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Paterson settles case with teacher terminated for living outside of New Jersey, allowing her to resign and retire | Paterson Times

Paterson settles case with teacher terminated for living outside of New Jersey, allowing her to resign and retire

school-8

School officials have agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a teacher terminated for living outside of New Jersey.

Barbara Blakeslee, an eighth-grade teacher at School 8, accused the Board of Education of terminating her before she could secure a residency waiver.

Under the settlement agreement, Blakeslee’s employment is reinstated. However, she has to “expeditiously” file for retirement no later than November 1. She also has to submit a letter of “voluntary” resignation. She has to acknowledge in her resignation letter that she is resigning because she moved out of New Jersey and resides in Pennsylvania.

New Jersey First Act requires most public employees to reside in the Garden State. Blakeslee had lived in New Jersey since birth. Her husband had to move to Pennsylvania to look after his ailing mother. She and her children later joined the husband and the ailing mother in Pennsylvania.

Blakeslee sought an exemption under the New Jersey First Act from the Employee Residency Review Committee. Her application was not placed in the July or August meeting agendas because of Covid-19.

She will receive prorated salary for September, according to the settlement agreement. Her salary was $93,647 in 2019. She had taught in Paterson 16 years.

School board members approved the settlement agreement last Wednesday.

Email: [email protected]

  • HankMorgan

    Paterson Schools: “And don’t let the door smack you on the ass!”

    • saintdubu

      HAHAHA

  • saintdubu

    This district is so…. I can see why we rank low on everything LOL.

  • Miss jamaica

    I truly hope this teacher gets a very good settlement. At least 2 years salary.
    They push out a reputable teacher, then they will hired a substitute to sit with our students. Our students are the ones that suffer here .
    We rank low because we no longer have teachers teaching our students those days are gone . Mostly substitute.
    This is Facts .

    • HankMorgan

      Wait for it. Someone at 90 Delaware is gonna be getting a raise soon with the money they saved by paying a substitute for the year instead of a certified classroom teacher.

  • MarquinhoGaucho

    Reasons like this is why Paterson cannot attract talent. You have a corrupt Board of Ed in the charter's pocket who want a failing system (by design) in order to further Justify the Charter expansion. Remember the whole M.O of privatization…(1) defund(2) create a failing system (3) parents get mad (4) Offer privatization (charters) as the solution…If charters are so great why arent there any in Clifton , Wayne, etc??

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