2ND SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE NAMED IN CRIMINAL PROBE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT FINANCES

CORRUPT CITY COURT JUDGE ADAM SEIDEN

CORRUPT SCHOOL BOARD VICE PRESIDENT LEN SARVER

CORRUPT SCHOOL CHIEF JUDITH JOHNSON

CORRUPT SCHOOL TRUSTEE ELIAS GOOTZEIT

CORRUPT ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF BUSINESS TIM COSTELLO

EMBATTLED SCHOOL TRUSTEE FRANCES WYNN

Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that the United States Department of Justice is probing the Mount Vernon City School District, specifically the purchasing department. The probe also involves several administrators.  According to the source, the investigation extends far beyond the perimeter walls of the Mount Vernon City School District and also involves appointed and elected City officials.

Judge Adam Seiden began his political career with the Mount Vernon City School district when he was elected as a school board trustee.  Seiden figured that by serving as a school board trustee, it would give him better exposure to the public therefore increasing his business for his private practice.  Evidence recently gathered by Mount Vernon Exposed suggests that Judge Adam Seiden still has his tentacles in the Mount Vernon City School District.

Over the past several weeks Mount Vernon Exposed investigators have been trailing School Board Trustee Len Sarver and it was discovered that Mr. Sarver has lunch with Judge Adam Seiden at least once a week.  Pizza King, just steps away from Mount Vernon City Court and Judge Seiden’s law office, is the preferred cuisine of choice. 

Why would Len Sarver meet with Judge Seiden?  Is Len Sarver seeking legal advice? Is Mr. Sarver meeting Judge Seiden to give him an envelope containing his share of proceeds? Judge Seiden is Mr. Sarver’s mentor.  Both attend the  Sinai Free Synagogue together along with Assistant  Business Superintendent Timothy Costello and former school board president Charles Stern.  Stern’s wife Debra is the Executive Director of The Amani Charter School. 

Mount Vernon Exposed recently revealed that the Armani Charter recently went on a spending spree totaling over $200K while other public schools in Mount Vernon continue to fall into disrepair. 

The corruption is widening and involves more school board members than just Sarver alone.  Elias Gootzeit, the self-proclaimed agent of change has recently caught the attention of Mount Vernon Exposed.  Gootzeit is famous for his speeches blaming the County of Westchester for sending children and families to Mount Vernon, specifically section 8, without the resources to care for them. 

Mount Vernon Exposed has received several complaints from Mount Vernon Taxpayers questioning the principles and ethics of school board Trustee Elias Gootzeit.  Gootzeit is an attorney that specializes in family law.

When Gootzeit was first elected to the school board, he was anti-establishment and appeared to do what was right, but Gootzeit has since broken ranks and is now part of the problem instead of being part of the solution.  Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Elias Gootzeit was struggling in his private practice and loosing clients at an alarming rate before his election to the school board. Gootzeit is also a licensed clinical Social Worker.

Gootzeit then decided to join Mount Vernon School Chief Judith Johnson, Trustee Len Sarver, Assistant Superintendent of Business Timothy Costello, Frances Wynn, and others with their plot to loot the school district for personal gain. 

As payback Gootzeit would then start receiving referrals from the politicos for his private practice.  Gootzeit would then become a lame duck school board trustee voting every way Judith Johnson and Len Sarver wanted him to. 

Gootzeit also took it upon himself to be the one man screening committee for the Superintendent search.  According to a job advertisement on monster.com, Elias Gootzeit is listed alongside Judith Johnson as the Superintendent search committee Co-Chairs.  The relationship between Gootzeit and Johnson is troubling to say the least.   Is it a conflict of interest for Judith Johnson to interview potential successors?  Should the other 8 school board trustees be involved in this process? Why is Mr. Gootzeit taking such a lead role in the Superintendent search?

Gootzeit and Johnson are looking for a successor that will turn a blind eye to the corruption and one that will continue to ride the money train.  After one conversation with Gootzeit, one will clearly see that he isn’t mentally fit to chair the Superintendent search committee.

Mount Vernon Exposed began investigating Trustee Elias Gootzeit two years ago when a complaint was received that The Mount Vernon Democratic City was meddling in the affairs of the Mount Vernon City School District.  School District business is supposed to be non-partisan. 

As a result of wheeling and dealing, sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Gootzeit allegedly has been rewarded for his “yes” votes.  Gootzeit, through his pal Len Sarver, through his mentor Judge Adam Seiden, referred a case to Gootzeit because they needed to fix the case.  Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Gootzeit is not a trial attorney let alone suited to handle divorce matters. 

The case in question is Betty L. Campbell –v- Lawrence E. Darden Jr. index# 0521-2013.  Lawrence Darden is the Chief Clerk of the Mount Vernon City Court and a close pal of Seiden.  Seiden appeared in court with Darden as his legal advisor while Gootzeit represented Campbell.

It is also alleged that Gootzeit has also been rewarded for his “go along to get along” mentality by receiving lucrative referrals for his private practice from Judith Johnson.  Sources have told Mount Vernon Exposed that Johnson frequently has business sent to Gootzeit from her former colleagues in Peekskill and other surrounding areas. 

To be continued………..