Officials Probe Fair Lawn Teacher Caught Yelling at Student on Video

When a video showing a Fair Lawn High School teacher berating a student was posted online Friday, the response from many of the thousands of people who viewed it was quick and emotional.

"This is disgusting and makes me sick to think it's at FLHS," one Facebook user wrote.

"I'm praying he'll get fired," wrote another user.

School officials are bound by law and district policy to react to complaints against staff in a measured way. The Fair Lawn Board of Education policy on teaching staff discipline states that, when disciplinary matters comes up, the chief school administrator will deal with them on a case-by-case basis.

Superintendent Bruce Watson told Patch Tuesday that he was investigating the incident while the teacher in question was out on leave.

The board policy further states that "discipline measures will include verbal and written warnings as appropriate and will provide, wherever possible, for progressive penalties for repeated violations. Penalties may include suspension, withholding one or more increments, and dismissal."

When Watson brings his findings and a recommendation to the school board, the issue will likely be discussed in closed session. Officials are barred by law from discussing personnel matters in open session unless the employee in question chooses to hold the meeting in public.

After the board votes on the recommendation, that decision is made public, board President Michael Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg added that the board was "very upset that this happened and concerned about the student involved."

"Our teachers are very hardworking and dedicated," he said. "This incident doesn't say what being a teacher in Fair Lawn is all about."