BOUND BROOK – An arbitrator has suspended a Bound Brook High School math teacher for 120 days without pay for using a district-issued laptop to send offensive emails and nude photos of himself over the Internet.

The school district had sought to have Glenn Ciripompa, who has taught in the school district since 2004, brought up on tenure charges and dismissed for both the use of the computer and inappropriate conduct toward female staff members. But arbitrator Michael Peckler reduced the penalty to the suspension, finding that Ciripompa's behavior toward the other staff members didn't merit him being fired.

"While this decision is in the Board of Education's favor, we are both shocked and disappointed that the arbitrator determined that removal of Mr. Ciripompa from his teaching position was too severe a punishment," district school superintendent Daniel Gallagher said in a statement. "The safety of the staff and students for whom I am responsible is, and will always be, my top priority."

"I will explore all options to ensure that our students and staff are safe from any individual whose misconduct included receiving and distributing 'inappropriate content,' who demonstrated 'complete dishonesty,' and 'a lack of responsibility,'" he continued, quoting the arbitrator. "It is our understanding that the conduct of Mr. Ciripompa will be reviewed by the New Jersey Department of Education to determine if further action is warranted."

The district will also seek in court to modify the penalty, Gallagher said.

Peckler said in his ruling that there is no "basis" to fire Ciripompa.



"Mr. Ciripompa has no prior disciplinary history," Peckler wrote. "His improper use of the district's computer was an acknowledged lapse of judgment resulting in no discernible harm. Mr. Ciripompa's actions were neither serious or egregious. His termination would be an unduly and unjustified penalty."

According to the ruling, the district said it found more than 100 emails with pictures of nude women on the teacher's computer. Among those emails, the ruling stated, were Ciripompa's replies to personal ads on Craigslist that included pictures of a naked man holding Ciripompa's iPad over his face. Gallagher testified he was able to confirm the naked man was Ciripompa.

The ruling also revealed emails between Ciripompa and couples seeking sexual trysts, including invitations to swinger parties.

Four female teachers at the school testified to unwanted advances from Ciripompa. They testified that Ciripompa commented on their appearance and how tight their clothes fit, sent them flowers and asked them out on dates although they told him they had boyfriends.

According to the ruling, Ciripompa was examined by a psychiatrist and it was determined he was "extremely unlikely to engage in the behavior again."

Peckler admonished Ciripompa, saying, "he stole time from the Bound Brook Board of Education on the occasions he should've been prepping for his next class to satisfy his own prurient interests."

Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.