NEWARK TEACHERS UNION LOCAL 481 AFT, AFL-CIO VS. STATE-OPERATED SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEWARK (NEW JERSEY COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION) (CONSOLIDATED) ( 2019 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
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SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NOS. A-1658-16T11
A-1731-16T1
NEWARK TEACHERS UNION
LOCAL 481 AFT, AFL-CIO,
Petitioner-Respondent,
v.
STATE-OPERATED SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF
NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY,
Respondent-Respondent.
______________________________
IN THE MATTER OF ORLEANA
SIMPSON, NEWARK PUBLIC
SCHOOL DISTRICT,
Appellant.
______________________________
NEWARK TEACHERS UNION
LOCAL 481 AFT, AFL-CIO,
Petitioner-Appellant,
v.
1
These are back-to-back appeals consolidated for the purpose of this opinion.
STATE-OPERATED SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF
NEWARK, ESSEX COUNTY,
Respondent-Respondent.
______________________________
IN THE MATTER OF ORLEANA
SIMPSON, NEWARK PUBLIC
SCHOOL DISTRICT,
Respondent.
______________________________
Argued telephonically November 29, 2018 –
Decided September 6, 2019
Before Judges Suter and Geiger.
On appeal from the New Jersey Commissioner of
Education, Docket No. 279-11/13.
Colin M. Lynch argued for appellant Orleana Simpson
in A-1658-16 (Zazzali, Fagella, Nowak, Kleinbaum &
Friedman, PC, attorneys; Colin M. Lynch, of counsel
and on the brief; Marissa A. McAleer, on the briefs).
Eugene G. Liss argued the cause for appellant Newark
Teachers Union Local 481 AFT, AFL-CIO in A-1731-
16.
Ramon E. Rivera argued the cause for respondent State-
Operated School District of the City of Newark, Essex
County (Scarinci & Hollenbeck, LLC, attorneys;
Ramon E. Rivera, of counsel and on the briefs; Carolyn
R. Chaudry and Shana T. Don, on the briefs).
A-1658-16T1
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Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
respondent Commissioner of Education (Caroline
Jones, Deputy Attorney General, on the statement in
lieu of brief).
Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General, attorney for
respondent New Jersey Civil Service Commission in A-
1658-16 (Pamela N. Ullman, Deputy Attorney General,
on the statement in lieu of brief).
PER CURIAM
In these back-to-back appeals, which we consolidate in one opinion,
Orleana Simpson and other former attendance officers (Simpson appellants) and
the Newark Teachers Union Local 481 (NTU) appeal from a final decision of
the Commissioner of the Department of Education (Commissioner).2 In A-
1658-16, the Simpson appellants are forty-six attendance officers previously
employed by the State Operated School District of the City of Newark (District),
who were laid off in July 2013 as part of the District-wide layoff plan. They
contend their layoff violated the State's compulsory education laws, arguing that
2
The Simpson appellants' initial notice of appeal also appealed from the Civil
Service Commission's (CSC) final decision dated November 16, 2016. Their
amended notice of appeal deleted reference to the CSC's final decision, listing
only the Commissioner's final agency decision as the decision under appeal. We
conclude from this that the Simpson appellants did not appeal the CSC's
decision, although their brief makes repeated reference to that decision. We
address the CSC decision in our opinion only as necessary to the issues on
appeal.
A-1658-16T1
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the position of attendance officer—that was abolished in the layoff—is required
by law. They claim the layoff was conducted in bad faith because they were
replaced by Student Support Teams (SSTs), comprised of District employees.
The Simpson appellants seek reinstatement with full back pay and benefits.
In A-1731-16, NTU also appeals the Commissioner's final agency
decision. It argues the layoff was illegal and contrary to the Legislature's intent.
It contends the Commissioner should have ordered the District to cease and
desist from using SSTs to enforce the compulsory education laws. We affirm
the Commissioner's final decisions.
I
In 2013, the District faced a budget deficit of $56,900,000. Evidence
showed that State aid to the District had not increased, it lost a one-time only
source of revenue and it had increased costs. After the District met with the
NTU in April 2013, the CSC approved the District's layoff plan to be effective
in July 2013. The plan entailed laying off 202 employees, including all forty-
six of the District's attendance officers. The position of attendance officer was
abolished in the layoff.
