Brockton Schools Investigate Misuse Funds

What is with the COB? Investigations, Grand Juries and now this. Hard to have faith in the School Committee, including the Super and Mayor (head of SC and former SC Member) if this has been going on for awhile as the article states. Meanwhile 125 teachers and 50 Support staff are laid off because of lack of funds? Good job School Commitee in the oversight of the budget and now you pay the UI for these teachers. And the School System is down 125 teachers as you enter a new and challenging testing system.

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m.enterprisenews.com/article/20150623/NEWS/150629073/13406/NEWS

The School Department is investigating financial "discrepancies" within a day care program used by more than 1,000 children throughout the city.

The ongoing probe involves multiple Brockton Public Schools staff members who reportedly failed to pay for extended care services for their children for a lengthy period of time , The Enterprise has learned. It was not clear Monday how many people were involved, or for how many years.

The program can cost up to $640 per month per student.

School officials would not detail the allegations on Monday, but several officials confirmed the investigation. It comes as the school district faces sluggish funding and "unacceptable" layoffs of as many as 173 teachers and staff.

best pizza in brockton.....aaaaaand.....GO!

This is an ongoing investigation. We have been informed of the situation and are letting the proper authorities investigate any allegations.

Any allegations are troubling and upsetting.

I cannot comment to the specifics of an ongoing investigation but will say I am deeply concerned about this situation

I wouldn't expect a comment due to the assumption there is investigations going on. But yes it's troubling from many aspects. If a 1000 kids are involved at $640 per month (which appears to be very expensive) that's approximately $640,000 a year into that fund. The fact that there is a way for that not to be accounted correctly is a great concern. It appears from the article that multiple staff were involved in getting free or reduced daycare. But again, how it's not audited and reconciled is more of a concern. While this fund appears to be self funding, all we hear Is how underfunded the school system budget is. So underfunded that 125 teachers and 50 support staff are being laid off. But it makes you wonder if there are other holes in the budget that may have prevented the teachers from being laid off?

The program runs very similar to many daycare facilities and the use of vouchers as well as private payers.

the 1000 children that use the program are not all state vouchers nor private payers. its a mix. Vouchers are controlled by the state and EEC which regulates daycares.

I know about this program as I have used this for the past few years. I have used the before care/after care program and on my second year of using the summer program which are great programs

Dad I know you are upset about the layoffs. I am as well. The budget issues are loss of funding from state and feds and after cutting so much into the programs and sports etc we are still left with 2million short. Until the state decides to properly fund their obligation this will continue to be an issue for some time to come. This is why we are looking at with other urban districts to possible litigation.

The biggest cost to any company or entity is always salary and benefits. With the schools it is that as well as state and federal mandates which put us in a bind.

I am upset about the loss of 125 teachers and 50 support staff. Everybody should be. Especially as we enter a new and challenging testing system.

But it's just as concerning that staff in this system could allegedly take advantage of this program. And more concerning is how long it went on and to what cost and how no one caught it until now. All allegations at this point.

maybe the folks over at STP, BLT, STSP, casiNO and AMR can pin this on carpenter too

woo-hoo!!!

Someone is in charge of the monies. Someone is in charge of auditing the account. Someone is in charge of the program. Maybe this is a few staff members having their children attend for free? Maybe a lot of staff members letting a lot of kids attend free or reduced?

If State//Federal monies/ vouchers are involved, it will become bigger issue. The Mayor is certainly not in charge here and shouldn't be blamed but let's really hope this isn't a big issue. It really just puts the COB back in the headlines again. And that can't be a good look to the Casino License Commission. Obviously not related but just another issue for the Gaming Commission will consider in making their decision.

This is horrible. More corruption. There are 5 people in this Department ("Community") that belong to the six figure club. That is a lot of money for such a small department.

I know of corruption in Assessors office, allowing RE agents to knowingly avoid tax increases
then there is the Building Inspector with his situation that has been shielded from public eye, many city employees with family members just busted for drugs...
and don't forget the PTA money gone missing from 2 boards
arrrrrrgggggghhhhhh

Here are the 2014 Salaries for City of Brockton, courtesy of Enterprise. This is public info:
(set the department filter to "Community")

I've tried to add the Excel file 3 times now.... cannot upload? H-E-L-P!!!!!11

Can you link to the files? Where are the files located?

I share your concern on this. It appears that the only things suffering on this budget shortfall are the Certified teachers who were laid off. They make an average of $47,000 and the MTA's whom I'm sure make considerably less. And programs are the other main thing. 5 teachers could be recalled based on Community salaries. Smh.

Add the Library Director on paid administrative leave until next Jan/2016 as another City mystery.

trying to link the file here

I don't know if I agree with Smith when she states "no system is foolproof." And I say shouldn't it be ? We're talking about $10k and multiple employees. Shouldn't the system be set up to be foolproof?

m.enterprisenews.com/article/20150625/NEWS/150627445/13406/NEWS

A Brockton school employee has lost her job in the wake of an investigation into the misuse of at least $10,000 worth of public day care services.

An ongoing probe has uncovered that several parents – including some who work for the school district – did not pay for day care services or paid less than they should have, in what Superintendent Kathleen Smith said Thursday was “a violation of longstanding district and state policies.”
“I am very disappointed. We have worked very hard on these kinds of programs that families rely on,” Smith said in an interview. “But no system is foolproof.”

640 a month for this type of extended day care is unheard of. I was paying 200 a week 15 years ago for regular day care. The Brockton Public School System has become so overgrown that they can't control or manage it. The School committee tends to just throw more money at every problem, hire more people create a few more Director positions. They wonder why their budget gets cut.

I so agree with your points. Why don't they subcontract the daycare program out? How does $10,000 revenue shortfall not be noticed? Does a coordinator have that much power? Checks and balances.

"Mo Money, Mo Problems"

m.enterprisenews.com/article/20150626/NEWS/150627108

An audit of a public day care program under scrutiny for the misuse of services is expected to begin within the next two weeks, the school district said Friday.
The independent audit will be performed by Domenick Coppola, a certified public accountant from Wareham, according to the superintendent’s office. Coppola has consulted for the district in the past, and has also worked with officials in Taunton and Wareham.

The Enterprise revealed this week that Brockton Public Schools was investigating whether several district staff members had not paid for services for an extended period of time at the Smart Start Extended Day Program within Brockton Community Schools.
On Thursday, Smith said scholarships might be behind at least some of the misuse of the program.

So this is about staff and faculty not paying their daycare bills? How does this involve Carpenter again?

He didn't cause it, he's responsible for fixing it. The Supers comment that no system is foolproof is a bit disturbing.

The Director of Smart Set makes $141,000. The Communications (Meek) Director made $91,000. The teachers in the after school program make $45. An hour. Time to reevaluate the whole program.

m.enterprisenews.com/article/20150701/NEWS/150709155/13406/NEWS

Another Brockton school employee has resigned in the wake of an investigation into the misuse of a district-operated day care program.
Jocelyn Meek, the long-time communications officer for the Brockton schools, is no longer employed with the district, School Superintendent Kathleen Smith confirmed on Wednesday.
“That’s correct,” Smith said, when asked. “But it is a personnel matter, and I can’t comment.”
Last week, district officials confirmed they are investigating financial “discrepancies” within the Smart Start day care program. The 20-year-old initiative offers year-long child day care at 13 public schools.

With 2 Admins gone, that should mean at least two additional teacher slots available, as they promote people into those positions.

I heard teachers were paid in the $30s per hr, Para's $18-20/hr.

$45 and hour? Shit no wonder the school is broke.