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Back to School, with Fewer Activities
Today, the budget cut effects are in the news again, as the APP reports that students will head back to school next week with fewer extracurricular activities to join.
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Tagged: freehold regional high school district RSS
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Firm hired to recruit regional schools head
Two veteran educators have been picked to find a replacement for Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent H. James Wasser, who plans to retire June 30.
The district school board chose West Hudson Associates on Monday to serve as the consulting firm in charge of the superintendent search. The firm was retained for $15,000, according to a release from district spokesman James Quirk.
William Librera, a former state commissioner of education, and Peter Bastardo, whose resume includes seven years as the Freehold Township schools superintendent, will handle the search for the firm.
The firm will advertise regionally and nationally, conduct screenings and interviews, present qualified candidates to the school board and assist in the public process of meeting candidates. They also will help to implement plans for team building and a strategic plan when a new superintendent is chosen, according to Quirk.
West Hudson Associates has conducted superintendent searches around the state, including in Highland Park, Newark and Paterson, according to Quirk.
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Cell Tower Nixed at CNHS
Plans to site a cellular tower at Colts Neck High School were unanimously rejected by the Zoning Board of Adjustment here April 20.
The tower's location on school property, as well as a feeling that Verizon Wireless could have done a more thorough vetting of other sites in the area, influenced the board's decision, said [...]
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FRHSD Track Meet This Week: Eyes on FTHS
Following their first-ever run at the Penn Relays, the Freehold Township High School boys track team will be the top dogs at this year's FRHSD Track and Field Championships this Thursday.
The event, dating back to 1972, will take place at 3:45 PM at Howell High School. The Township girls are also expected to do [...]
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Wasser Retiring; Tells Critics to Move On
When Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent H. James Wasser retires in June, he will cap 23 years of service to the district.
"You get up one day and you know it's time. And it's my time," Wasser told students, faculty and community members assembled at Manalapan High School Monday night for a Board of Education meeting.
The sometimes controversial superintendent plans to retire June 30, one year before his contract was set to expire.
Wasser, 59, of Manalapan currently earns $215,000 a year in addition to benefits such as medical insurance, a vehicle and a computer.
He is entitled to accumulated unused vacation and sick days when he retires, according to his contract. How many of those days Wasser has stockpiled, and how much he would be paid for them was not available Tuesday. However, Asbury Park Press DataUniverse records show that as of Jan. 1, 2009, he was entitled to $89,802 in such retirement pay and $4,333 in "other compensation."
Wasser had acted to resign as schools superintendent in September under an agreement that would have allowed him to step down into a lesser administrative post until his contract expired in 2011. Monmouth County Executive Schools Superintendent Carole Knopp Morris rejected that plan, however, on the grounds that the school board violated state statute by renegotiating Wasser's contract without holding a public hearing.
In the case of a retirement, a hearing was not necessary, Morris said Tuesday.
Wasser's legacy when he leaves will include a nearly two-year controversy about the validity of doctoral diplomas he and several current and former district staffers earned from the online, unaccredited Breyer State University.
The degrees attracted statewide attention, directly leading to the introduction of legislation barring school districts from compensating employees for degrees from unauthorized universities. That legislation is awaiting Gov. Chris Christie's signature.
Wasser, a current staffer and a former employee were ordered in 2008 to relinquish their doctoral titles. Wasser also gave up the additional stipend he had received for earning his degree.
State and county investigations exonerated Wasser of criminal accusations, and the state Department of Education determined in 2008 that the district did not break any state laws and regulations by paying the staffers' tuition and giving them raises for their Breyer State degrees.
At the end of the board meeting Monday, Wasser addressed the controversy head-on, noting that no fraud or deceit had been proven.
"So nothing was done wrong. . . . This has to be a personal vendetta," Wasser told the small crowd still assembled.
Several of his critics remained in the audience as he spoke.
"You know, people make mistakes," he said. "But when people make mistakes, do you keep going on and on and on about it?"
School board members should say enough is enough, and move on to talking about academic issues, such as the district's learning academies, Wasser said. "I'm very proud of this district. Don't let a few people destroy it."
He will apologize to those he has upset, he said, adding: "Get over it. And get a life."
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Wasser Retiring
H. James Wasser, the perennially-controversial superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District, will retire this June.
Following years of controversy surrounding his PhD from an unaccredited Breyer State University, Wasser announced at last night's school board meeting that he would step down from the district on June 30.
