Ghanaian School principal charged

BEFORE THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

In the Matter of the Suspension or ) ) CONSENT ORDER OF

Revocation of the Educator ) ) SUSPENSION

Certificate of ) )

Alfred O. Vanderpuije ) ) Certificate 201179 )

SUMMARY OF THE CASE

The South Carolina State Board of Education (State Board) considered this matter on February 8, 2006. On June 2, 2005, the South Carolina Department of Education (Department) sent Alfred O. Vanderpuije a notice of his right to a hearing before the State Board concerning the possible suspension or revocation of his South Carolina educator certificate 201179 by regular and certified mail, return receipt, restricted delivery. Mr. Vanderpuije received the notice as evidenced by a postal receipt bearing his signature. Mr. Vanderpuije subsequently agreed to waive his right to a hearing and to accept the voluntary suspension of his certificate for a period that would commence retroactively on June 13, 2005, and end on June 12, 2006. After considering the information presented, the State Board voted to order the suspension of Mr. Vanderpuije?s certificate, on the agreed-upon terms.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Mr. Vanderpuije holds a South Carolina certificate with over nine years of

experience. Mr. Vanderpuije served as the principal of W. A. Perry Middle

School (School) in Richland County School District One (District) from July 1,

2000, until a January 2005 audit of School activity funds indicated that District procedures

had not been followed and that funds had been misused. Mr. Vanderpuije reimbursed the

District for $4,460, the funds in question, and resigned from his employment, effective

February 25, 2005. On June 13, 2005, Mr. Vanderpuije was arrested and charged with

Embezzlement of Public Funds. Alfred O. Vanderpuije ? Order February 8, 2006 Page 2

When it was determined that there was insufficient evidence to establish the charge of

Embezzlement of Public Funds, the charge was reduced to Breach of Trust and Mr.

Vanderpuije entered the Pretrial Intervention Program on January 26, 2006.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW ?The State Board of Education may, for just cause, either revoke or suspend the

certificate of any person." S.C. Code Ann. ?59-25-150 (2004), S.C. Code Ann. ?59-25-160

(2004); 24 S.C. Code Ann. Regs. 43-58. Just cause includes unprofessional conduct,

dishonesty, evident unfitness for position for which employed, and crime against the law of

this State or United States. The State Board finds that the information presented supports

its determination that just cause exists to suspend Mr. Vanderpuije?s certificate,

commencing retroactively on June 13, 2005, through June 12, 2006. If Mr. Vanderpuije

wishes to have his certificate reinstated at the end of the suspension period, Mr.

Vanderpuije must make a written request to the Office of Educator Certification of the

Department. The written request should include documentation of his successful completion

of the Pretrial Intervention Program and of the expungement of his criminal record.

South Carolina State Board of Education

By: _/S/ Joe Isaac_____________

Joe Isaac Chair

Columbia, South Carolina February 8, 2006

I, Alfred O. Vanderpuije, S.C. Educator Certificate 201179, do hereby agree to the proposed Consent Order of Suspension, consisting of two pages, and understand that this Order will be presented to the State Board of Education for approval on February 8, 2006.

_/S/ Alfred O. Vanderpuije________________________ ___2/2/06_______________ Alfred O. Vanderpuije Date

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