Time required to research and prepare an appeal not a "good cause” sufficient to excuse petitioner's untimely filing of the appeal with the Commissioner of Education
Appeal to the Commissioner of Education, Decision #16,823
Among the issues presented to the Commissioner of Education in this appeal seeking the removal of certain members of a school board was the representation that the petitioners had “good cause” for the late filing of certain elements of their appeal in that it was necessary to “go through” Commissioner’s decisions and other public records in order to proceed with the matter.
While the Commissioner noted that “It is unclear from the application and record, however, what exactly petitioners needed to “go through” and how this caused a delay,” the Commissioner, citing a number of rulings,* said that “To the extent petitioners may be claiming that they needed time to gather documents and evidence, perform research, and prepare their application, it is well settled that these reasons do not constitute ‘good cause’ upon which to excuse an untimely filing.”
* See, for example, Appeal of Bentley, et al., Decision No. 16,750; Appeal of Levendusky, Decision No. 16,455; Appeal of Thompson, Decision No. 15,706; and Appeal of Bayer, Decision No. 13,561).
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