An elementary school teacher in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is allowed to keep his job after being late for work 111 times over a period of 2 years.

Roosevelt Elementary School's attempt to fire Arnold Anderson, a 15-year school veteran, from his $90,000-a-year job was rejected by an arbitrator on August 19, saying he was entitled to "progressive discipline."

In the most recent school year through March 20, Anderson was late 46 times, and 65 times in the previous school year. He said that even though he was late 111 times, his delivery of a "superb educational experience to his grateful students" outweighs his tardiness.

The arbitrator criticized Anderson's excuse, but still found that the district failed to provide Anderson with a formal notice of inefficiency or by giving him 90 days to correct his mistakes before terminating employment.

The district is withholding raises for Anderson's tardiness and he will remain suspended without pay until January 1.

New state regulations in New Jersey have made it easier to accuse teachers of inefficiency through filing of tenure charges, requiring rulings by state-appointed arbitrators to occur within 90 days, rather than years.

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