Under Title 18A, schools are to appoint "qualified persons to be
designated as attendance officers." N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32. After one year, an
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4
attendance officer can attain tenure. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-33. Attendance officers
enforce the compulsory education laws. N.J.S.A. 18:38-32. According to their
job description, an attendance officer "visits schools and homes to promote
school attendance, investigates absences, and determines causes of absences or
delinquency . . . ." The attendance officer also performs "other related duties as
required," such as "[e]nforc[ing] any remedial actions authorized to improve
student attendance," and "conduct[ing] investigations." Prior to the layoff,
attendance officers assigned to truancy operated four buses to pick up between
350 and 700 truant students per week and take them to school.
Under State Board of Education regulation N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.6, "[e]ach
district board of education shall develop, adopt, and implement policies and
procedures regarding the attendance of students . . . ." The District developed a
new attendance policy after the layoff. It included the requirement that each of
the District's sixty-eight schools form an SST, to "monitor student attendance
and combat truancy." The SST is comprised of a principal or vice principal,
social worker, guidance counselor, parent coordinator, school resource officer,
a nurse and two teachers. SST members do not receive additional compensation
because they already are District employees. The Simpson appellants and NTU
complain that because there was no attendance officer on the SST, no one was
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tasked with the responsibility to canvas the streets for truant students. They
contend the State's compulsory education laws were violated by laying off the
attendance officers and transferring some, but not all their duties to the SSTs.
The Simpson appellants filed a good faith layoff appeal under N.J.A.C.
4A:8-2.6(a)(1). This was transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law
(OAL) for a hearing. Several months later, the NTU filed a petition with the
Commissioner that challenged the layoff as a violation of the compulsory
education law. That petition was transmitted to the OAL for a hearing. The
administrative law judge (ALJ) consolidated the cases and determined the
Commissioner's interest was the predominant one because of the allegation the
layoffs violated Title 18A. Thereafter, a consolidated hearing was conducted.
The ALJ's initial decision recommended reversing the District's layoff of
the attendance officers. She found that although "some of the responsibilities
that attendance [officers] had" were transferred to the SSTs, no one had the "sole
responsibility . . . to look for truant students." Because of this, the ALJ
concluded the District violated N.J.S.A. 18A:38-28, -29, and -32 "when it
abolished the position of attendance [officer]." The ALJ determined that
abolishment of the position constituted a bad faith layoff because of the statutory
violations, even though the ALJ found with respect to other positons laid off ,
A-1658-16T1
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that appellants had not proven "the layoffs were done for reasons other than
economy and efficiency."
The Commissioner's May 12, 2016 final decision rejected the ALJ's initial
decision, finding that the layoff of the attendance officers did not violate the
statutes. The Commissioner observed that the purpose of an SST was to monitor
student attendance and to monitor truancy, which is what the attendance officers
had done. He determined that N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32 did "not require the
employment of individual employees to serve in the role of attendance officer,"
and that "[d]esignating a team to perform the core duties outlined in the statute
[was] acceptable, provided that the ultimate goal of encouraging student
attendance is achieved—regardless of whether the team members have
additional job duties and responsibilities." There was no requirement under
N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32 for an attendance officer to be a full-time position. The
SSTs performed many of the functions set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A:38-29, by
warning parents, notifying them in writing about truancy and using "technology
to assist with the performance of statutory mandated responsibilities . . . ." Even
though N.J.S.A. 18A:38-28 required that an attendance officer "who shall find"
a truant child return the child to the parent or teacher, the statute "[did] not
compel [the District] to develop a scheme wherein attendance officers are
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required to canvas the streets searching for truant students." Instead, the
Commissioner noted "[a]dvancements in technology will naturally result in new
and innovative ways to locate truant students." The Commissioner's decision
concluded that the layoff was in compliance with the compulsory education
laws.
The CSC issued its final decision on November 16, 2016. Because the
Commissioner found that the layoff was not a violation of the statutes, the CSC
determined that appellants did not prove the layoffs were made in bad faith.
There was ample evidence that the layoffs were for reasons of economy and
efficiency. Appellants did not show they were targeted for layoff for
discriminatory or other insidious reasons.
On appeal, the Simpson appellants address both final agency decisions in
their brief.3 They contend the layoff of all the attendance officers violated the
compulsory education laws because they require the appointment of attendance
officers to enforce these laws. The Simpson appellants argue the
Commissioner's decision is arbitrary and not supported by the record. They also
3
As noted, their amended notice of appeal identified only the Commissioner 's
decision as subject to appeal.
A-1658-16T1
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argue the layoffs were conducted in bad faith, and many of the attendance
officers' functions were distributed to non-civil service employees.
