In the Matter of Roger Lai, Environment Community Opportunity Charter School, Camden County, 10/13/2021, (#252-21SEC)

252-21SEC
SEC Dkt. No. T19-21
Agency Dkt. No. 177-9/21
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of Roger Lai,
Environment Community Opportunity
Charter School, Camden 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 board member training in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:12-33 and
N.J.A.C. 6A:28-4.1. 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 completed training after the issuance of its Order to Show Cause. Respondent
filed exceptions to the recommended penalty, indicating that he relied on information from the
school business administrator that his required training has been completed and that he then
completed the training immediately upon receiving the Order to Show Cause and realizing that
that information was mistaken. Respondent further indicates that he does not dispute that he
failed to complete the training by the deadline but asks the Commissioner to reconsider the
sanction.
Upon review, the Commissioner concurs with the penalty recommended by the
SEC for respondent’s failure to timely honor an obligation placed upon board members by law.
Respondent’s exceptions do not provide a basis for modifying the recommended penalty when

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respondent does not dispute that he failed to complete the training in a timely manner.
Accordingly, respondent is hereby reprimanded for violating the School Ethics Act.
IT IS SO ORDERED.1
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision:
Date of Mailing:
1 This decision may be appealed to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-9.1.
Under N.J.Ct.R. 2:4-1(b), a notice of appeal must be filed with the Appellate Division within 45 days from the date
of mailing of this decision.
October 13, 2021
October 13, 2021