Opinion
March 30, 1987
Appeal from the Board of Education of the Wantagh Union Free School District.
Adjudged that the petition is granted, the determination is annulled, on the law, without costs or disbursements, the charges are dismissed, the petitioner is restored to his position with full pay for the period from his suspension to the date of his restoration, less the amount of any unemployment insurance benefits he may have received during that period, without prejudice to the Board of Education of the Wantagh Union Free School District bringing more specific charges against the petitioner, if it be so advised.
The accusation which charged the petitioner only with "incompetence and misconduct" was patently insufficient to inform him of the nature of the charges against him and thus violated his right to due process (see, Matter of Fitzgerald v. Libous, 44 N.Y.2d 660). Furthermore, the petitioner was not given at least eight days in which to answer the charges (see, Civil Service Law § 75). Since there may be a rehearing, we also note that the respondent Board may not consider in its finding matters dehors the record (see, Matter of Simpson v. Wolansky, 38 N.Y.2d 391). Mangano, J.P., Rubin, Kooper and Harwood, JJ., concur.