The NTU argues on appeal that the Commissioner's decision was illegal
and contrary to the evidence developed at the OAL. It asserts the decision was
contrary to the legislative intent that the compulsory education laws are to be
implemented by appointment of attendance officers.
II
"Our review of administrative agency action is limited." Russo v. Bd of
Trs., Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 206 N.J. 14, 27 (2011) (quoting In re
Herrmann, 192 N.J. 19, 27 (2007)). An agency's decision should be upheld
"unless there is a clear showing that it is arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable,
or that it lacks fair support in the record." Herrmann, 192 N.J. at 27-28 (citing
Campbell v. Dep't of Civil Serv., 39 N.J. 556, 562 (1963)). "When an agency
violates the express policy of its enabling act, the agency action may be deemed
arbitrary and capricious." Caporusso v. N.J. Dept. of Health, 434 N.J. Super.
88, 103 (App. Div. 2014) (citing Pub. Serv. Elec. & Gas Co. v. N.J. Dep't of
Envtl. Prot., 101 N.J. 95, 103 (1985)). Our "[i]ntervention is warranted when
the action is unsupported or unaccompanied by reasonable explanation." Ibid.(citing Pub. Serv. Elec. & Gas Co., 101 N.J. at 103). "Because '[t]he grant of
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authority to an administrative agency is to be liberally construed to enabl e the
agency to accomplish the Legislature's goals,'" we generally defer to the
agency's statutory interpretation. In re Pub. Serv. Elec. & Gas Co.'s Rate
Unbundling, Stranded Costs and Restructuring Filings, 167 N.J. 377, 384 (2001)
(alteration in original) (quoting Gloucester Cty. Welfare Bd. v. State Civil Servs.
Comm'n, 93 N.J. 384, 390 (1983)). However, we are not "bound by [an]
agency's interpretation of a statute or its decision on a strictly legal issue." L.A.
v. Bd. of Educ. of City of Trenton, 221 N.J. 192, 204 (2014) (alteration in
original) (quoting Dep't of Children & Families, N.J. Div. of Youth & Family
Servs. v. T.B., 207 N.J. 294, 302 (2011)).
N.J.S.A. 11A:8-1 "makes it clear that the employer may take layoff action
and demotions in connection with a budgeting decision where the interest of
economy and efficiency require it." Dimattia v. N.J. Merit System Bd., 325 N.J.
Super. 368, 374 (App. Div. 1999) (citing Pros. Det. Essex Cty. v. Hudson Bd.
Freeholders, 130 N.J. Super. 30, 43 (App. Div. 1974) (providing that a civil
servant's position can be abolished in good-faith for government economy)).
Where it is shown that a layoff action "is motivated by a bona fide desire to
effect economies and increase municipal efficiency[,] . . . [t]he presumption of
good faith attends the municipal action, and the burden is on petitioner to show
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bad faith." Greco v. Smith, 40 N.J. Super. 182, 189 (App. Div. 1956). Bad faith
must be "spelled out from words, conduct and all the surrounding circumstances
and facts." Id. at 193.
Appellants did not show that the layoff of the attendance officers was for
reasons other than efficiency and economy. It was undisputed that the District
faced a $56,900,000 budget shortfall; it laid off 202 employees in 2013 to
address that. Appellants' only proof supporting their contention that the
attendance officers were laid off in bad faith is their argument that the
compulsory education statutes were violated by abolishing the position of
attendance officer. We reject those arguments.
The State's compulsory education laws require parents or guardians of a
child between the age of six and sixteen to "cause such child regularly to attend"
school. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-25; see State v. Vaughn, 44 N.J. 142, 145 (1965)
(providing that parents bear the primary burden that a child receives an
education). Under Title 18A, every school district "shall appoint a suitable
number of qualified persons to be designated as attendance officers." N.J.S.A.
18A:38-32. The District is to "fix their compensation." Ibid. After one year,
an attendance officer attains tenure. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-33. The appointment is
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"for the purpose of enforcing the provisions [of the compulsory education
laws]." N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32.
Where an attendance officer finds a school aged child who is "truant from
school," the attendance officer "shall take the child and deliver him to the parent,
guardian or other person having charge and control of the child, or to the teacher
of the school which such child is lawfully required to attend." N.J.S.A. 18A:38-
28.
