In the Matter of James Donovan, Board of Education of the Township of Lyndhurst, Bergen County, 8/10/2020, (#168-20SEC)

168-20SEC
SEC Dkt. No. T17-19 (https://www.state.nj.us/education/legal/ethics/training/2020/T17-19.pdf)
Agency Dkt. No. 146-6/20
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of James Donovan,
Board of Education of the Township of
Lyndhurst, Bergen County.
The Commissioner has reviewed the record of this matter and the decision of the
School Ethics Commission (Commission), finding that respondent violated the School Ethics Act for failure
to timely complete school board member training in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 and
N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1. 	The 	Commission’s 	decision 	was 	forwarded 	to 	the 	Commissioner 	for 	final
determination on the recommended penalty pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:12-29(c). The Commission advises
that respondent ultimately completed the training after the issuance of its April 21, 2020 Order to Show
Cause. 	Respondent has neither filed exceptions to the recommended penalty nor instituted an appeal,
pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:4-1 et seq., of the Commission’s underlying finding of violation.
Upon review, the Commissioner concurs with the penalty recommended by the
Commission for respondent’s failure to timely honor an obligation placed upon board members by law.
Accordingly, respondent is hereby reprimanded as a school official found to have violated the School Ethics
Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.*
INTERIM COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: August 10, 2020
Date of Mailing: 	August 12, 2020
* This decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court pursuant to P.L. 2008, c. 36. (N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9.1)