TRAVIS G. WALTSAK VS. JACQUELINE S. WALTSAK (FM-13-1637-17, MONMOUTH COUNTY AND STATEWIDE) ( 2021 )

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE APPELLATE DIVISION
This opinion shall not "constitute precedent or be binding upon any court." Although it is posted on the
internet, this opinion is binding only on the parties in the case and its use in other cases is limited. R. 1:36-3.
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
DOCKET NO. A-0427-19
TRAVIS G. WALTSAK,
Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
JACQUELINE S. WALTSAK,
Defendant-Respondent.
__________________________
Argued March 17, 2021 – Decided July 20, 2021
Before Judges Accurso, Vernoia, and Enright.
On appeal from the Superior Court of New Jersey,
Chancery Division, Family Part, Monmouth County,
Docket No. FM-13-1637-17.
Bonnie C. Frost argued the cause for appellant
(Einhorn, Barbarito, Frost & Botwinick, PC, attorneys;
Bonnie C. Frost, of counsel and on the brief; Matheu D.
Nunn, on the brief).
Peter A. Ouda argued the cause for respondent.
PER CURIAM
In this post-judgment matrimonial matter, plaintiff Travis G. Waltsak
appeals from a Family Part order denying his motion for an order permitting
A.W., one of two sons he shares with defendant Jacqueline S. Waltsak, to attend
one of four identified public elementary schools, and granting defendant's cross -
motion for an order permitting A.W. to attend Ambassador Christian Academy
(ACA), a private school in Wall Township. Based on our review of the record,
we are convinced there is sufficient, credible evidence supporting the court's
determination that it is in A.W.'s best interests to attend ACA. We therefore
affirm.
I.
Plaintiff and defendant married in 2007 and divorced in 2018. They share
joint legal and physical custody of their two children: seven-year-old A.W. and
five-year-old J.W. On October 15, 2018, the parties entered into a Custody and
Parenting Time Agreement (CPTA) which, in relevant part, states:
10. RELIGIOUS COMMITMENT:
a. [Plaintiff] and [defendant] agree and are committed
to a continued Christian religious upbringing for
[A.W.] and [J.W.] They pledge to prioritize religious
church worship on a weekly basis, attending services at
their individual church of choice, which shall be an
Evangelical/Bible-based church, on their parenting
time. Each parent will bring the boys to church service
on their weekend, at their individual Christian place of
worship.
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11. EDUCATION:
a. [Plaintiff] and [defendant] are mutually committed to
the highest standards of quality education that their
children will experience as they mature through
childhood and adolescence. The parties shall consider
all available options for school including private
school, public school and a public school outside of
their district (which is Wall Township). The parties
shall attempt to reach agreement on the selection of a
school and the allocation of responsibility for the costs,
if any, of school. If they are unable to agree by March
1, 2019, they shall attend mediation and shall share the
costs of mediation equally. If mediation is
unsuccessful after two sessions, either party may file an
application with the [c]ourt.
During their divorce proceedings, the parties discussed schooling options
for the children. They considered ACA, which, at the time of the divorce, was
located in Toms River, approximately thirty to forty minutes away from their
Wall Township residence. When the children were younger, they attended
"mommy and me" classes at ACA. At that time, ACA was not associated with
Grace Bible Church, an evangelical, Bible-based church the parties attended
during their marriage and defendant continues to attend with the children.
Plaintiff and defendant also considered other schools, including the public
schools in West Belmar, Sea Girt, and Spring Lake Heights. While the parties
tried to agree on an elementary school for A.W., plaintiff enrolled both children
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in preschool programs at the Goddard School in Wall. A.W. did well in the
program and made friends.
By March 2019, plaintiff suggested that A.W. be enrolled in kindergarten
in the public schools in Sea Girt, Spring Lake Heights, West Belmar, or Point
Pleasant Beach. Defendant, however, wanted to enroll A.W. at ACA, which had
relocated to Wall Township in buildings rented from Grace Bible Church.
