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Guest Whistleblower

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Guest Whistleblower

I'm sure all the BOE a$$ kissers and loyal followers who all received a job will have fun with the following statement, all of which are factual and accurate, yet there will be those who will reply with their usual rhetoric.  Sometimes people lie so much they start to actually believe those same lies.

This writing comes from hearing from people speaking about BOE issues with no knowledge of what actually goes and/or went on, speaking and spreading information which is totally inaccurate. It spreads and is accepted as gospel because no one really knows the truth because the BOE doesn't want anyone to know the truth.

I'm tired of hearing "get involved", "run for the board", "attend a BOE meeting", it's all BS. It changes NOTHING. Good people with "no agendas", as some claim the other, have ran, won and started taking the proper actions which were best for students, tax payers and staff, yet were attacked, ridiculed and reputations challenged for doing such, and by members sitting on this current board now. 

This post will have no name calling, mud throwing or personal attacks, just facts. 

Backing up a few years a group of lifelong Kearny people stepped up and became part of the BOE. They hired No friends or family, yet some sitting members at the time still managed to get some family and friends hired, by either a legal, yet "twisted" loophole, or by simply slipping through. 

They did something that no other Board has done, during 3 years of service managed to settle ALL bargaining units contracts internally, without an arbitrator or attorney, and in a timely manner, not have teachers working 3 years without a contract, giving All units a "fair" offer which the BOE could financially handle and employees could agree to. Now here is the interesting part, over those same 3 years........year #1 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #2 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #3 0.45% increase, due mainly because of a huge increase in health coverage and insurance premiums increase. During this same time period programs were maintained and even expanded and no one lost jobs ! 

Tough decisions had to be made, does this BOE want the same old path to nowhere or is another path needed ? A new Superintendent was hired, Mr. Frank Ferraro. A 30 plus year educator, who had served as teacher, college professor, business administrator, etc., and who held a valid Superintendent Certificate from New York State and the State of New Jersey. He was unanimously received by ALL board members until he made an innocent mistake by simply having lunch with a previous "not so appreciated" (JC) board member. What he thought to be a harmless lunch turned into his demise, after being reported to board members by a very expensive secretary who actually was his secretary. The attack started, as members who currently sit on this board, Viscuso, McDonald, Lindenfelser, Doran hung their hat on that his hiring violated board policy, "he didn't have enough time as a teacher" and belittled Mr. Ferraro publicly with 'time cards" from over 30 years ago,( I wonder who spent all the time digging through the BOE vault for those ! ) That statement had no merit since the policy states teaching time from "elementary or secondary" education, which when secondary education experience is factored in Mr. Ferraro exceeded the requirement, but they don't tell the public that. As a side note current BOE members Sherry and Paris, who attended the public meetings were part of the witch hunt. If you're doing the math, that now puts us at (6) current BOE members against the Superintendent.  Now Mr. Ferraro is working in a hostile environment with Mrs. McDonald as his BOE President, try doing his job under these circumstances. The Board voted to remove the President so as Mr. Ferraro could do the job he was hired to do, that met with much resistance, claiming McDonald has no problem with the Super, that she is willing to work with the Super, Etc, etc, etc. Fast forward 6 months, the board reorganizes and at the very first meeting, after new members Sherry, Paris and McDonald are sworn in they Fire Mr. Ferraro. I guess the prior board did the proper thing by replacing her, obviously she lied about being able to work with him.

Now, as far as hiring a new Super, they appointed their friend, Patti Blood. Now the current Board has totally forgotten about board policy when it comes to their friend because she was hired with NO superintendent certificate, no previous administrative experience ! Mr. Viscuso is happy though because she does have the elementary teaching requirement ! Business as usual.

Mr. Ferraro had a passion for improving the education in Kearny and just as much passion for getting the construction project completed, on schedule, on budget and with NO downsizing of the KHS project. He immediately got the KHS south building under contract and completed in his few short months. He took the bull by the horns in tackling the main project at KHS, uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in over billing and work billed for and not performed. He, with great resistance from board members, all who voted to fire him, hired an independent accounting firm to do a "Risk Assessment" on all financials associated with the construction project, i.e., how much money spent, to whom, how much money left, how much to complete the project, etc.  This Assessment took months, and when completed the results were very incriminating to many individuals. The board had changed and this report could not be made public because this current board refused to pay the contract which they had with the firm who completed it as to save many of their friends and possibly themselves from outcome they would have to face. Though the KHS project is underway, millions of dollars are unaccounted for, the BA has resigned and the project has been scaled down by millions to make up for the money the Board no longer has. Once again our kids are having something which would have been incredible taken away from them and future students because of mismanagement.

