IN THE MATTER OF THE TENURE HEARING OF LORRAINE WILLIAMS, STATE-OPERATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY, 3/6/18, (#72-18)

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72-18
AGENCY DKT. NO. 58-3/15
IN THE MATTER OF THE TENURE 	:
HEARING OF LORRAINE WILLIAMS 	: 	COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
STATE-OPERATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF 	: 	DECISION
THE CITY OF NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY. 	:
For Petitioner: Theresa L. Moore, Esq.
For Respondent: Samuel Wenocur, Esq.
The tenure charges at issue in this matter are actually the second set of inefficiency tenure
charges filed against respondent regarding her performance during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 school
years. On December 20, 2014, Arbitrator David Gregory granted respondent’s motion to dismiss the first
set of charges as premature under N.J.S.A.18A:6-17.3 (Section 25 of TEACHNJ – the Teacher
Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey Act – P.L. 2012, c.26.) because
petitioner had used respondent’s 2012-2013 annual summative evaluation. 	Petitioner then filed the
charges again, but this time pursuant to N.J.S.A.18A:6-16 (Section 8 of P.L. 2012, c. 26), the statutory
section in effect and governing inefficiency charges prior to the enactment of TEACHNJ in August 2012.
The second set of charges was also assigned to Arbitrator Gregory, with a sufficiency determination
which read in pertinent part:
. . . (P)lease be advised that, following receipt of respondent’s answer on March 31, 2015, the
above-captioned tenure charges – which have been docketed as new charges and which are
being processed with respect to Section 8 inefficiency charges only – were reviewed and
deemed sufficient, if true, to warrant dismissal or reduction in salary, subject to determination
by the arbitrator of respondent’s defenses and any motions which may be filed with the
arbitrator. The arbitrator shall review those charges – which are not dismissed as the result of
a motion – under the preponderance of the evidence standard.
Accordingly, the charges have been referred to Arbitrator David L. Gregory pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 18A:6-16 as amended by P.L. 2012, c. 26.

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Petitioner appealed the assignment of the matter to Arbitrator Gregory and the sufficiency
determination to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court, and Arbitrator Gregory issued an order
placing the matter before him in abeyance pending a determination from the Appellate Division.
On February 9, 2018, the Appellate Division issued a decision dismissing the appeal, and
thereafter petitioner’s attorney advised that the District had learned that respondent is now deceased.
Petitioner’s attorney further advised that petitioner consequently wished to withdraw the pending tenure
charges.
In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner concludes that this matter is moot and no
further proceedings are necessary in regard to the pending tenure charges. 	This matter is therefore
dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: March 6, 2018
Date of Mailing: 	March 6, 2018