http://hallmonitor.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/28/increased-oversight-needed-on-valhalla-grant-funds-state-audit-finds/ Keeping an eye on education Sat, 5 Jul 2008 21:16:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 http://hallmonitor.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/28/increased-oversight-needed-on-valhalla-grant-funds-state-audit-finds/#comment-19694 John Fitzgerald Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:13:55 +0000 http://hallmonitor.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/28/increased-oversight-needed-on-valhalla-grant-funds-state-audit-finds/#comment-19694 Much ado? I have read the report. This audit only scratches the surface. Consider alone that 90% of the school budget is payroll and benefits and there was a complete lack of controls. Consider the business manager refusing to divulge what he did with money he took from (stole) from the district. Consider the fact that district officials were conspiring to evade state and federal laws, including laws governing taxes while doubling the tax burden on the residents over the same period. This audit doesn't even address the booze cruise, the afternoons at Caramoor, the operas, the double salaries, the payment of a BOE members private school expense. Consider the fact that district auditors found none of this and district attorneys conspired to cover it all up. Much ado? I have read the report. This audit only scratches the surface. Consider alone that 90% of the school budget is payroll and benefits and there was a complete lack of controls. Consider the business manager refusing to divulge what he did with money he took from (stole) from the district. Consider the fact that district officials were conspiring to evade state and federal laws, including laws governing taxes while doubling the tax burden on the residents over the same period. This audit doesn’t even address the booze cruise, the afternoons at Caramoor, the operas, the double salaries, the payment of a BOE members private school expense. Consider the fact that district auditors found none of this and district attorneys conspired to cover it all up.

]]> http://hallmonitor.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/28/increased-oversight-needed-on-valhalla-grant-funds-state-audit-finds/#comment-19690 much ado... Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:50:47 +0000 http://hallmonitor.lohudblogs.com/2008/03/28/increased-oversight-needed-on-valhalla-grant-funds-state-audit-finds/#comment-19690 If you read the actual audit report, including the response from the school district, you'll see that half of the $400,000 mentioned in glaring headlines was the district's failure to put something out to bid properly, and the other half refers to funds spent on a perfectly well-planned and executed COMMUNITY PROGRAM in which not only adults participated, but -- heavens!!! -- kids did, too. Kids studied geology at the Grand Canyon, went to Lincoln Center, took cooking classes, learned about modern art, and on and on. I'm frankly more concerned about what the audit says about the district's notorious business administrator, who not only makes more than the superintendent, but did everything in his power to line his pockets at every turn. He also refused to handle the WestHelp Partnership funding (and the bookkeeping that went with it) unless the district paid him more money to do so. Ask the former superintendent. At every turn, the WestHelp Partnership plan (and its good intentioned) has been scuttled by Greenburgh TB greed, Valhalla conspiracy theories and the business administrator's plain old laziness. What a shame. The district will only advance so far when its residents and employees don't want grants for its kids. Maybe it's time for the WestHelp Partnership to give up the ship. Let someone else have the money -- they might appreciate it more. If you read the actual audit report, including the response from the school district, you’ll see that half of the $400,000 mentioned in glaring headlines was the district’s failure to put something out to bid properly, and the other half refers to funds spent on a perfectly well-planned and executed COMMUNITY PROGRAM in which not only adults participated, but—heavens!!!—kids did, too. Kids studied geology at the Grand Canyon, went to Lincoln Center, took cooking classes, learned about modern art, and on and on. I’m frankly more concerned about what the audit says about the district’s notorious business administrator, who not only makes more than the superintendent, but did everything in his power to line his pockets at every turn. He also refused to handle the WestHelp Partnership funding (and the bookkeeping that went with it) unless the district paid him more money to do so. Ask the former superintendent. At every turn, the WestHelp Partnership plan (and its good intentioned) has been scuttled by Greenburgh TB greed, Valhalla conspiracy theories and the business administrator’s plain old laziness. What a shame. The district will only advance so far when its residents and employees don’t want grants for its kids.
Maybe it’s time for the WestHelp Partnership to give up the ship. Let someone else have the money—they might appreciate it more.

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