The state Department of Education in New Jersey is trying to strip a high school physics teacher of his tenure for visiting adult Internet sites during school hours. And now the Bergenfield Board of Education has filed suit to recover some of the wages paid to the teacher for ogling Internet nudes instead of attending to his students.
Meanwhile, Alan Ross, a $78,500-a-year teacher of chemistry, physics and Earth sciences, has filed a couple of suits of his own. Though he has not set foot in a school classroom this school year, he wants his salary to be continued. He is also demanding damages for being the victim of a frivolous lawsuit.
Problems for Ross began in December 1997 when students told school officials they saw Ross looking at porn on the computer on his desk in the physics room. School district officials seized the computer and sent it to a company for analysis.
The report: During the previous 46 days, there had been visits to about 2,900 sites, about half of which were adult in nature. All of the visits took place during school hours and more than half occurred when students were present in the room.
School board president Vernon Cox said he didn't think the teacher's job description included searching out porn on the Internet.
In its suit, the school board said that Ross' failure to teach during the time in question hurt the board and entitled it to damages. In his answer, filed earlier this month, Ross denied the charges. He has also asked the state commissioner of education to dismiss them. And he's asked for pay for the current school year on the grounds that teachers in tenure disputes must be made if a judgment has not been rendered within 120 days.
The board claims Ross officially resigned in October and is therefore not eligible for pay.