The parties were unable to agree on the school A.W. should attend, and,
in accordance with the CPTA, they attended two mediation sessions. When the
mediation proved unsuccessful, plaintiff moved for an order permitting A.W. to
attend any one of the public elementary schools in Point Pleasant Beach, West
Belmar, Spring Lake Heights, or Sea Girt. Defendant cross-moved for an order
permitting A.W. to attend ACA.
In a July 12, 2019 order, a Family Part judge scheduled a plenary hearing
on the motions for August 2019. The judge was later reassigned to the Civil
Division, and a second Family Part judge conducted the scheduled plenary
hearing in August and entered the order from which plaintiff appeals.
Plaintiff was represented by counsel at the hearing and testified he
objected to A.W. attending ACA because he felt he would not be able to fully-
participate in A.W.'s academic life due to its association with Grace Bible
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Church. Plaintiff explained that he and defendant met through the church, were
married there, and, during the marriage, their "whole social circle and
community" revolved around the church.
In October 2016, defendant discovered plaintiff was having an
extramarital affair. Defendant subsequently advised one of the church's pastors
and a close family friend about the affair, and the church required that plaintiff
participate in a three-stage disciplinary process.
As explained by defendant, during the first stage, a church elder attempts
to persuade the member undergoing discipline to conform his or her behavior to
the church's teachings. During the second stage, multiple elders or pastors
attempt to convince the member to behave a certain way. During the third stage,
a pastor informs the other church members about the non-conforming behavior,
and the individual is removed as a member of the church's congregation.
Plaintiff described his experience during the disciplinary stages. During
the first stage, a pastor pressured him to reconcile with defendant. During the
second stage, church elders and pastors contacted him and attempted to convince
him to reconcile with defendant. Plaintiff testified he did not want to reconcile,
and he left the church and asked that he not be contacted.
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Plaintiff testified he subsequently received an email, notifying him that
the third stage of discipline would be imposed because he had removed himself
from the church and refused to reconcile with defendant. Plaintiff testified that
he believed the third stage occurred and that the entire congregation was notified
plaintiff and defendant separated.
Defendant, who appeared as a self-represented litigant, testified she was
present when a pastor made the stage three disciplinary announcement at the
church about plaintiff and defendant. She stated the announcement was made
in front of approximately 200 church members after a church service. Defendant
testified the pastor advised the members plaintiff had been unfaithful, defendant
had admitted her part in the separation as well, and the parties' marital
relationship was ending. Defendant stated the announcement lasted
approximately five minutes and the pastor encouraged members who knew
plaintiff to reach out to him and ask him to remain with the church and in the
marital home.
Plaintiff explained that he has not been back to the church since it imposed
the third stage of discipline and he has not had contact with any of the church
members.
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Plaintiff testified he did not "feel comfortable" with his children attending
ACA because of his experience undergoing the three stages of discipline at the
church and because he would come in contact with Grace Bible Church members
whose children also attend the school. Plaintiff also testified he had "concerns"
about sending his children to ACA because it has a "Bible-based curriculum."
Plaintiff acknowledged, however, the students at ACA are not limited to
children who are members of Grace Bible Church.
Defendant testified ACA's location in close proximity to the church may
cause some discomfort for plaintiff, but she asserted it was in A.W.'s best
interests to attend the school. Defendant explained she had wanted to send her
children to ACA for a while, and she hoped to send them there because it is a
Christian school that would offer her children an excellent education. She
testified she was also inclined to send the children to ACA because plaintiff did
not attend church with the children on a regular basis, and she believed ACA
would ensure the children received a Christian upbringing. Defendant noted
another benefit of ACA is that it is only two miles away from the Goddard
School, where J.W. attends preschool.
Defendant testified she would pay the tuition for A.W.'s attendance at
ACA. Defendant also testified her second choice was the Spring Lake Heights
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school, but only if she did not have to pay tuition for it. Defendant's third choice
was the school in West Belmar.
