IMO Tenure Hearing of Dawn Tardif, School District of the Township of Florence, Burlington County, 4/24/2020, (#110-20)

110-20
Agency Dkt. No. 55-3/20
New Jersey Commissioner of Education
Final Decision
In the Matter of the Tenure Hearing of
Dawn Tardif, School District of the
Township of Florence, Burlington County.
For the Petitioner, Geoffrey N. Stark, Esq.
No appearance by or on behalf of Respondent, Dawn Tardif
This matter was opened before the Commissioner of Education on March 20, 2020,
through tenure charges of incapacity certified by Donna Ambrosius, Superintendent of the Florence
Township School District (“District”), together with supporting evidence against respondent, Dawn
Tardif, a tenured custodian in the District’s employ. The District provided respondent with written
notice of such certification at the respondent’s last known address, via email and overnight delivery,
on February 28, 2020.
On March 3, 2020, the Commissioner directed the respondent, via regular and
certified mail, to file an answer to the charges. 	This communication clearly provided notice to
respondent that, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:3-5.3 and 6A:3-5.4, an individual against whom tenure
charges are certified “shall have 15 days from the day such charges are filed with the Commissioner
to file a written response to the charges with the Commissioner,” and that failure to answer within
the prescribed period would – absent granting of an extension for good cause shown – result in the
charges being deemed admitted. 	No reply to the tenure charges was received from or on behalf of
the respondent.

2
The certified tenure charges and statement of supporting evidence filed by the District
in this matter indicate that the respondent received a comprehensive Functional Capacity Evaluation
on November 26, 2019. 	It was determined that the respondent is unable to perform the essential
functions of her job with or without restrictions. Deeming the allegations to be admitted and noting
that the respondent has failed to respond to the charges certified against her, the Commissioner finds
that the District’s charge of incapacity has been proven and warrants the respondent’s dismissal.
Accordingly, summary decision is hereby granted to the District, and the respondent is dismissed
from her tenured position with the District.
IT IS SO ORDERED.*
COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION
Date of Decision: 	April 24, 2020
Date of Mailing: 	April 27, 2020
* 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).