A new outrage in the Abbotts
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 02/1/07
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Former Gov. Brendan T. Byrne once quipped that when he dies,
he "would like to be buried in Hudson County so I can remain active
in politics." He should consider getting a job with either the Camden
or Newark school district. Then he could keep collecting a paycheck
long after his demise.
Audits of spending by four of the state's poorest school districts,
released Tuesday by the state Department of Education, revealed a
disturbing level of what Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy
termed "opportunities for questionable activity." Auditors found that
Camden paid more than $330,000 to employees who had been dead for
years, even decades. Newark also spent $310,000 in payroll for 28
dead employees. Who cashed the checks?
Gov. Corzine should tell Davy to turn over the findings to the U.S.
Attorney's Office. Audits for the state's other 27 Abbott districts
are planned for this spring. Why wait? Davy should send out the
auditors now, and start with Asbury Park, which has the highest per-
pupil costs among them.
Just as egregious as the wasteful spending were reactions from
officials of the audited districts. Camden said its new administrator
hasn't had enough time to study the report. Judging from the
personnel records, they should check his pulse, too. Six of the
posthumously compensated staffers had termination dates two to 32
years after they died. Thirty-two years? Can't blame that on direct
deposit.
Newark objected to auditors calling some of their expenses
questionable. This from a district that spent $1,795 on a jukebox,
shelled out $29,995 for a Jeep Grand Cherokee with leather interior
and navigation screen for the superintendent, and paid salaries to 28
dead people.
Jersey City had $558,000 in questionable spending, including $2,385
for an administrator to attend the Oxford Roundtable in England. City
officials blamed auditors for not interacting with school personnel
before issuing the criticism. Sorry, but listening to spin during an
audit doesn't make it more effective.
David Sciarra, executive director of the Education Law Center that
has fought for more funding for these districts, called for a review
of the state education department. Isn't that shooting the messenger?
Davy said each district will be asked to develop a plan to correct
deficiencies. That's not enough. New Jersey taxpayers have shoveled
billions of dollars into those districts. Administrators and
employees responsible for any dollar spent on non-educational items
should be held accountable publicly for their misuse of public
money.
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