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Frank Lee
“Administrator for special projects”, a perfect job title …. for an idiot.
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Jim Jack, 
Larry, 
Darleen McDillion and 3 others are discussing. 
ratbert and one other person are discussing. 
Christie’s School Cuts: Freehold Districts React
Governor Chris Christie's statewide school aid cuts--some $819 million--will hurt staffing and school programs for Freehold students next year, and officials must now figure out how to cope.
Update, 1:18PM: Freehold School District will lose about 9% of their state aid from the cuts, amounting to more than $868,000 less for 2011 than in 2010. [...]
edison1205, 
Ted Miller, 
RK and one other person are discussing. -
briansullivan
It is evident that life as a school administrator has become much more difficult, but, what we are seeing is the inevitable.
Christy has inherited a very broken state. The past several governors and the legislature have done an awful job for many years. There are so many things that have to change in order to sustain the basic infrastructure such as schools. Until there is very drastic changes, the state just cannot afford to pay what it does. The tax payers are tired, broke, and angry.
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RK
Let’s “hope” that the administrators put out a RESPONSIBLE budget that will not TAX us, the property owners to the MAX. Although, I never have seen this happen, so I “hope” the tax payers are responsible and DO NOT pass the budget!!!
They have already put plans into place to get their “workers” out there to do what they can to pass the budget, regardless of what’s in it!! So EVERYONE should mark their calendars and make sure to go and VOTE!
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Ted Miller
This Monday is the budget hearing for the Boro k-8.
As we all know, the past administration in Trenton strapped our district with an oppressive number of unfunded mandates for way too many years, while Abbotts were practically flaunting their irresponsible fiscal abuses (by the Billion$$$).
Freehold Borough K-8 has done an exploratory job of managing expenses under the most dire fiscal circumstances. This fact has been proven. I do not believe that there is ANY other public school district in Monmouth county that spends as little per student as our school district.
By example, our district SHOULD be APPLAUDED AND REWARDED for being financially responsible, not punished by these desperate cutbacks.
We were promised to be fiscally brought up to “Adequacy”, not out of wasteful favoritism, or secret pay to play agreements, this district was promised “Adequacy Funding” because the DoE recognized just how horrible the old funding formula financially punished our district.
The staggering list of government agencies, departments and commissions who had abused the public trust, who had selfishly inflicted this fiscal Leviathan upon the citizens of our state is a shameful testament to an era of state government that will keep us all suffering for a period of time to come. But our children’s education should NOT be sacrificed, we should not accept the fact that precious early childhood academics can and will suffer.
The result of neglectful careless actions on the part of the State DoE, has imposed on the Boro’s School district the following conditions…, serious over crowding, loss of the school library, School Stage being used as a classrooms in two of the three buildings, exploding student-teacher class ratio and with even less funding, this situation will not, and can not improve.
Again…, our district SHOULD be APPLAUDED AND REWARDED for being financially responsible, not punished by these desperate cutbacks due to the sins of others! Our children deserve better.
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Ted Miller
This Monday is the budget hearing for the Boro k-8.
As we all know, the past administration in Trenton strapped our district with an oppressive number of unfunded mandates for way too many years, while Abbotts were practically flaunting their irresponsible fiscal abuses (by the Billion$$$).
Freehold Borough K-8 has done an exemplary job of managing expenses under the most dire fiscal circumstances. This fact has been proven. I do not believe that there is ANY other public school district in Monmouth county that spends as little per student as our school district.
By example, our district SHOULD be APPLAUDED AND REWARDED for being financially responsible, not punished by these desperate cutbacks.
We were promised to be fiscally brought up to “Adequacy”, not out of wasteful favoritism, or secret pay to play agreements, this district was promised “Adequacy Funding” because the DoE recognized just how horrible the old funding formula financially punished our district.
The staggering list of government agencies, departments and commissions who had abused the public trust, who had selfishly inflicted this fiscal Leviathan upon the citizens of our state is a shameful testament to an era of state government that will keep us all suffering for a period of time to come. But our children’s education should NOT be sacrificed, we should not accept the fact that precious early childhood academics can and will suffer.
The result of neglectful careless actions on the part of the State DoE, has imposed on the Boro’s School district the following conditions…, serious over crowding, loss of the school library, School Stage being used as a classrooms in two of the three buildings, exploding student-teacher class ratio and with even less funding, this situation will not, and can not improve.
