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Saddle River NJ, Saddle River School Superintendent Gina Cinotti is seeking a stay while she appeals the one-year suspension of her teaching and administrative certificates. This suspension was ordered by the New Jersey Department of Education’s State Board of Examiners following a six-year investigation into charges filed against her by her previous employer, the Netcong School District, in May 2018.
The 12-page Order of Suspension, adopted by the Board of Examiners on June 27, details a complex history of charges and counter-charges between Cinotti and the Netcong School District. Cinotti served four years with the Netcong district, three as chief school administrator, before leaving in June 2018 to join the Saddle River School District as its superintendent.
Superintendent’s Suspension Held in Abeyance
Saddle River School Board President Emily Kaufman announced that the New Jersey Commissioner of Education has held Cinotti’s suspension in abeyance pending the review of her application for a stay. “He has advised that Dr. Cinotti can continue serving as the district’s superintendent while her stay application is under review,” Kaufman said on Monday.
In the meantime, Kaufman emphasized that the school board is working closely with the Bergen County executive superintendent and legal counsel to “take all necessary steps to ensure that the Wandell School is fully prepared to welcome back our students in September.”
Background of Charges and Investigation
Cinotti declined to comment on the situation, stating in an emailed response to NorthJersey.com/The Record, “I am currently in litigation and unable to comment at this time.”
The suspension stems from a March 15 initial decision by Administrative Law Judge Kimberly Moss. The decision revealed that the Netcong School District, which had seen 20 superintendents in 25 years, was “extremely difficult to work with” when Cinotti became chief school administrator in July 2015, after serving as principal for nine months.
In March 2018, the Netcong Board of Education certified five tenure charges against Cinotti:
- Conduct unbecoming to the Netcong Board of Education.
- Authorizing payment to a teacher for home instruction canceled on short notice.
- Proposing to place all Learning Language Disabled students out of district to resolve a space shortage, violating students’ Individualized Education Programs and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- Distributing Rice notices to employees about pending Board review over the signature of the district’s business administrator without his permission.
- Sharing confidential legal information with a teacher whose contract was not renewed and blind-copying her brother on internal emails with the Board.
Cinotti entered into a settlement with the Netcong Board and resigned but later denied any wrongdoing.
Review and Rulings
The State Board of Examiners revisited the tenure matter in May 2018, issuing an order to show cause in June 2018, asking why Cinotti’s certificates should not be revoked. Due to pending civil litigation, this order was held in abeyance.
The Board of Examiners transmitted the matter to the Office of Administrative Law in June 2021. Hearings were held in November and December 2022, and March and July 2023. The record was closed in February.
Judge Moss’s initial decision dismissed three of the five charges, recommending a letter of reprimand for the remaining two, and stating that “suspension or revocation of a teaching certificate was not warranted in this case.”
However, the Board of Examiners disagreed with the recommended penalty. They found that Cinotti engaged in unbecoming conduct by copying her brother on internal emails, signing another person’s name without permission, authorizing payment to a teacher for instruction not provided, and outsourcing disabled students. These actions, they ruled, “had the potential to compromise the operation of the public school,” necessitating a more severe penalty. Consequently, they ordered Cinotti’s certificates suspended for a year.
Future Steps
As the appeal process continues, the Saddle River School District remains focused on ensuring a smooth start to the upcoming school year. The board is committed to maintaining stability and support for its students and staff during this transitional period.
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No consequences for anything. How she got hired to begin with ? There was no one better than this?
I submitted your inquiry to the Department of Obvious and here’s your answer: she’s a woman.
😹 That’s right ladies, put those thumbs to work.
Yes, this is the million dollar question! And why the parents were not informed?
This is scary. What else has this women done? She is a very dangerous women to be around children
My children and I loved her when he was in Netcong. The penalty seems a bit extreme.