Although questioned by the Bayonne School Teachers Association’s President Alan D’Angelo at the Feb. 24 meeting of the school board, Bayonne School Business Administrator Leo Smith said the board did nothing to hide the fact that it had awarded a contract for consulting work to a company owned by former School Business Administrator Clifford Doll.
In October, the board awarded a contract to REDCC LLC to provide services to complete submissions to the state’s School Development Authority and handle related budget and financial records.
The contract would allow Doll to help the district recover as much as $9 million the state still owes the school district for work done under the state construction program over the last decade. The school district did 16 projects at 11 schools.
“This is to help us resolve these issues with the state.” — Leo Smith
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In order to monitor this process, the school board hired Doll’s firm since he had the experience with the district.
Doll retired as school business administrator last June after 31 years, and was replaced by Smith.
During his tenure, Doll served as project manager for construction of two new schools, an ice rink, and numerous additions to existing schools, many of which were done under the state’s program. Smith said it was logical to bring his firm in to oversee the final stages.
“This is to help us resolve these issues with the state,” Smith said. “This is not a permanent position.”
D’Angelo, who over the years has had a contentious relationship with Doll, asked why the board had not listed Doll’s name on the resolution, saying he had discovered the fact only after hearing rumor of Doll’s return and obtaining a copy of the contract that had Doll’s signature on it.
Smith said the contract is not with Doll and the board is not required to name principals of a firm.
Under the agreement, Doll’s firm will receive $135 per hour for up to 200 hours to help the district deal with the state’s need for documents concerning the construction program – to research, evaluate, and compile the necessary construction records to determine the relevant information for the School Development Authority grants, and to also coordinate and assist in the completion of all submissions of these records to the state School Development Authority.
Two illegal students removed from Bayonne schools
After hearing testimony from two teachers at a hearing earlier this month, the Bayonne Board Attendance Committee recommended to the Bayonne Board of Education that two students be removed from the school district because they were not legal residents of the City of Bayonne and therefore not entitled to attend Bayonne schools.
At its Feb. 24 meeting, the Board of Education voted to remove the students.
Board Attorney Anthony D’Elia said under the law, the students will be removed within 21 days – unless the parents appeal the decision to the state Department of Education. If they appeal, the students will remain in Bayonne schools until the appeal is concluded. If the school district prevails in the case, the parents will be assessed for each day the student was in the school beyond the 21 days. The school district could also seek to be repaid for the 21-day period as well, even if the parents do not appeal the board’s decision.
Assistant Superintendent Robert Craig said this brings the total number of illegal students removed from the district this year up to 20.
School budget
With state aid figures arriving on the same day as the Feb. 24 Bayonne Board of Education meeting, the board tabled a motion to introduce its 2011-2012 budget until a special meeting on March 2 at 7 p.m., where the budget will be reviewed at a workshop. It will be passed afterward and sent to the Hudson County Superintendent of Schools for review.
The budget will then be reviewed by the Bayonne Board of School Estimate for possible additional cuts and final passage.
School board members did not release the total budget this year, saying that they need to look over the state aid figures before establishing a final budget. Last year’s budget was $115 million.
The special meeting will be held at the Anna J. Herbert Meeting Room at 669 Avenue A.
Four students win Americanism coloring contest
Brianna Caicedo, of John M. Bailey School, has won first place on the county level competition in the American Legion’s Americanism Coloring Contest and will move on to the state level, said Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia McGeehan. Caicedo won second place in the local competition.
Other winners include Sofia A. Polishchuk of Nicholas Oresko School, who won first place for her work on the local competition. Meghan Anderson of All Saints Academy won third place locally.
The students will be honored at the annual Commander Installation Dinner on June 30 at the Frederick A. Mackenzie Post.
Vincent Neal, of Bayonne High School, and Nathaniel Kowal, of Washington Community School, will take part in the New Jersey State Concert. Neil plays viola and Kowal plays the clarinet.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.