Again…, our district SHOULD be APPLAUDED AND REWARDED for being financially responsible, not punished by these desperate cutbacks due to the sins of others! Our children deserve better.
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edison1205
Kudos to Brian Boyle for calling out Schundler as the liar he is. In my town, we lost about 56 percent of our state aid, and I’m very sorry to see that our fellow taxpayers in Monmouth are suffering the same fate.
But Boyle is spot on for rebuking Schundler: back on February 18, he was talking about 15 percent cuts (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/nj_acting_education_chief_says.html) and more recently, Christie walked it back to five percent.
Punishing our districts and our children in this way went against his Schundler’s and Christie’s commitments on the issue, and it’s nice to see somebody in school administration with the c0j0nes to call him out!
For more, visit us at edison1205.wordpress.com
FRHSD Debuts Budget Information Website
In just a few short weeks, the always-vocal audience at Freehold Regional High School District's meetings will have a chance to vet the proposed $187.6 million budget for 2010-2011 unveiled this week.
In preparation for any budget controversy--the proposal is about 7.8 percent higher than last year's and would raise property taxes in [...]
Freehold Regional H.S. District OKs $187.6M budget
The Freehold Regional High School District has adopted a $187.6 million budget for the 2010-2011 school year, to bet vetted by the public later this month, according to the APP.
From the report:
The proposed budget unveiled Monday assumes the district will receive nearly flat state aid in 2010-2011, not [...]
Assembly to Vote on “Diploma Mill Bill” Thursday
The state Assembly is expected to vote on the so-called diploma mill bill Thursday, after it was approved by the state Senate Monday.
"The passage of this bill is essential as it directly affects what New Jersey residents are paying for school employees' salaries," state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, who co-sponsored the Senate bill with Sen. Richard J. Codey, D-Essex. said in a prepared release. "While there is no problem with compensating people for hard work and additional education that only benefits our students, it is simply wrong to reward people with taxpayer dollars when no reward was earned."
The bill was introduced after stories in the Asbury Park Press revealed that several Freehold Regional High School District employees, including Schools Superintendent H. James Wasser, benefited by obtaining doctoral degrees from an unaccredited, online university.
The measure was previously approved by the state Assembly and the state Senate, but the Senate could not vote on certain amendments before the last legislative session ended.
The current bill (S-826) laces restrictions on school district employees seeking compensation for coursework, academic credits or degrees received from an institution of higher education.
The new requirements include a provision that the institution be a "duly authorized institution of higher education" as defined by state law.
Employees would also need permission from the schools superintendent before they enrolled in any course for which they were seeking tuition assistance. School board members would have to approve a superintendent's courses, according to the bill.
Compensation or tuition assistance would also only be given for courses or degrees related to the employee's current or future job responsibilities, the bill states.
Carrol Babbison, and 
Marc LeVine are discussing. -
Marc LeVine
This bill MUST pass and send the right message that Educators, above everyone else, MUST actually do the work > to get the degree > to get or keep the job and > earn higher pay.
People like Wasser are supposed to be educational role models for our kids. What kind of message does it send to a child when hears that his/her top school administrators went out and bought their certificates just to hang on the wall?
Why would any child want to deal with the pressures of post secondary education, when they learn they can avoid all this buy purchasing a phony document?
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Carrol Babbison
So very well said Marc.
I see your posts all over the internet. You have such a command on every topic related to local current events.
Do you have a fan club?
-CB
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Marc LeVine
Hi Carrol:
Thank you for your kind words. A fan club? No. But I DO have a blog you can subscribe to at http://www.icanewfriend.com/blog where I discuss social media, mostly.
Please feel free to stop by and take a look.
Regards,
Marc
Letter to the APP Slams FRHSD
A letter from Marlboro resident James Sage to the APP slams the Freehold Regional High School District for failing to meet No Child Left Behind Act goals for adequate yearly progress in reading and math.
He cites Marlboro High School's failure in both subjects and the Board's refusal to acknowledge the issue when calling for [...]
freedom is discussing. -
freedom
Maybe Mr Sage should consider that these “elete” students are only “elete” in the minds of their parents. You cannot make people smarter if they do not “have it”…
Former FRHSD Teacher Admits Taking Kids’ Money
As a teacher at Colts Neck High, Megan Laboy told her students they would get better grades if they made charitable donations. But in reality, she admitted Friday, the money went straight into her own pocket.