Plaintiff presented statistical information concerning the Point Pleasant
Beach, West Belmar, Spring Lake Heights, and Sea Girt schools that he believed
A.W. should attend. The source of plaintiff's information for the public schools
is niche.com, a website that rates public schools based on statistics pertaining to
the schools' test scores, student-to-teacher ratios, and other, similar information.
According to the statistical information presented from niche.com, all four
public schools have academic and overall ratings in the "A" range, the student-
to-teacher ratios are similar—with either eight-to-one or ten-to-one student-to-
teacher ratios—and three of the schools offer sports. Two of the schools—
Spring Lake Heights and Sea Girt—require that out-of-town students pay
tuition. The schools' diversity ratings differ the most, with West Belmar
receiving an "A minus" grade and Sea Girt receiving a "C" grade. Although
niche.com includes some information about ACA, plaintiff testified the website
did not rank ACA because it does not rank private schools.
Plaintiff also provided the court with school rankings from the website
greatschools.org, which, like niche.com, compiles school statistics. Plaintiff
testified niche.com and greatschools.org similarly rank the schools in Point
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Pleasant Beach, West Belmar, Spring Lake Heights, and Sea Girt. Plaintiff
further testified the schools in those municipalities are in close proximity to the
parties' residences.1
Plaintiff also provided the court with four parent reviews of ACA that are
posted on the greatschools.org website. Three of them are negative, and one
review is more positive. Plaintiff admitted that greatschools.org had other
positive reviews of ACA on its website, but he did not provide them to the court.
Plaintiff also admitted he did not research any websites or other sources that
rank private schools. Plaintiff further testified he did not object to the children
being raised in the Christian faith, but he objected to the children attending ACA
because of its association with Grace Bible Church.
Defendant testified the reviews of ACA that plaintiff presented are "not
an accurate depiction of what the school offers." She noted the negative reviews
plaintiff provided are several years old, and they did not criticize the education
provided by the school but instead addressed issues related to the school's
fundraising activities, the prior headmaster of the school, and the school 's
facilities prior to its relocation to Wall Township. Defendant also stated only
1
Plaintiff testified he was in the process of moving to Point Pleasant, but the
schools are close in proximity to his current West Belmar residence and future
Point Pleasant residence.
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three of the forty-three reviews of ACA on greatschools.org give ACA a rating
of less than four stars. The other reviews on greatschools.org, which plaintiff
provided to the court, include positive comments about the education, teachers,
and community at ACA.
Plaintiff called Nancy Mercadante, ACA's current headmaster, to testify.
Mercadante explained that ACA leases the school building and part of the gym
building from Grace Bible Church, but ACA's school facility is separate from
the church. Mercadante testified ACA has an enrollment of 123 students in
preschool through twelfth grade. She explained two teachers are members of
Grace Bible Church, and approximately fifteen percent of the students attend the
church. Mercadante testifed ACA has an open enrollment, meaning children
need not be affiliated with Grace Bible Church to attend.
Mercadante testified ACA has a classical education curriculum, but the
school also teaches from a Biblical worldview. She said most of the school's
demographic is Caucasian, but there are also Hispanic, African-American, and
biracial students. Mercadante testified most of ACA's students are Christian,
and some of the students are not. She also explained that the kindergarteners,
first-graders, and third-graders all scored higher than the national average in
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every subject area on a standardized test. Mercadante also stated college
enrollment after graduation from ACA is nearly one hundred percent.
Mercadante testified the school has students whose parents are separated
or divorced, and parents can set up their own logins, easily access all
communications, including weekly updates, and arrange separate teacher
conferences. Mercadante denied having any knowledge pertaining to the parties'
divorce or any disciplinary actions that occurred at Grace Bible Church. She
further denied anyone from the church advised her not to communicate with
plaintiff.
Mercadante reviewed the information plaintiff presented concerning ACA
and noted several inaccuracies. For example, she explained information from
niche.com inaccurately reflected the student population consisted of ninety-six
percent males, but the student population was actually evenly divided between
males and females. She also noted the niche.com materials showed ACA offered
kindergarten through eighth grade, but ACA also included a high school.