Regarding the Charter School. This is a major case of "I told you so". Mr. Ferraro, warned the BOE at the time, that the school on Midland Ave should be utilized by the BOE immediately for 2 reasons, #1 that Kearny needed the additional space and that it was in perfect proximity to Lincoln School, which was going to be a Middle School and the 2 properties combined would make up a Middle School Campus, #2 that the biggest threat to the Kearny Schools would be if a Charter School decided to occupy the building ! He met with St. Stephen's administration regarding leasing the building, plans were made, fees were discussed. Mr. Ferraro gave a presentation as to all aspects of the lease and cost savings to the board even after paying the lease cost the board would see a savings. The lease was $300,000.00 and could be even negotiated. McDonald and her counterparts were dead against this idea, probably because it was coming from a man she could not stand, now their stupidity is costing the district over 3 million dollars this year alone ! She claimed it would cost millions of dollars in renovation costs for us to occupy the build, yet the building had just gone through a multi-million dollar renovation paid for by the Port Authority and SCA, now a Charter School is opening after NO renovations and taking over 3 Million dollars from the BOE budget and over 300 students. Ugly politics which came back to stick taxpayers. If you don't believe the previous statement, go talk to Father Joe, I'm sure he won't lie, but all you supporters will say he does.

Just to end, Mr. Ferraro was just a finalist, him and 1 other, the lead the #2 School District in the Nation, in Massachusetts. Go ahead, check it out.

All nonsense aside, it is so sad what some members of this board and prior boards have done to students, staff and taxpayers for their own self interests. You all know who you are. God Bless.

Edited by KOTW
KOTW Note: This information has not been verified by KOTW
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Wow!  This explains so much.  What a disgrace!! High paid snitches, political egos etc. etc. all at the expense of the taxpayers and to the permanent detriment of the high school students. 

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In a post where you said you would not name names, you named almost everybody. The names you left out were Plaugic, King, Esteves and the guy going to jail. Mr. Leadbeater couldn't you find a better way to spend your time before going to the big house?

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Our school taxes are going to go sky high because of that charter school.  I heard the teachers in Kearny Public Schools did not get lesson planners this year which are usually provided every year, because of the money diverted to the charter school.  The public school budget couldn't afford the lesson planners this year.  They are also laying off teacher's aides.  Does anybody know if there is any way we can get the state to shut down the public school, to remove it from our town?

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Thank you, finally someone who tells the truth about what really is going on in this town. About time people knew what this BOE has done to this town. Remember this. come November.they need to go. Anyone is better than them.

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On September 5, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Guest Whistleblower said:

I'm sure all the BOE a$$ kissers and loyal followers who all received a job will have fun with the following statement, all of which are factual and accurate, yet there will be those who will reply with their usual rhetoric.  Sometimes people lie so much they start to actually believe those same lies.

This writing comes from hearing from people speaking about BOE issues with no knowledge of what actually goes and/or went on, speaking and spreading information which is totally inaccurate. It spreads and is accepted as gospel because no one really knows the truth because the BOE doesn't want anyone to know the truth.

I'm tired of hearing "get involved", "run for the board", "attend a BOE meeting", it's all BS. It changes NOTHING. Good people with "no agendas", as some claim the other, have ran, won and started taking the proper actions which were best for students, tax payers and staff, yet were attacked, ridiculed and reputations challenged for doing such, and by members sitting on this current board now. 

This post will have no name calling, mud throwing or personal attacks, just facts. 

Backing up a few years a group of lifelong Kearny people stepped up and became part of the BOE. They hired No friends or family, yet some sitting members at the time still managed to get some family and friends hired, by either a legal, yet "twisted" loophole, or by simply slipping through. 

They did something that no other Board has done, during 3 years of service managed to settle ALL bargaining units contracts internally, without an arbitrator or attorney, and in a timely manner, not have teachers working 3 years without a contract, giving All units a "fair" offer which the BOE could financially handle and employees could agree to. Now here is the interesting part, over those same 3 years........year #1 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #2 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #3 0.45% increase, due mainly because of a huge increase in health coverage and insurance premiums increase. During this same time period programs were maintained and even expanded and no one lost jobs ! 

