facts, by dismissing charges Nos. 1 and 6, and by reducing the punishment on charges Nos. 4 and 7 from a dismissal to a three-month suspension. As so modified, determination confirmed, without costs. Findings of fact which may be inconsistent herewith are reversed, and new findings are made as indicated herein. With respect to charges Nos. 1 and 6, it is our opinion that there is no substantial evidence to show that petitioner was either willfully tardy on the specified dates or that she improperly, listed her time of arrival as 7:59 a.m. on May 22,1961 (cf. Matter of Friedel v. Board of Regents, 296 N. Y. 347; Matter of Stammer v. Board of Regents, 287 N. Y. 359). With respect to charges Nos. 4 and 7, we find, under all the circumstances presented by this record, that a dismissal is not warranted, and that the penalty of a three-month suspension is adequate (Civ. Prac. Act, § 1296, subd. 5-a; cf. Matter of Mitthauer v. Patterson, 8 N Y 2d 37). Ughetta, Acting P. J., Kleinfeld, Christ, Brennan and Hopkins, JJ., concur.