Fiscal Monitor to be Sent to City School District
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
The state is sending a fiscal monitor into the Asbury Park school district.
According to NJ Department of Education representative Richard Vespucci, the monitor will be installed in the near future.
Vespucci said the monitor will have veto power regarding financial decisions in the district.
The move is being made due to several repeated deficiencies in the districts annual audits.
When year-to-year there are repeated problems with fiscal issues and the deficiencies are not being adequately addressed, the commissioner of education has the authority to step in, Vespucci said.
Two recent examples of a fiscal monitor being placed in a district are Pleasantville, in July and Paterson in February. Willingboro, Camden and Irvington also have fiscal monitors.
The Asbury Park district has had well publicized difficulties over the past decade including the current paid suspension of its superintendent of schools.
But Vespucci made clear that the move is not meant to intimidate school officials.
Its not a watch dog or adversarial presence its not a gotcha mentality. They are there to work with the business office and develop the capability it needs to successfully follow fiscal practices and overcome deficiencies, Vespucci said.
He said the monitor will be there for an undetermined period of time, but will not be permanent.
They are going in to do a specific job, he said.
Board of Education President Robert DiSanto said he heard about the new directive from Acting Superintendent James Parham who learned of the move at a meeting with the State Intervention Team on Monday.
Asked if he believed the state was beginning a complete takeover of the district, DiSanto said, Its certainly a step in that direction.
DiSanto said, It is complete micro-management and an abuse of power.
I would interpret it as they dont have enough confidence in the board, he said.
In previous meetings, including a public forum almost a year ago when the state came into the district, state officials said the board would have the final say on all decisions.
The state was here on our invitation, DiSanto said.
DiSanto said he was not happy that he was not personally informed by the state of the plan to send a monitor to the district.
There should have been some kind of communication if they are going to take the power away from elected officials. Its telling the residents of Asbury Park that they have no say.
Board Attorney Alan Schnirman said he first heard about the veto power on Tuesday but did not believe that the state is planning a takeover of the district.
I doubt that, the DOE is trying to get out of that business.
Parham said he was informed by a state representative that a monitor would be assigned to the district in two weeks, and the interview process has begun.
When a selection is made, said Parham, Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy will bring the person to the district to be introduced.
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