Friday, March 31, 2017

A Hackensack teacher was engaging in campaign activities during a school day…



Board Attorney Richard Salkin responds to Mayor John Labrosse's statement. (Photo: Viorel Florescu/NorthJersey.com)


Link to article:




Hackensack’s overly political board attorney (involved in the same political campaign as the teacher) defended the teacher’s bad behavior.


The teacher is managing the campaign of a current BOE member.  Many conflicts exist.  That board member is in a position to reward the teacher with a promotion.


The teacher was sending press releases to to the papers during school days and on school grounds.  One day, it was at 9:15 am.  Another day, it was at 12:37 pm.  The board was not forthcoming on what that teacher should have been doing during that time.  If it wasn't a class period, was it a duty period?


Hackensack is being poorly represented by its attorney.  Politics is a bigger priority than ethics and education.


The teacher/campaign manager was probably promised a principal position.


We see this scenario play out too often.


Boards of education should strive to be better than this.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Sciarrillo contract for 2016-2017…



A public notice appeared in the Record on March 23, 2017:




The contract referenced in that public notice can be viewed in the link below.  It is dated July 12, 2016, eight months before the public notice.




The agreement lacks the typical language found in “professional service” contracts that are awarded without competitive bidding.


The item appeared on the Superintendent’s monthly report instead of the Resolution section alongside Lerch Higgins.


There is no mention of any request for qualifications.


There is no mention of the estimated $60,000 cost.


Joe Licata never dated his signature.  


Is it typical that only Joe Licata would sign professional service contracts?  Shouldn't there be additional signatures representing the district?