Teacher denies allegations, accepts settlement
HAMILTON » A teacher accused of violating New Jersey’s anti-bullying law has been placed on paid administrative leave for six months and will then retire.
S. Ann Bull has agreed to be “relieved of the duties and responsibilities normally associated with her position and employment,” but the Lalor Elementary School teacher denies any wrongdoing.
In 2018, the Hamilton Township Board of Education made two separate findings that Bull had committed an act of harassment, intimidation, and bullying pursuant to the AntiBullying Bill of Rights Act, according to documents obtained by The Trentonian.
Bull filed timely petitions denying the HIB allegations, setting off a prolonged employment dispute that went before an administrative law judge for review, records show.
The school board and tenured teacher had “anticipated that extensive additional litigation” would have transpired, so both parties earlier this month agreed to resolve this matter out of court. The agreement places Bull on paid
administrative leave from Jan. 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021.
The agreement also has a non-disparagement clause in which all parties “agree not to defame or disparage the other.”
Bull further released the Hamilton Township School District from any claims or demands, meaning she won’t file any civil rights lawsuits against the school board.
Under the settlement agreement, the school board admits no wrongdoing
in twice finding that Bull had committed an act of HIB. The teacher, meanwhile, also makes zero admissions.
“Ms. Bull specifically maintains that she has not committed any act of HIB,” the agreement states. “The Board specifically maintains that it conducted its investigations and made its findings vis-à-vis the First Finding and Second Finding in accordance with law. The parties have entered into this Agreement solely to avoid the expensive and
uncertain litigation which would be required to obtain a final judgment as to the merits of the First Petition and Second Petition.”
The Trentonian obtained a copy of this agreement through an Open Public Records Act request. Bull signed the agreement on Dec. 11, while Board President Susan Lombardo signed it Dec. 17 on behalf of Hamilton’s nine-member school board.
Before reaching a settlement agreement, the Hamilton Township Board of Education on Oct. 28 approved Bull’s pending retirement in a 9-0 vote, according to meeting minutes.
After observing six months of paid administrative leave, Bull is retiring effective July 1, 2021. She has worked in the Hamilton Township School District for 18 years and currently earns about $87,000 in annual salary, records show.
During the current school year, Bull educated fourth-graders at Lalor Elementary, according to the district’s website. She boasts a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from West Virginia State University, a Master of Science degree in information systems from the University of Maryland and a New Jersey teacher certification for grades K-8.