Mercadante further explained ACA's teachers were certified, and many had dual
certifications. She testified that Grace Bible Church has nothing to do with the
operation of ACA.
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On August 20, 2019, the court entered an order permitting A.W. to attend
ACA. In a decision issued from the bench, the court held that while A.W. would
do well in either ACA or the public schools, ACA was in the child's best
interests. The court considered: the best interests of A.W.; the religious
preferences of the parents at the time the child was born; the language in the
CPTA—specifically the parties' commitment to raise their children in the
Christian faith and to consider all available school options; A.W.'s peer
relationships; the advantages and disadvantages of the schools presented; the
distances of the schools from each of the parties' homes; tuition costs; and the
ability of both parents to be actively involved in the child's education.
The court explained that since the parties have joint legal and physical
custody, deference was not given to either party's school choice. Although no
expert testimony concerning the merits of the respective schools was presented,
the court found that all the schools were "excellent," but the reviews and some
of the information plaintiff produced concerning ACA were misleading. The
court noted: (1) there were positive reviews of ACA; (2) the school was not
predominately male, as supported by Mercadante's credible testimony; (3) the
enrollment numbers at ACA were higher than plaintiff stated; and (4) ACA was
not equivalent to homeschooling, as characterized by plaintiff. The court also
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found ACA had a strong academic foundation based on the test scores
Mercadante provided.
Additionally, the court found ACA was not affiliated with Grace Bible
Church. The court stated ACA's relationship with the church was a contractual
lease and that only a few members of the faculty, board members, and student
population were members of the church. The court noted A.W. had established
peer relationships at ACA, and the school was now located in the parties' school
district.
Although it noted the trauma plaintiff claimed he faced during his
discipline at the church and acknowledged his feelings about the experience, the
court found the evidence, including Mercadante's testimony, did not support a
finding plaintiff would be excluded or shunned at ACA. Further, the court noted
the parties' preference for a Christian upbringing in the CPTA and that the
parties intended and agreed to raise their children in the Christian faith. Lastly,
the court held defendant would be responsible for all tuition costs in accordance
with her agreement to do so.
After considering the totality of the circumstances, the court determined
it is in A.W.'s best interests to attend ACA at defendant's expense, and the court
entered an order denying plaintiff's motion for an order requiring that A.W.
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attend one of the four public schools plaintiff proposed, and granting defendant's
cross-motion for an order permitting A.W. to attend ACA.
Following plaintiff's appeal from the order, the court issued a written
amplification of the reasons for its decision as permitted by Rule 2:5-1(b). The
written amplification is signed by the judge who originally scheduled the
motions for a plenary hearing and by the judge who conducted the plenary
hearing, rendered the bench opinion following the hearing, and signed the order
from which the appeal was taken.
In its Rule 2:5-1(b) amplification, the court echoed its oral decision and
provided additional reasoning for its order. The court found ACA provided a
good education in a Christian setting. The court rejected plaintiff's claim he
would be ostracized at ACA, and it accepted as credible Mercadante's testimony
that ACA had many students with divorced parents, she had not been made
aware of what transpired between the church and plaintiff, and both parents
could be equally involved in their child's school life—including having separate
login access and an equal level of communication with the school.
The court further determined ACA had six advantages over the public
schools suggested by plaintiff: (1) ACA was located in the same town where the
parties resided; (2) ACA had a low student-to-teacher ratio; (3) students at ACA
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tested above average on standardized testing; (4) ACA had a new facility; (5)
ACA adhered to a classical education system; and (6) A.W. had developed peer
relationships at ACA.
The court addressed plaintiff's argument that A.W. may suffer from
developmental disabilities, which plaintiff believed would be better addressed
by public school resources. The court found plaintiff offered no evidence A.W.
has developmental disabilities and that plaintiff had conceded the child had no
special needs. Further, the court noted plaintiff had produced a report from
A.W.'s preschool stating the child was doing well and had no issues.