Tough decisions had to be made, does this BOE want the same old path to nowhere or is another path needed ? A new Superintendent was hired, Mr. Frank Ferraro. A 30 plus year educator, who had served as teacher, college professor, business administrator, etc., and who held a valid Superintendent Certificate from New York State and the State of New Jersey. He was unanimously received by ALL board members until he made an innocent mistake by simply having lunch with a previous "not so appreciated" (JC) board member. What he thought to be a harmless lunch turned into his demise, after being reported to board members by a very expensive secretary who actually was his secretary. The attack started, as members who currently sit on this board, Viscuso, McDonald, Lindenfelser, Doran hung their hat on that his hiring violated board policy, "he didn't have enough time as a teacher" and belittled Mr. Ferraro publicly with 'time cards" from over 30 years ago,( I wonder who spent all the time digging through the BOE vault for those ! ) That statement had no merit since the policy states teaching time from "elementary or secondary" education, which when secondary education experience is factored in Mr. Ferraro exceeded the requirement, but they don't tell the public that. As a side note current BOE members Sherry and Paris, who attended the public meetings were part of the witch hunt. If you're doing the math, that now puts us at (6) current BOE members against the Superintendent.  Now Mr. Ferraro is working in a hostile environment with Mrs. McDonald as his BOE President, try doing his job under these circumstances. The Board voted to remove the President so as Mr. Ferraro could do the job he was hired to do, that met with much resistance, claiming McDonald has no problem with the Super, that she is willing to work with the Super, Etc, etc, etc. Fast forward 6 months, the board reorganizes and at the very first meeting, after new members Sherry, Paris and McDonald are sworn in they Fire Mr. Ferraro. I guess the prior board did the proper thing by replacing her, obviously she lied about being able to work with him.

Now, as far as hiring a new Super, they appointed their friend, Patti Blood. Now the current Board has totally forgotten about board policy when it comes to their friend because she was hired with NO superintendent certificate, no previous administrative experience ! Mr. Viscuso is happy though because she does have the elementary teaching requirement ! Business as usual.

Mr. Ferraro had a passion for improving the education in Kearny and just as much passion for getting the construction project completed, on schedule, on budget and with NO downsizing of the KHS project. He immediately got the KHS south building under contract and completed in his few short months. He took the bull by the horns in tackling the main project at KHS, uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in over billing and work billed for and not performed. He, with great resistance from board members, all who voted to fire him, hired an independent accounting firm to do a "Risk Assessment" on all financials associated with the construction project, i.e., how much money spent, to whom, how much money left, how much to complete the project, etc.  This Assessment took months, and when completed the results were very incriminating to many individuals. The board had changed and this report could not be made public because this current board refused to pay the contract which they had with the firm who completed it as to save many of their friends and possibly themselves from outcome they would have to face. Though the KHS project is underway, millions of dollars are unaccounted for, the BA has resigned and the project has been scaled down by millions to make up for the money the Board no longer has. Once again our kids are having something which would have been incredible taken away from them and future students because of mismanagement.

Regarding the Charter School. This is a major case of "I told you so". Mr. Ferraro, warned the BOE at the time, that the school on Midland Ave should be utilized by the BOE immediately for 2 reasons, #1 that Kearny needed the additional space and that it was in perfect proximity to Lincoln School, which was going to be a Middle School and the 2 properties combined would make up a Middle School Campus, #2 that the biggest threat to the Kearny Schools would be if a Charter School decided to occupy the building ! He met with St. Stephen's administration regarding leasing the building, plans were made, fees were discussed. Mr. Ferraro gave a presentation as to all aspects of the lease and cost savings to the board even after paying the lease cost the board would see a savings. The lease was $300,000.00 and could be even negotiated. McDonald and her counterparts were dead against this idea, probably because it was coming from a man she could not stand, now their stupidity is costing the district over 3 million dollars this year alone ! She claimed it would cost millions of dollars in renovation costs for us to occupy the build, yet the building had just gone through a multi-million dollar renovation paid for by the Port Authority and SCA, now a Charter School is opening after NO renovations and taking over 3 Million dollars from the BOE budget and over 300 students. Ugly politics which came back to stick taxpayers. If you don't believe the previous statement, go talk to Father Joe, I'm sure he won't lie, but all you supporters will say he does.

Just to end, Mr. Ferraro was just a finalist, him and 1 other, the lead the #2 School District in the Nation, in Massachusetts. Go ahead, check it out.

