In the Matter of Craig Woolridge, College Achieve Paterson Charter School, Passaic County, 1/3/20, (#5-20SEC)

SEC Dkt. No. T09-19 (https://www.state.nj.us/education/legal/ethics/training/T09-19.pdf)
Agency Dkt. No. 306-11/19
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of Craig Woolridge,
College Achieve Paterson Charter School,
Passaic County.
The Commissioner has reviewed the record of this matter and the decision of the
School Ethics Commission (SEC), finding that respondent violated the School Ethics Act for
failure to timely complete charter school trustee training in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33,
N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1, 	and 	N.J.A.C. 	6A:11-3.1. 	The 	SEC’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 SEC advises that respondent ultimately completed the training after
the 	issuance 	of 	its 	October 	25, 	2019 	Order 	to 	Show 	Cause, 	but 	prior 	to 	the 	SEC’s
November 19, 	2019 	meeting; 	however, 	the 	SEC 	notes 	that 	respondent 	was 	previously
reprimanded in 2018 for failing to timely comply with the statutory requirement to complete
ethics training. 	Due to the repeated failure to comply with his statutory obligation, the SEC
recommends that respondent be suspended for 30 days. Respondent has neither filed exceptions
to the recommended penalty nor instituted an appeal of the SEC’s underlying finding of
violation, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:4-1 et seq.
Upon review, the Commissioner concurs with the penalty recommended by the
SEC for respondent’s failure to timely honor an obligation placed upon charter school trustees by
law. Additionally, respondent is admonished for causing the unnecessary expenditure of
administrative and adjudicative resources at both State and local levels.
5-20SEC

2
Accordingly, respondent is hereby suspended from his position, as of the date of
this decision, for violating the School Ethics Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: 	January 3, 2020
Date of Mailing: 	January 3, 2020
1 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).