The court also briefly addressed the issues raised on appeal as outlined in
plaintiff's appellate case information statement. The court rejected plaintiff's
assertion that it misapplied the law by ignoring the plain language of the CPTA,
explaining it reviewed the agreement's religion and school provisions, it did not
give greater deference to ACA, and it looked at all available school options and
weighed all appropriate factors in rendering its decision.
The court also rejected plaintiff's claim that it misapplied the law by
giving defendant greater deference as if she were the parent of primary
residence. The court explained it did not give deference to defendant and that
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custody was not a determinative factor because the parties equally shared legal
and physical custody.
The court further rejected plaintiff's argument that it misapplied the law
by finding the parties would have sent their child to a Christian school if they
had remained married. The court found plaintiff's argument was contradicted
by the CPTA's terms and plaintiff's testimony that he has maintained his
commitment to raise A.W. in the Christian faith.
The court also noted that plaintiff's claim it failed to consider the CPTA's
plain language by permitting A.W. to attend ACA in Toms River, which is
outside of the parties' school district, ignores the undisputed fact that ACA
relocated in 2019 to Wall Township, where both parties resided. The court also
detailed the procedural history of the case, noted neither party sought discovery,
and found plaintiff's assertion the court failed to permit pretrial discovery to be
without merit.
Last, the court again detailed its credibility findings, noting it found
defendant more credible than plaintiff because plaintiff deliberately provided
misleading and incomplete information about ACA, while defendant was "well-
prepared and knowledgeable about the subject matters on which she testified,"
and she testified in a calm and even-toned manner. The court also found
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Mercadante credible because she testified in a calm and intelligent manner, did
not express any bias towards either party, did not evade questions, and provided
clear answers to the questions posed. The court reaffirmed its decision it is in
A.W.'s best interests to attend ACA.
II.
Plaintiff argues we should not consider or rely on the court's Rule 2:5-1(b)
amplification because it was signed by two judges; it was used to rebut plaintiff's
arguments on appeal; and it refers to and relies on certifications not admitted in
evidence at the plenary hearing.
"Rule 2:5-1(b) . . . permits a judge, officer, or agency to file an
amplification of a prior decision if it is appealed . . . ." In re Proposed Quest
Acad. Charter Sch. of Montclair Founders Grp., 216 N.J. 370, 383 (2013). The
Rule "anticipates" and "expressly permits" a judge, officer, or agency to file an
amplification after a party has filed an appeal. Id. at 390. The Rule does not
prevent a judge, officer, or agency from filing an amplification if it has already
issued an opinion or memorandum. See R. 2:5-1(b) (permitting a "trial judge,
agency or officer" to file "an amplification of a prior statement, opinion or
memorandum made either in writing or orally"). The Rule also does not prohibit
a judge, officer, or agency from addressing issues a party raises—or might
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raise—on appeal in the amplification. See, e.g., Scheeler v. Atl. Cnty. Mun.
Joint Ins. Fund, 454 N.J. Super. 621, 625 n.1 (App. Div. 2018) (affirming an
order based on the trial court's Rule 2:5-1(b) amplification that "thoroughly and
correctly addressed" the legal challenges to the order raised on appeal).
We reject plaintiff's claim we should not consider the amplification
because it was signed by two judges. We agree the signature of the judge who
scheduled the plenary hearing was unnecessary because that judge did not hear
the evidence upon which the judge who conducted the hearing based her
decision and order. What is important, however, is that the judge who conducted
the plenary hearing signed the Rule 2:5-1(b) amplification. That judge was
entitled under the Rule to provide an amplification of her decision, and her
signature confirms the findings in the amplification were made as additional
support for the decision she rendered from the bench. In addition, and contrary
to plaintiff's contention, that the court's Rule 2:5-1(b) amplification directly
addresses arguments plaintiff raises on appeal provides no reason to disregard
the court's amplification of the reasons supporting its entry of the order.
Plaintiff's remaining argument concerning the amplification—that we
should not consider it because the court considered certifications not entered
into evidence at the plenary hearing—is also unpersuasive. To be sure, a trial
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court cannot properly find facts based on evidence that was not introduced at
trial, and plaintiff correctly argues the court, in its amplification, refers to
certifications that were not admitted in evidence during the plenary hearing.