All nonsense aside, it is so sad what some members of this board and prior boards have done to students, staff and taxpayers for their own self interests. You all know who you are. God Bless.

Very good.

just a minor correction, Mrs. Blood  has no elementary teaching experience at all, her time was spent teach language arts at the high school level.

when hired she had no superintendent certification.

no administration experience.

not even a principal or vice principle.

she is by far the most inexperienced superintendent this district has ever hired and lacks all the qualifications to perform the job.

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Guest Proof read
On September 10, 2016 at 1:30 AM, Guest Guest said:

In a post where you said you would not name names, you named almost everybody. The names you left out were Plaugic, King, Esteves and the guy going to jail. Mr. Leadbeater couldn't you find a better way to spend your time before going to the big house?

You did not read correctly. The post said "no name calling", that means calling someone derogatory names, no mud throwing and no personal attacks, just facts.

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7 hours ago, Guest Grace said:

Our school taxes are going to go sky high because of that charter school.  I heard the teachers in Kearny Public Schools did not get lesson planners this year which are usually provided every year, because of the money diverted to the charter school.  The public school budget couldn't afford the lesson planners this year.  They are also laying off teacher's aides.  Does anybody know if there is any way we can get the state to shut down the public school, to remove it from our town?

You heard wrong - our lesson plans have been on line for around 10 years.  We haven't gotten plan books in nearly that long. 

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Guest Great Idea
10 hours ago, Guest Grace said:

Our school taxes are going to go sky high because of that charter school.  I heard the teachers in Kearny Public Schools did not get lesson planners this year which are usually provided every year, because of the money diverted to the charter school.  The public school budget couldn't afford the lesson planners this year.  They are also laying off teacher's aides.  Does anybody know if there is any way we can get the state to shut down the public school, to remove it from our town?

You're right, the State should shut down the Kearny School District!  Oh by the way, I hear the Charter School has extra lesson planners.  Maybe they will donate a few to the Kearny Schools before the State shuts them down as you suggest!

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This is so sad to see, you keep blaming the charter school for everything. But the truth is that the BOE could have done something about it and didn't.They could have gotten the Bldg, and the school would have gone to another town.  And just so you know. The children who attend that school are Kearny kids, and their parents pay the same taxes too. So please think of all the students and parents before being so mean.

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All the parents are looking for is their kids to get an education. It is their right to send their child to any school they choose. Why all the hate for a new school? They all are children of Kearny and the parents pay taxes. And isn't that what this BOE is soppose to be about. THE KIDS!!

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All the kids need an education. Parents pay taxes. Schools were over crowded. Charter school solved problem. What is the problem? Isn't that what this BOE is about?? THE CHILDREN OF KEARNY? Doesn't seem that way. When you have ***** ***** telling lies about the charter school.

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Guest Charter school is good
13 hours ago, Guest Grace said:

Our school taxes are going to go sky high because of that charter school.  I heard the teachers in Kearny Public Schools did not get lesson planners this year which are usually provided every year, because of the money diverted to the charter school.  The public school budget couldn't afford the lesson planners this year.  They are also laying off teacher's aides.  Does anybody know if there is any way we can get the state to shut down the public school, to remove it from our town?

You misunderstand the way the charter school works. Our taxes are not effected at all by the charter school. Actually the charter school has to be very accountable and make use of every cent they receive unlike the kearny school district which consistently wastes your tax dollars and misappropriates your tax dollars. The charter school receives exactly what the kearny school district charges you, the taxpayer, by way of their annual budget. The district figures an average annual per student cost of  currently $15,900.00. That is what they have to pay per each kearny student who attends the charter school. So whether the students go to kearny public schools or the charter school you foot the same bill. What you should do is get the state to rid you of the kearny BOE.

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Guest No Accountability!
10 hours ago, Guest Charter school is good said:

You misunderstand the way the charter school works. Our taxes are not effected at all by the charter school. Actually the charter school has to be very accountable and make use of every cent they receive unlike the kearny school district which consistently wastes your tax dollars and misappropriates your tax dollars. The charter school receives exactly what the kearny school district charges you, the taxpayer, by way of their annual budget. The district figures an average annual per student cost of  currently $15,900.00. That is what they have to pay per each kearny student who attends the charter school. So whether the students go to kearny public schools or the charter school you foot the same bill. What you should do is get the state to rid you of the kearny BOE.

Bullsh*t! They are profit driven! 