Laboy admitted the crime Friday, when she pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree theft by deception, according [...]
KATHYR is discussing. -
KATHYR
thats a shame. the teachers in NJ get paid very well for working only 183 days a year. what did she need the $ for? Lunch?
FRHSD Reschedules ROTC Competition
The Freehold Regional High School District announced on its Web site that the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps drill competition was postponed due to the expected weather.
The event will be rescheduled for Feb. 27 at Colts Neck High School.
Know of other canceled or reschedule events? Drop us a line so we can [...]
Jeans for Teens: Colts Neck Students Collect Pants for Homeless
Has there ever been a demographic more closely tied to blue jeans than American teenagers? For one group of Colts Neck High School students, those ties have grown even stronger as they donate their own gently-used jeans to hundreds of needy teenagers in their area and around the world.
The students, organized by the [...]
Wasser-Inspired Bill Dies in Legislative Process, Awaits Next Session
The Freehold-inspired "Diploma Mill" bill proposed in the NJ state legislature died this week before it could get approved in the lame duck session, according to the APP.
The bill, drafted in response to Freehold Regional High School District's Superintendent James Wasser being paid additional salary for an unaccredited, online doctoral degree, could be [...]
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freedom
This is the wrong bill. It should read “all degrees are to be earned at accredited 4 year and graduate institutions. NO on-line or mail order degrees or certificates will be accepted as educational credit. Recepiants must take all coursework on the campus of the confiring institution and show legitimate graduate level admission (GRE, etc.).” This bill would then really eliminate ALL of the phony education credits not worth the paper they are written upon.
Randi G 12:01 pm on March 24, 2010 Permalink |
What ever became of the time He had Workers from the Board of education painting and doing work on his moms home up north . Paint wood and our workers? Why did this story just go POOOFFFFFF
He should have been canned years ago.Glad my kids are now grown But I still want the best for all these other kids. They are our future.He was our nightmare, He wants everyone to just forget. This will not happen.
Frank Lee 2:13 pm on March 24, 2010 Permalink |
“So nothing was done wrong. . . . This has to be a personal vendetta,” Wasser told the small crowd still assembled.
OF COURSE “NOTHING WAS DONE WRONG”, DOCTOR. THAT’S WHY THERE IS A BILL ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ENGAGING IN HALF-TRUTHS AND LIES AS YOU HAVE. WHAT A TOTAL DISGRACE! JUST BECAUSE YOU SAY SOMETHING DOESN’T MEAN IT IS TRUE.
momsthoughts 5:50 am on March 25, 2010 Permalink |
This picture doesn’t tell the whole story. From what I have read, Mr. Hochberg, Marlboro BOE did not stand for Wasser. The crowd Wasser hoped to have standing for his big announcement had all left once it became apparent they were being duped and used….brought to the meeting under false pretense. The announcement of his departure has nothing to do with doing the right thing – its just more simple greed – making sure he gets his pension before Christie makes any changes to it.
I say good riddance. GO AWAY. Don’t stay here, clinging to any idea of power you think you have – don’t serve as an interim supt or a consultant – go away so we can start to clean up this district. And take the other cheats with you too!
Hopefully the people of Howell will get rid of Lawson and we can start to turn this district around.
I truly hope this board starts doing its job – representing the people of this district – and they find an honest, qualified supt with real credentials who operates in the open with honesty and integrity.
Darleen McDillion 9:22 pm on March 25, 2010 Permalink |
retiring on ONE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS per year with full benefits paid for by whom. who is loudest and laughing last now?
Larry 12:58 pm on March 26, 2010 Permalink |
Just glad that he’s gone by the time my son gets in to the High School district. Its so sad when someone won’t admit to their mistakes. Its just a shame we have to pay him all that money to retire..
Jim Jack 1:52 pm on May 13, 2010 Permalink |
We can start repairing the damage done to our district, and make sure that controls are in place to place sure another huckster doesn’t come into power.
He said, adding: “Get over it. And get a life.”
Classless end to a shameful tenure.
Jim Jack 1:55 pm on May 13, 2010 Permalink |
“So nothing was done wrong. . . . This has to be a personal vendetta,” Wasser told the small crowd still assembled.”
I guess we’ll never know if he was:
A) Too clueless in the education field to recognize a phony doctorate, or…
B) Just laughing all the way to the bank, knowing full well that it would not hold up to any scrutiny.