Brockton Schools Investigate Misuse Funds

JB, I truly hope they reevaluate those two positions. IMO, the whole Smart Start program should be reevaluated. Perhaps it should be taken out of the School Departments Hand and sub contracted out.

Whatever saves money. That would take the state vouchers out of the hands of the city. That might be a good or bad thing.

If you cut all teachers except for the school coordinator and just used paras, you cut the labor rate by more than half, compared to teachers, if your hourly numbers are correct.

BTW, that second person who resigned was not involved in the program from what I heard. I think they were a system abuser, but I could be wrong.

Agree at least worth looking at it. Hopefully the Audit will make recommendations. Agree Paras could very easily play a larger role in the program at a lower labor rate. My teacher rate maybe slightly high but it's in the ballpark. Understand that some of the issues were "scholarships" were awarded to School Department employees who didn't actually qualify. Whole program needs a top-to-bottom review to ensure all in program are being charged correct costs including all School AND all Other City Employees.

who wants to take bets that this story will never be heard from again?

because, you know, you can't mar the good name of brockton schools, right?

I hope you're wrong but I have my doubts as well. Since taxpayer funds are being used to pay for the audit, I would assume it would be public record? But like every other issue in COB, they'll probably says it's a personnel issue and can't discuss.

. I fully expect the superintendent to do so and will ask that findings be made public as soon as investigation is complete

almost forgot... enterprise won't smear the good name of its former employees, either

HaHa and I have no faith that the results will public. As I doubt the Enterprise will follow-up. Lots of unsubstantiated rumors of whom may have received "scholarships".

Going on three weeks, nothing public. No results yet? More billable hours, we the taxpayers are paying for.

i'm telling you, you won't hear a single thing more about this

.... the school system in brockton can't be made to look bad... if it takes a hit, it has to be quick, and then it's over with.... if brockton public schools get continued bad press, then brockton will have absolutely nothing of grandeur to depend on

brockton established itself as one of the best schools in the state (frankly, i think that's bullsh!t because it's success is directly relative to the size of the student population) and if that reputation goes down as one that is corrupt, or racist, or dangerous, then that's it... brockton will have nothing besides the roach infested staple that is cape cod cafe and its gross greasy pizza

jacob tagger for mayor!

I hope you're wrong but fear you're right. Brockton Schools have already lost their grandeur IMO. They laid off 100 of the brightest teachers. Most have already found new jobs with multiple choices. And new teachers won't come here. They want stability. So good job, Mayor, Super and SC.

OS you were right. I want you to pay special attention to the comments made by the Vice Chair of the SC, Minichello. ARE YOU KIDDING ME the Super is going to hold their feet to the fire? Oh that'll show them. And Minichiello says it's not like they stole? Yep that'll work for the 100 teachers who got laid off. What a joke. Too bad not all the SC had opponents. I'd say vote them all out. They should all be replaced.

m.enterprisenews.com/article/20150721/NEWS/150729052/13406/NEWS

Restitution has begun for five Brockton school employees and families accused of misusing a district-sponsored day care program. The group failed to pay a collective $10,000 for services rendered to care for their children, officials said. “We do have repayment coming in,” said Superintendent Kathleen Smith on Tuesday. She said the breakdown of funds includes about $400 each for two families, $1,000 and $2,000 for two others, and the remainder – more than $6,000 – for the last.

Brockton School Committee Vice Chairman Thomas J. Minichiello Jr. said questions arose when someone involved in the program voiced concern that something wasn’t right.

“That developed into an investigation in which the superintendent is holding peoples’ feet to the fire,” he said. Minichello , an attorney, said he doesn’t personally believe the case rises to the criminal level. “You could say it was stealing, by getting services for free,” he said. “But they didn’t take money from the till.”

Restitution is “totally appropriate,” he said, welcoming the state review.

“Obviously, things were mishandled, and breaking the public trust has cast the integrity of the program in a bad light,” he said.

A new job has been posted: Director of Communications and Media Relations on the COB School Site ( always a Director )

5 weeks and counting; no update on the audit and investigation. I'm afraid OS maybe right on this.

From BPS Human Resources web page - Position of Director of Communications
"14. Other duties and responsibilities as directed by the Superintendent of Brockton Public Schools
Compensation: Salary range is $60,000 ‐$80,000 commensurate with experience."
The former director of communication was paid $92,000. Why does the school supt. need a PR/Communications person??
For a brief moment, I thought maybe the system was going to cut about $100k from the operating expense. Silly me.

The State does not have enough auditors. Brockton probably has been placed on a list. The state auditors handle as many audits as humanly possible, IMO. A lot of municipalities need audits for various reasons. Brockton is one fish in the sea.

Daisy thanks.

The EEC (state) is still completing its investigation and hope to see results from this investigation shortly

We also engaged a private CPA firm as well who is also going through the processes and procedures to determine in concert with the EEC appropriate steps to determine best practices so this will not happen again

"We also engaged a private CPA firm...", ah yes, hire an outside consultant to tell the expensive administrative experts already on the payroll how to read the rule state funding "rule book". You may have to layoff a few more classroom teachers to cover the expense.

This is to work in conjunction with the EEC to look at the practices and look at how we can tighten everything up. I welcome independent audits as this is a great opportunity to have outside firms make sure best practices are followed. In the finance world we do this to ensure compliance in an ever changing world on GASB and FASB etc.

I agree with Ward7. Wouldn't need an audit, that we the taxpayers, are paying for if people did the very expensive jobs they were hired for.

do you think the new FB Spark news would go after this? Sometimes it's hard to believe how much crap doesn't get in the people's radar.