The court's references to the certifications do not require a reversal ,
however, because there was evidence introduced at trial that independently
supports the court's findings of fact for which the court erroneously cited the
certifications. For example, the court erroneously cited plaintiff's certification
for the proposition that plaintiff stated ACA is like home schooling. However,
plaintiff likened ACA to home schooling not only in his certification, but also
during his testimony.2 The court also cited to plaintiff's and defendant's
certifications to support its findings concerning Grace Bible Church's imposition
of discipline against plaintiff, but during the plenary hearing each party provided
extensive testimony concerning the disciplinary process. Similarly, the court
cited to defendant's certification describing programs and facilities available at
ACA, but both defendant and Mercadante testified at the plenary hearing
concerning ACA's facilities, programs, and educational standards. Plaintiff also
argues the court erred by citing his certification as the source of a quote from
2
Plaintiff testified at trial that the classical Christian education offered at ACA
is "similar" to home schooling, and that "a lot of home school programs use a
classical model."
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the Bible, but the same Bible verse quoted in the amplification is included in an
exhibit that was introduced at trial, and the court's decision is not in any manner
based on the quoted verse.
In sum, the court's erroneous citation to the certifications in the
amplification referenced information that was merely cumulative to evidence
that was admitted during the plenary hearing. We therefore are not persuaded
the court's citation to the certifications, as reasons additional to those first
properly set forth in the court's bench opinion, was clearly capable of producing
an unjust result requiring reversal of the court's order. R. 2:10-2.
Plaintiff also contends the amplification mischaracterizes his testimony
by finding he argued "without any support whatsoever" that A.W. suffered from
developmental disabilities and that the public schools would be better equipped
to address those disabilities. Plaintiff actually testified A.W. had a hard time
focusing, may have an attention disorder in the future, and that A.W. was
"struggling and . . . having a hard time adapting" to the situation created by the
parties' divorce. Plaintiff also testified that, to his knowledge, ACA did not have
a "program . . . to address the special needs of the children," that public schools
"all have counselors and things like that to support" the students, and that it was
"part of [his] quest to make sure that the resources are available to [A.W.] if an
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issue should arise." While it is correct plaintiff did not directly testify A.W.
suffered from a developmental disability, plaintiff stated A.W. was struggling
at present, and testified he might suffer from one in the future, for the admitted
purpose of fulfilling his quest to convince the court that the resources required
to address the child's present issues and possible disorders were available only
at the public schools.
In our view, the court's inaccurate finding plaintiff testified A.W. suffered
from a developmental disability is of no moment. The court relied on the
purported testimony to support its finding that plaintiff claimed, without any
basis in the evidence, that A.W. required counseling and other services that ACA
could not provide. Despite the court's inaccurate reference to purported
testimony about a developmental disability, the court's finding is nonetheless
supported by plaintiff's testimony that A.W. may suffer from an attention
disorder in the future that will require services plaintiff testified he did not
believe ACA could provide. That is, the court's finding plaintiff sought to
obtain approval for A.W. to public schools by claiming they could provide
counseling services that were unavailable at ACA, while not supported by any
testimony A.W. suffers from a developmental disability, is supported by
plaintiff's testimony that such services may be required because A.W. may
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develop an attention disorder in the future. And, as plaintiff explained, his
suggestion such services may be required was part of his quest for approval for
A.W. to attend the public schools plaintiff preferred.
Plaintiff also argues we should reverse the court's decision to permit A.W.
to attend ACA because its factual findings are not supported by the record.
Plaintiff contends the court made unsupportable credibility findings and gave
improper weight to the evidence the parties presented.
Our scope of review of a family court's factfinding is limited. Cesare v.