The attendance officer is to "examine into all violations [of the
compulsory education laws]" and then "warn [the] child . . . and the parent"
about the consequences of being truant. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-29. The attendance
officers shall give written notice to the parents that within five days the child is
to attend school regularly. Ibid.Under the statute, the attendance officer has "full police power to enforce
[the compulsory education laws]" and may even "arrest without warrant any
vagrant child . . . ." N.J.S.A. 18A:38-29. Repeated absences could result in a
finding of juvenile delinquency. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-27. Sheriff officers, police
and constables "shall assist attendance officers in the performance of their
duties." N.J.S.A. 18A:38-30. Under N.J.S.A. 18A:36-25.2(a), where a child has
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unexcused absences for five-consecutive school days, the attendance officer
"shall investigate the absence and notify the . . . superintendent . . . ."
When interpreting a statute, the "paramount goal" is to effectuate the
intent of the Legislature. DiProspero v. Penn, 183 N.J. 477, 492 (2005) (citing
Frugis v. Bracigliano, 177 N.J. 250, 280 (2003)). "The statute's language is
ordinarily the 'surest indicator' of that intent." Frugis, 177 N.J. at 280 (quoting
Cornblatt, P.A. v. Barow, 153 N.J. 218, 231 (1998)). Courts should "ascribe to
the statutory words their ordinary meaning and significance, and read them in
context with related provisions so as to give sense to the legislation as a whole."
DiProspero, 183 N.J. at 492 (citations omitted). "If the plain language leads to
a clear and unambiguous result, then [the] interpretive process is over."
Richardson v. Bd. of Trs., Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 192 N.J. 189, 195
(2007) (citing DiProspero, 183 N.J. at 492). "[A] court may not rewrite a statute
or add language that the Legislature omitted." State v. Munafo, 222 N.J. 480,
488 (2015) (citing DiProspero, 183 N.J. at 492). "[C]ourts should 'seek to
effectuate the "fundamental purpose for which the legislation was enacted."'"
Klumb v. Bd. of Educ., 199 N.J. 14, 25 (2009) (quoting Twp. of Pennsauken v.
Schad, 160 N.J. 156, 170 (1999)).
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We agree with the Commissioner that the statutes in question do not
require attendance officers to canvass the streets for students who are truant.
The statute provides if an attendance officer "shall find" any school aged child
who is truant from school that the attendance officer is to take the child to his
parent or to the teacher. See N.J.S.A.18A:38-28. The plain language of the
statute does not impose an affirmative obligation on attendance officers to go
searching for students who might be truant. That they performed this function
in the District, does not mean it was a "core duty" required by the legislation.
In a good faith lay off, "[t]he holders of positions may be laid off in the
interest of economy and their duties assigned to others. It is a question of the
bona fides of the action." Gianettino v. Civil Serv. Comm'n, 120 N.J.L. 531,
533 (Sup. Ct. 1938). We agree with the Commissioner that the tasks of the
attendance officer did not have to be performed by individual officers but could
be delegated to the SSTs. N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32 allows school districts to "appoint
a suitable number of qualified person to be designated as attendance officers. "
Under the statutory language, we agree with the Commissioner that the
legislation permits school districts to identify employees to perform the statutory
duties of an attendance officer without requiring the specific creation of an
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attendance officer position. 4 By forming SSTs comprised of District employees,
and tasking the SSTs with monitoring student attendance and truancy, the
District satisfied the statute by "appointing qualified persons" who then were to
be "designated" with these functions.
There was substantial evidence that the other tasks of the attendance
officers were being performed by the SSTs.5 Some of the tasks were being done
by new technologies. Under the District's new attendance policy each school
was to have an SST. SSTs are comprised of District employees whose
compensation did not increase by their membership on the SST. We see no
reason under the statutes why the tasks could not be delegated to SSTs where
warranted by reasons of economy and efficiency.
4
We are not tasked with evaluating the success or failure of the program on
curbing truancy and do not address appellants' arguments in that regard.
5
"Power School Clerks" mailed out initial notices to parents. Teachers took
attendance and called parents. Depending on the absences, parents were invited
to meetings. Pre-judicial court representatives met with parents and children.
Safety officers had police powers as did Rapid Response Officers and both
addressed truancy issues, but neither canvassed the neighborhoods looking for
children. SST members could make home visits when absences were within the
five to nine day timeframe.
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We are satisfied that the plain language of the statutes is not violated by
the layoff of attendance officers and assignment of the tasks required by the
statutes to the SSTs. The Commissioner's decision was not arbitrary or
capricious. It is affirmed in both appeals. 6
Affirmed.
6
The Simpson appellants raised no issues in their brief regarding the CSC final
decision except that it erred by relying on the Commissioner's decision. Having
affirmed the Commissioner, we also would affirm the CSC final decision if it
were properly before us.
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