Judge Reverses Suspension of N.J. Superintendent Over Secret Meeting

Dramatic Twist in Washington Township: Court Reinstates Superintendent After Secret Suspension Declared Illegal

In a surprising change of events, a judge in New Jersey has said that Eric Hibbs’s sudden suspension from his job as superintendent of schools in Washington Township was illegal. This means that he can now go back to his job.

The choice came just a few days after the local school board voted not to bring Hibbs back, which led many to think that his time in the district was over. Judge Benjamin C. Telsey of the Superior Court didn’t agree, though. The judge said that the school board made a big mistake when they suspended Hibbs without telling anyone in public during a secret meeting on March 18. The Open Public Meetings Act of the state was broken by that action. This law is meant to make sure that important government choices are open and accountable.

Judge Telsey’s decision throws out the whole sentence, which means that what the school board did is no longer legal. Gloucester County is deeply divided over the decision. Many parents and teachers wanted to know what caused Hibbs to be suddenly removed from the school in the first place.

Now that the court has stepped in, everyone is looking at the school board again, waiting to see what will happen next. Will they file an appeal or officially bring Hibbs back? At least for now, the judge’s order is a big win for the superintendent and a strong warning that public servants must follow the law, even when they’re not around.

This shocking turn of events not only gives Hibbs’ fans new hope, but it also makes us think about how decisions about school leadership are made in New Jersey. It’s clear that openness is important, and the courts are keeping an eye on things.