Cesare, 154 N.J. 394, 411 (1998). We will uphold the court's factual findings
"when supported by adequate, substantial, credible evidence." Gnall v. Gnall,
222 N.J. 414, 428 (2015). "[D]eference is especially appropriate 'when the
evidence is largely testimonial and involves questions of credibility,'"
MacKinnon v. MacKinnon, 191 N.J. 240, 254 (2007) (quoting Cesare, 154 N.J.
at 412), and we accord deference to the Family Part's factfinding "[b]ecause of
the . . . court['s] special jurisdiction and expertise in family matters," Cesare,
154 N.J. at 413. We will not reverse the court's findings unless they "were 'so
manifestly unsupported by or inconsistent with the competent, relevant and
reasonably credible evidence as to offend the interests of justice.'" Amzler v.
Amzler, 463 N.J. Super. 187, 197 (App. Div. 2020) (quoting Rova Farms Resort,
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Inc. v. Invs. Ins. Co. of Am., 65 N.J. 474, 484 (1974)). However, we accord no
deference to a trial court's legal conclusions and review them de novo. Thieme
v. Aucoin-Thieme, 227 N.J. 269, 283 (2016).
Where, as here, the parents share joint custody and are unable to agree on
where to send their child to school, "[i]t is axiomatic that the court should seek
to advance the best interests of the child." Levine v. Levine, 322 N.J. Super.
558, 566 (App. Div. 1999) (quoting Asch v. Asch, 164 N.J. Super. 499, 505
(App. Div. 1978)). "The 'best interests' of the child means, among other things:
(1) the right of [the] children to be supported, nurtured, and educated in accord
with the parents' collective income; and (2) requiring the parents to keep their
promises and commitments consistent with their ability to do so." D.G. v. K.S.,
444 N.J. Super. 423, 439 (Ch. Div. 2015) (citing Hoefers v. Jones, 288 N.J.
Super. 590, 604 (Ch. Div. 1994), aff'd o.b., 288 N.J. Super. 478 (App. Div.
1996)).
A determination of which school is in a child's best interests is "inherently
subjective." Levine, 322 N.J. Super. at 567. Such a determination requires the
court to not only consider a school's statistics and ranking, but also "peer
relationships, the continuity of friends[,] and an emotional attachment to school
and community that will hopefully stimulate intelligence and growth to expand
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opportunity." Ibid. In balancing these factors, the court should also consider
the religious preferences of the parents at the time the child was born. Asch,
164 N.J. Super. at 505.
Additionally, our courts have found that "[r]eligious and moral training"
is "an important, positive growth experience in advancing a child's best
interests." Hoefers, 288 N.J. Super. at 609. Thus, although "courts do not
choose between religions," they will, subject to the child's best interests, "give
effect to the legitimate expectations of each of the parents with respect to their
child[]'s upbringing and the legitimate right of the child[] to understand [his or
her] heritage." Feldman v. Feldman, 378 N.J. Super. 83, 93 (App. Div. 2005)
(quoting McCown v. McCown, 277 N.J. Super. 213, 219 (App. Div. 1994)).
Here, plaintiff and defendant have an agreement that addresses their
children's religious upbringing and education. Our state "favor[s] the use of
consensual agreements to resolve marital controversies." J.B. v. W.B., 215 N.J.
305, 326 (2013) (quoting Konzelman v. Konzelman, 158 N.J. 185, 193 (1999)).
Thus, a court should not "unnecessarily or lightly disturb[]" a marital agreement,
Quinn v. Quinn, 225 N.J. 34, 44 (2016) (quoting Konzelman, 158 N.J. at 193-
94), and it will not "rewrite or revise an agreement when the intent of the parties
is clear," id. at 45.
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The CPTA provides that the parties "agree and are committed to a
continued Christian religious upbringing" for their children. The parties are also
"mutually committed to the highest standards of quality education" for their
children, and they agreed to "consider all available options for school including
private school, public school and a public school outside of their district (which
is Wall Township)." Because plaintiff and defendant could not agree on a school
for A.W., the court considered all of the schooling options presented by the
parties and considered the parties' commitment to raising their children Christian
as one factor weighing in favor of permitting A.W. to go to ACA. See Asch,
164 N.J. Super. 505 (recognizing a parental agreement pertaining to a child's
religious upbringing is one of many factors a court may consider when
determining which school is in a child's best interests).
