As Daniel Rodrick remains in hiding in Toms River, not showing up to Town Hall to personally fulfill his only full-time job as mayor, the files and facts surrounding his indefinite leave of absence from his teaching job with the Middletown Board of Education become clearer. Below are 57 pages received from a recent OPRAMachine report that reveals the following:
- On January 27, 2025, the Middletown Township Board of Education determined that there was probably cause sufficient to credit the evidence in support of the tenure charges that Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jessica L. Alfone, brought against Daniel Rodrick.
- Testimony will be provided by; Shannon Smith, Principal of Thorne Middle School; Dr. Lindsay Lorson, Assistant Principal of Thorne Middle School; James Homiak, former Assistant Principal of Thorne Middle School; Patrick Rinella, Assistant Superintendent; Christine McQuillan, School Counselor; parents; and other factual witnesses.
- Personal telephone calls during scheduled instructional time
- Outside email and phone activity during scheduled instructional time.
- Misrepresentation during the investigation into untimely grading.
- A clearly outlined sworn statement of evidence by Dr. Jessica Alfone, Superintendent of Schools.
- November 13, 2024 formal reprimand regarding inconsistent attendance at faculty meetings and a patter of last-minute notifications indicating non-attendance.
- February 2024 memo confirming a meeting between Jim Homiak, union representation and Mrs. Shannon Smith, the principal, regarding missing deadlines and attendance issues.
- October 28, 2022 memo regarding a meeting with Jim Homiak, Mrs. Smith, and Rodrick declined union representation relative to his action of exposing his chest and stomach to the students and staff.
- January 24, 2020 letter from Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Pickus regarding failure to report to work duty.
- June 15, 2018 memo on attendance from Robert Generelli.
- June 11, 2012 memo from Thorne Administration on attendance issues.
- December 19, 2024 letter to Daniel Rodrick stating he is being provided a copy of “Tenure Charges of Conduct Unbecoming and Other Just Cause seeking your removal from your position.”
- January 10, 2025 response to charges from Sanford Oxfeld, representing Daniel Rodrick, stating the charges are “bereft of factual and legal support..he was rated Highly Effective in each evaluation as recent as November 22, 2024.” The filing “of Tenure Charges amounts to tremendous overkill.”
- January 27, 2025, certified Tenure Charges and Sworn Statement of Evidence to the Commissioner of Education was made by unanimous vote of the entire membership of the Middletown Board of Education. Additionally, at that time the Board of Education did determine TO SUSPEND EMPLOYEE WITHOUT PAY FOR ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) DAYS, THROUGH MAY 27, 2025.
Facts as provided and certified by the Middletown Board of Education. Copy below.