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Guest correction
On 9/13/2016 at 9:48 AM, Guest Correct said:

Very good.

just a minor correction, Mrs. Blood  has no elementary teaching experience at all, her time was spent teach language arts at the high school level.

when hired she had no superintendent certification.

no administration experience.

not even a principal or vice principle.

she is by far the most inexperienced superintendent this district has ever hired and lacks all the qualifications to perform the job.

Wrong

Mrs. Blood had a provisional certificate, same as Ferraro when he was hired

she had administrative experience, including director of curriculum in kearny and other administrative jobs out of kearny

and she had something ferraro never had - a new jersey teaching certificate

so what qualification does she lack to perform the job?

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Guest Concerned Taxpayer

So if we pay $15,900 for each student and the money is in the budget, how is there a deficit?

The BOE would have to budget money for  each student. The Charter school should not make a difference.

The money is not there because it was spent, and not on students.

 

 

 

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The charter school will affect our taxes. The article was right there in the Observer. Aides are being laid off because funds are being diverted. The parents of charter school kids paying taxes doesn't mean anything. They're not paying $15,000 in taxes per year per child. So everybody else is still footing the bill for what is in effect a private school because they can boot a child for underperforming. We have to get rid of it.

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Guest Short Answer
On 9/14/2016 at 6:20 PM, Guest correction said:

Wrong

Mrs. Blood had a provisional certificate, same as Ferraro when he was hired

she had administrative experience, including director of curriculum in kearny and other administrative jobs out of kearny

and she had something ferraro never had - a new jersey teaching certificate

so what qualification does she lack to perform the job?

A Personality!

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If all our children stayed in schools that the BOE is in charge of there would be no money problems? Is this what they are saying. I call B/S. They spent money on things that weren't needed. Like LIGHTS!!!  At Franklin. And if the Charter School is so bad, why is it that for every child that you say leaves, there are more Kearny kids waiting to get in.  And there are some very well known Kearny families whose children are attending the big bad Charter School. And for the record those kids. Are our children of Kearny. We would like for all to get a great education regardless of what school they attend. So why no try acting like mature adults when speaking on this forum.

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Guest For Grace
20 hours ago, Guest Grace said:

The charter school will affect our taxes. The article was right there in the Observer. Aides are being laid off because funds are being diverted. The parents of charter school kids paying taxes doesn't mean anything. They're not paying $15,000 in taxes per year per child. So everybody else is still footing the bill for what is in effect a private school because they can boot a child for underperforming. We have to get rid of it.

Wow, listen to yourself. You're so bent on getting rid of the school you write things without thinking. First of all don't believe anything written in that rag of a newspaper. *** ***** is in bed with this board and only writes positive things which don't even comes close to al the negative things they have done. If you think laying off a few aides are going to save $3 million dollars than you're really gone. Now what was written is that whether a child attends Kearny Schools or the Charter School the per pupil amount that the KBOE figures per pupil is $15,900. So all taxpayers are footing the bill no matter what school a kearny child attends. 

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Guest Valuable information
On 9/5/2016 at 2:25 PM, Guest Whistleblower said:

I'm sure all the BOE a$$ kissers and loyal followers who all received a job will have fun with the following statement, all of which are factual and accurate, yet there will be those who will reply with their usual rhetoric.  Sometimes people lie so much they start to actually believe those same lies.

This writing comes from hearing from people speaking about BOE issues with no knowledge of what actually goes and/or went on, speaking and spreading information which is totally inaccurate. It spreads and is accepted as gospel because no one really knows the truth because the BOE doesn't want anyone to know the truth.

I'm tired of hearing "get involved", "run for the board", "attend a BOE meeting", it's all BS. It changes NOTHING. Good people with "no agendas", as some claim the other, have ran, won and started taking the proper actions which were best for students, tax payers and staff, yet were attacked, ridiculed and reputations challenged for doing such, and by members sitting on this current board now. 

This post will have no name calling, mud throwing or personal attacks, just facts. 

Backing up a few years a group of lifelong Kearny people stepped up and became part of the BOE. They hired No friends or family, yet some sitting members at the time still managed to get some family and friends hired, by either a legal, yet "twisted" loophole, or by simply slipping through. 