The court did not, however, merely consider ACA's religious nature in its
determination that attending ACA would be in A.W.'s best interests. The court
also considered and relied on many other facts based on the testimony of the
parties, Mercadante's testimony, and the evidence. See generally Levine, 322
N.J. Super. at 567 (detailing factors to be considered in determining a child's
best interests in attending one among numerous schools); Asch, 164 N.J. Super.
at 505 (same). The court found ACA was conveniently located near the parties'
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residences and the Goddard School, where J.W. attends; the students at ACA
performed above average on standardized tests; the student-to-teacher ratio is
low; and the vast majority of reviews of ACA spoke positively about the
education and atmosphere offered by the school.
The court also considered plaintiff's negative experience undergoing the
three stages of discipline as it pertains to ACA, and his claim that his
disciplinary history with Grace Bible Church would affect his ability to
effectively function as a parent of a student at the school. The court
acknowledged plaintiff's experience at the church but determined it would not
prevent plaintiff from participating as A.W.'s parent at ACA. It found that
although ACA leases its buildings from the church, the school is not affiliated
with the church, and only approximately fifteen percent of the students at ACA
attend the church. The court also found the church did not shun plaintiff;
instead, plaintiff chose to disassociate himself from the church and its members.
Finally, the court determined plaintiff's marital status and departure from the
church would not affect his ability to participate in A.W.'s education at ACA
because many parents whose children attend ACA are separated and thus are
given different logins and receive all communications from the school, and
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Mercadante testified that plaintiff's affiliation—or lack thereof—with Grace
Bible Church would not influence how ACA treated him.
Based on our review of the record, we are convinced the court's findings
of fact are supported by sufficient evidence the court deemed credible, and its
determination it is in A.W.'s best interests to attend ACA is supported by the
court's findings of fact and application of the pertinent legal principles . Cf.
Levine, 322 N.J. Super. at 566-68 (reversing in part after finding the child was
thriving in her current school, and also determining there was no evidence
supporting the court's holding that it was in the child's best interests to go to a
particular high school when she had just started middle school).
Contrary to plaintiff's claims, the court did not ignore the terms of the
CPTA, improperly shift the burden to plaintiff to prove that ACA was not in
A.W.'s best interests, or base its determination on an erroneous assumption that
defendant was the parent of primary residence. Those claims are contradicted
by the record. The court recognized the parties' shared joint custody, and
explained its determination therefore could not be based on custody and instead
required an analysis of the other pertinent factors. As detailed in the court's oral
opinion and written amplification, the court correctly considered the merits of
all the schools proposed by the parties, the language in the CPTA, and all of the
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factors pertinent to a best interests determination pertaining to the selection of a
school. See id. at 567.
We similarly find unavailing plaintiff's challenge to the court's credibility
determinations. As a reviewing court, "[w]e defer to the credibility
determinations made by the trial court because the trial judge 'hears the case,
sees and observes the witnesses, and hears them testify,' affording it 'a better
perspective than a reviewing court in evaluating the veracity of a witness.'"
Gnall, 222 N.J. at 428 (quoting Cesare, 154 N.J. at 412). Although plaintiff
offers various bases for his claim the court should have made different
credibility determinations, we discern no basis to upset the court's detailed
credibility findings, which are based on the evidence presented, the demeanor
of the respective witnesses, plaintiff's decision to present only selective
information concerning ACA, and the court's observations of each witness
during the testimony presented.
In sum, we find the court's findings of fact, credibility determinations,
and conclusion it is in A.W.'s best interests to attend ACA are amply supported
by sufficient credible evidence. The court considered the appropriate factors in
determining A.W.'s best interests. Plaintiff's mere dissatisfaction with the
court's well-supported decision and claims the court should have interpreted the
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evidence differently do not provide an appropriate basis to reverse the court's
order. To the extent we have not expressly addressed any of plaintiff's
arguments, they are without sufficient merit to warrant discussion in a written
opinion. R. 2:11-3(e)(1)(E).
Affirmed.
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