May 07, 2021

Commissioner of Education dismissed §310 appeal naming teachers' association president as a respondent "for lack of jurisdiction"

Plaintiff filed a §310 Education Law petition challenge certain school district hiring practices. The petition named the board of education and the president of the school district's teachers' association as respondents.

With respect to the president of the teachers' association, Dr. Betty A. Rosa, Interim Commissioner of Education, dismissed Plaintiff's §310 appeal for "lack of jurisdiction."

The Commissioner explained that to the extent that Petitioner's requests for relief targeted the actions of an individual serving in his capacity as president of the teachers' association, "[i]t is well settled that union organizations and their representatives are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Education under Education Law §310."

In a footnote to the decision the Commissioner further opined that many of Petitioner's claims would be subject to dismissal on other grounds, including, but not limited to, being untimely and lack of standing to submit an appeal pursuant to Education Law §310.

Click HERE to access the text of the Commissioner's decision.