$7.5
Million Administration Building
I will do everything in my power to
stop the project. There was no
transparency. The Board is taking millions
away from our schools, hurting students and teachers. All of the $7.5 million is Lodi tax
dollars. Lodi is ineligible for any
grant money from the State. The public
was never given an opportunity to vote on it.
The whole process needs to be investigated.
Excesses
for school leadership.
In his 4th year, Business
Administrator Marc Capizzi’s salary is $168,318. It is one of highest in the State. Capizzi had no prior school experience when
he was hired and his position was never advertised.
Superintendent Frank Quatrone is
receiving the maximum salary of $167,000 and a $25,108 merit bonus each year
even though our district is failing in many areas.
I will never approve contracts like
these for administration.
Lodi
High School was ranked 292 out of 337 by NJ Monthly Magazine.
I will make it a top priority to
improve SAT scores and passing rates on Advanced Placement Exams. Lodi is not
meeting its targets for “College and Career Readiness”.
I have seen some low performing
districts get so caught up with their low PARCC scores that they neglect their
SAT and AP issues. Lodi has to multi-task
and take on all at the same time.
For years, I was an SAT tutor for
Math. I have experience in this area.
Nepotism
and Conflicts of Interest
The majority of Board members have
immediate family members employed by the district. They are not supposed to vote on the most
important things. Because there are not
enough members to make a quorum, they vote anyway by invoking “Doctrine of
Necessity”. They have to send a copy of
their vote to the School Ethics Commission listing their conflicts. It’s a bad situation all the way around.
The Lodi Board needs a strong, local anti-nepotism policy.
The Lodi Board needs a strong, local anti-nepotism policy.
Problems
with Curriculum
In 2015, Lodi failed its QSAC review
for “Instruction and Program”. The Board
responded by adding two more “Supervisors of Curriculum”, bringing the number
to four. Supervisors of Curriculum are
making over $140,000 a year. Lodi
doesn’t need four supervisors of curriculum.
Lodi needs the right curriculum, not a bloated bureaucracy.
Improve
morale for school employees.
Talented and dedicated school
employees cannot advance because almost promotions go to family of
Board members.
Teachers are currently working without
a contract. Middle School teachers have
been given additional responsibilities and see others getting paid for the
additional work they are doing.
Many teachers feel disrespected and
mistreated by a certain administrator tied to Board members.
Ethics
Reform
I filed an ethics complaint against
Board President Joseph Licata for multiple violations. Licata and his attorney received two
unfavorable decisions so far and his case is going before an Administrative Law
Judge.
I will bring the toughest ethical
standards to the Board.