They did something that no other Board has done, during 3 years of service managed to settle ALL bargaining units contracts internally, without an arbitrator or attorney, and in a timely manner, not have teachers working 3 years without a contract, giving All units a "fair" offer which the BOE could financially handle and employees could agree to. Now here is the interesting part, over those same 3 years........year #1 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #2 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #3 0.45% increase, due mainly because of a huge increase in health coverage and insurance premiums increase. During this same time period programs were maintained and even expanded and no one lost jobs ! 

Tough decisions had to be made, does this BOE want the same old path to nowhere or is another path needed ? A new Superintendent was hired, Mr. Frank Ferraro. A 30 plus year educator, who had served as teacher, college professor, business administrator, etc., and who held a valid Superintendent Certificate from New York State and the State of New Jersey. He was unanimously received by ALL board members until he made an innocent mistake by simply having lunch with a previous "not so appreciated" (JC) board member. What he thought to be a harmless lunch turned into his demise, after being reported to board members by a very expensive secretary who actually was his secretary. The attack started, as members who currently sit on this board, Viscuso, McDonald, Lindenfelser, Doran hung their hat on that his hiring violated board policy, "he didn't have enough time as a teacher" and belittled Mr. Ferraro publicly with 'time cards" from over 30 years ago,( I wonder who spent all the time digging through the BOE vault for those ! ) That statement had no merit since the policy states teaching time from "elementary or secondary" education, which when secondary education experience is factored in Mr. Ferraro exceeded the requirement, but they don't tell the public that. As a side note current BOE members Sherry and Paris, who attended the public meetings were part of the witch hunt. If you're doing the math, that now puts us at (6) current BOE members against the Superintendent.  Now Mr. Ferraro is working in a hostile environment with Mrs. McDonald as his BOE President, try doing his job under these circumstances. The Board voted to remove the President so as Mr. Ferraro could do the job he was hired to do, that met with much resistance, claiming McDonald has no problem with the Super, that she is willing to work with the Super, Etc, etc, etc. Fast forward 6 months, the board reorganizes and at the very first meeting, after new members Sherry, Paris and McDonald are sworn in they Fire Mr. Ferraro. I guess the prior board did the proper thing by replacing her, obviously she lied about being able to work with him.

Now, as far as hiring a new Super, they appointed their friend, Patti Blood. Now the current Board has totally forgotten about board policy when it comes to their friend because she was hired with NO superintendent certificate, no previous administrative experience ! Mr. Viscuso is happy though because she does have the elementary teaching requirement ! Business as usual.

Mr. Ferraro had a passion for improving the education in Kearny and just as much passion for getting the construction project completed, on schedule, on budget and with NO downsizing of the KHS project. He immediately got the KHS south building under contract and completed in his few short months. He took the bull by the horns in tackling the main project at KHS, uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in over billing and work billed for and not performed. He, with great resistance from board members, all who voted to fire him, hired an independent accounting firm to do a "Risk Assessment" on all financials associated with the construction project, i.e., how much money spent, to whom, how much money left, how much to complete the project, etc.  This Assessment took months, and when completed the results were very incriminating to many individuals. The board had changed and this report could not be made public because this current board refused to pay the contract which they had with the firm who completed it as to save many of their friends and possibly themselves from outcome they would have to face. Though the KHS project is underway, millions of dollars are unaccounted for, the BA has resigned and the project has been scaled down by millions to make up for the money the Board no longer has. Once again our kids are having something which would have been incredible taken away from them and future students because of mismanagement.

Regarding the Charter School. This is a major case of "I told you so". Mr. Ferraro, warned the BOE at the time, that the school on Midland Ave should be utilized by the BOE immediately for 2 reasons, #1 that Kearny needed the additional space and that it was in perfect proximity to Lincoln School, which was going to be a Middle School and the 2 properties combined would make up a Middle School Campus, #2 that the biggest threat to the Kearny Schools would be if a Charter School decided to occupy the building ! He met with St. Stephen's administration regarding leasing the building, plans were made, fees were discussed. Mr. Ferraro gave a presentation as to all aspects of the lease and cost savings to the board even after paying the lease cost the board would see a savings. The lease was $300,000.00 and could be even negotiated. McDonald and her counterparts were dead against this idea, probably because it was coming from a man she could not stand, now their stupidity is costing the district over 3 million dollars this year alone ! She claimed it would cost millions of dollars in renovation costs for us to occupy the build, yet the building had just gone through a multi-million dollar renovation paid for by the Port Authority and SCA, now a Charter School is opening after NO renovations and taking over 3 Million dollars from the BOE budget and over 300 students. Ugly politics which came back to stick taxpayers. If you don't believe the previous statement, go talk to Father Joe, I'm sure he won't lie, but all you supporters will say he does.

Just to end, Mr. Ferraro was just a finalist, him and 1 other, the lead the #2 School District in the Nation, in Massachusetts. Go ahead, check it out.

All nonsense aside, it is so sad what some members of this board and prior boards have done to students, staff and taxpayers for their own self interests. You all know who you are. God Bless.

For those candidates that are running against CIFELLI-SHERRY and  MCDONALD this post should be used as your mailing to the voters of Kearny in letting the public know how your TAX DOLLARS were so MISMANAGED. Be smart Candidates and use this valuable information.

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Guest Not true
On 9/14/2016 at 6:20 PM, Guest correction said:

Wrong

Mrs. Blood had a provisional certificate, same as Ferraro when he was hired

she had administrative experience, including director of curriculum in kearny and other administrative jobs out of kearny

and she had something ferraro never had - a new jersey teaching certificate

so what qualification does she lack to perform the job?

Double wrong 

mrs blood was hired, "without" having a superintendent certificate and that is because she "did not" have the experience as an administrator nor the qualification required by the State of NJ. It took her over a year to obtain the certificate. Mr. Ferraro  had the required experience and qualifications to obtain his NJ certificate ( he held a NY certificate) and had the NJ Superintendent certificate prior to starting his first day on the job in Kearny !

point is that a qualified superintendent was in place and doing a exemplary job and was ran out of town by a fabricated story which current BOE members carried out to make room for "their" friend who had No certificate nor previous experience at all when hired, not to mention a boat load of "payoff" money to get Ferraro to leave. The Taxpayers and students thank you once again for wasteful spending for your own agendas.

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Guest Frankie the Fraud
On 9/16/2016 at 11:19 PM, Guest Valuable information said:

For those candidates that are running against CIFELLI-SHERRY and  MCDONALD this post should be used as your mailing to the voters of Kearny in letting the public know how your TAX DOLLARS were so MISMANAGED. Be smart Candidates and use this valuable information.

Frank Ferraro ** * *****.  He ************* his ************* to obtain his superintendent's certificate in NY.  He then used his NY certificate to obtain reciprocity for his NJ certification.  He lacked experience but most importantly he lacked a teachers certificate.  He ****** **** Kearny better.  The board is still ********* up his ******.

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Guest Help New Comers
On 9/5/2016 at 2:25 PM, Guest Whistleblower said:

I'm sure all the BOE a$$ kissers and loyal followers who all received a job will have fun with the following statement, all of which are factual and accurate, yet there will be those who will reply with their usual rhetoric.  Sometimes people lie so much they start to actually believe those same lies.

This writing comes from hearing from people speaking about BOE issues with no knowledge of what actually goes and/or went on, speaking and spreading information which is totally inaccurate. It spreads and is accepted as gospel because no one really knows the truth because the BOE doesn't want anyone to know the truth.

I'm tired of hearing "get involved", "run for the board", "attend a BOE meeting", it's all BS. It changes NOTHING. Good people with "no agendas", as some claim the other, have ran, won and started taking the proper actions which were best for students, tax payers and staff, yet were attacked, ridiculed and reputations challenged for doing such, and by members sitting on this current board now. 

This post will have no name calling, mud throwing or personal attacks, just facts. 

Backing up a few years a group of lifelong Kearny people stepped up and became part of the BOE. They hired No friends or family, yet some sitting members at the time still managed to get some family and friends hired, by either a legal, yet "twisted" loophole, or by simply slipping through. 

They did something that no other Board has done, during 3 years of service managed to settle ALL bargaining units contracts internally, without an arbitrator or attorney, and in a timely manner, not have teachers working 3 years without a contract, giving All units a "fair" offer which the BOE could financially handle and employees could agree to. Now here is the interesting part, over those same 3 years........year #1 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #2 NO Tax increase to the taxpayer 0%, year #3 0.45% increase, due mainly because of a huge increase in health coverage and insurance premiums increase. During this same time period programs were maintained and even expanded and no one lost jobs ! 

Tough decisions had to be made, does this BOE want the same old path to nowhere or is another path needed ? A new Superintendent was hired, Mr. Frank Ferraro. A 30 plus year educator, who had served as teacher, college professor, business administrator, etc., and who held a valid Superintendent Certificate from New York State and the State of New Jersey. He was unanimously received by ALL board members until he made an innocent mistake by simply having lunch with a previous "not so appreciated" (JC) board member. What he thought to be a harmless lunch turned into his demise, after being reported to board members by a very expensive secretary who actually was his secretary. The attack started, as members who currently sit on this board, Viscuso, McDonald, Lindenfelser, Doran hung their hat on that his hiring violated board policy, "he didn't have enough time as a teacher" and belittled Mr. Ferraro publicly with 'time cards" from over 30 years ago,( I wonder who spent all the time digging through the BOE vault for those ! ) That statement had no merit since the policy states teaching time from "elementary or secondary" education, which when secondary education experience is factored in Mr. Ferraro exceeded the requirement, but they don't tell the public that. As a side note current BOE members Sherry and Paris, who attended the public meetings were part of the witch hunt. If you're doing the math, that now puts us at (6) current BOE members against the Superintendent.  Now Mr. Ferraro is working in a hostile environment with Mrs. McDonald as his BOE President, try doing his job under these circumstances. The Board voted to remove the President so as Mr. Ferraro could do the job he was hired to do, that met with much resistance, claiming McDonald has no problem with the Super, that she is willing to work with the Super, Etc, etc, etc. Fast forward 6 months, the board reorganizes and at the very first meeting, after new members Sherry, Paris and McDonald are sworn in they Fire Mr. Ferraro. I guess the prior board did the proper thing by replacing her, obviously she lied about being able to work with him.

Now, as far as hiring a new Super, they appointed their friend, Patti Blood. Now the current Board has totally forgotten about board policy when it comes to their friend because she was hired with NO superintendent certificate, no previous administrative experience ! Mr. Viscuso is happy though because she does have the elementary teaching requirement ! Business as usual.

Mr. Ferraro had a passion for improving the education in Kearny and just as much passion for getting the construction project completed, on schedule, on budget and with NO downsizing of the KHS project. He immediately got the KHS south building under contract and completed in his few short months. He took the bull by the horns in tackling the main project at KHS, uncovering hundreds of thousands of dollars in over billing and work billed for and not performed. He, with great resistance from board members, all who voted to fire him, hired an independent accounting firm to do a "Risk Assessment" on all financials associated with the construction project, i.e., how much money spent, to whom, how much money left, how much to complete the project, etc.  This Assessment took months, and when completed the results were very incriminating to many individuals. The board had changed and this report could not be made public because this current board refused to pay the contract which they had with the firm who completed it as to save many of their friends and possibly themselves from outcome they would have to face. Though the KHS project is underway, millions of dollars are unaccounted for, the BA has resigned and the project has been scaled down by millions to make up for the money the Board no longer has. Once again our kids are having something which would have been incredible taken away from them and future students because of mismanagement.

Regarding the Charter School. This is a major case of "I told you so". Mr. Ferraro, warned the BOE at the time, that the school on Midland Ave should be utilized by the BOE immediately for 2 reasons, #1 that Kearny needed the additional space and that it was in perfect proximity to Lincoln School, which was going to be a Middle School and the 2 properties combined would make up a Middle School Campus, #2 that the biggest threat to the Kearny Schools would be if a Charter School decided to occupy the building ! He met with St. Stephen's administration regarding leasing the building, plans were made, fees were discussed. Mr. Ferraro gave a presentation as to all aspects of the lease and cost savings to the board even after paying the lease cost the board would see a savings. The lease was $300,000.00 and could be even negotiated. McDonald and her counterparts were dead against this idea, probably because it was coming from a man she could not stand, now their stupidity is costing the district over 3 million dollars this year alone ! She claimed it would cost millions of dollars in renovation costs for us to occupy the build, yet the building had just gone through a multi-million dollar renovation paid for by the Port Authority and SCA, now a Charter School is opening after NO renovations and taking over 3 Million dollars from the BOE budget and over 300 students. Ugly politics which came back to stick taxpayers. If you don't believe the previous statement, go talk to Father Joe, I'm sure he won't lie, but all you supporters will say he does.

Just to end, Mr. Ferraro was just a finalist, him and 1 other, the lead the #2 School District in the Nation, in Massachusetts. Go ahead, check it out.

All nonsense aside, it is so sad what some members of this board and prior boards have done to students, staff and taxpayers for their own self interests. You all know who you are. God Bless.

How do we get these two people CIFELLI - SHERRY and MCDONALD out. Who are the new candidates and how can we help in getting them elected. How can we get contact information so we can help them?

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