MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL OFFICIALS FAIL TO ADDRESS DEFICIENCIES CITED IN STATE AUDIT OVER A DECADE AGO

THE CABAL OF CORRUPTION

CORRUPT MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL CHIEF JUDITH JOHNSON

CORRUPT MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE ELIAS GOOTZEIT

CORRUPT MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL TRUSTEE FRANCES WYNN

CORRUPT MOUNT VERNON CITY SCHOOL CFO TIMOTHY COSTELLO

CORRUPT MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL TRUSTEE LEN SARVER

Mount Vernon City officials have been negligent in their handling of district finances according to an audit conducted in 2002.  The audit covered the period of July 1, 1999 through March 31, 2001.  Many of the problems noted in the audit over 10 years ago still exist to this day and have gone unaddressed and uncorrected.

  MOUNT VERNON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AUDIT

The Mount Vernon City School district served about 10,200 students in 16 Schools and spent about $102.5 million in the 1999-00 school year.  Today, the Mount Vernon City School district serves about 8,500 students and spends about $215.5 million per year. 25 years ago the school budget was $23.5 Million.   Where did all the money go?

Mount Vernon school chief Judith Johnson has been a disaster for the Mount Vernon City School district.  Several board trustees have also joined Judith Johnson in her attempts to hide fraudulent and reckless spending of public monies.  School board trustees Len Sarver, Frances Wynn, and Elias Gootzeit are three persons identified by Mount Vernon Exposed as agents against change.  These three individuals are joined at the hip and always support each and every corrupt act committed by Johnson.  If Johnson told these three individuals to go jump off a bridge, these three would respond by saying “which bridge”? 

The Mount Vernon City School District did not fall into financial ruin until the takeover or intrusion by the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee and several prominent black churches in the City of Mount Vernon. 

Many school trustees over the years have become fed up with the corruption that extends to Albany and beyond.  For example, another audit conducted by Thomas DiNapoli in 2010 failed to address any financial shortcoming but instead focused on other matters to keep the focus off of misused and mismanaged public funds.  As a result, of Mr. DiNapoli’s intentional oversight, Mount Vernon City Schools are the 2^nd worst in Westchester.  Only Judith Johnson’s former place of employment, Peekskill City Schools, trails Mount Vernon. 

The audit in 2002 was conducted by The State Education Department, Office of Audit Services, while the audit in 2010 was conducted by the Comptroller’s office. Many feel the audit in 2010 was political in nature and was spearheaded by Assemblyman James Gary Pretlow, a career politician and a personal friend to many of the school board members that were involved in the pilfering of over $100 mil from the Mount Vernon City School district.   Pretlow has been in Albany over 20 years and has done nothing to control the spending in the Mount Vernon City Schools.  Pretlow encourages and promotes wasteful spending. 

Bishop W. Darin Moore, formerly the Pastor at Greater Centennial A.M.E. Zion church, was the school board president at the time of the audit in 2002.   School board trustees Carol Ben-Reuben, Gerald Coleman, Gloria Coleman, Marleen Dandrige, Lynn McBride, Diane Munro, and Frances Wynn joined him in solidarity.  Many cannot understand the return of Frances Wynn to the school board, especially when Wynn had been a lame duck during her previous tenure serving as a school board trustee.

Auditors stated that improvements could be made related to Board governance and oversight including the control environment, fiscal oversight, written policies, and Board meetings and minutes.  Auditors also stated that the Board needs to stress the importance of controls and hold mangers accountable, to better monitor Mount Vernon’s financial condition, and to ensure written policies and procedures are complete and distributed to appropriate staff.  Auditors also addressed issues related to inventory control and segregation of duties in the business office. 

Inventory control and the tracking of assets are a major concern and problem within the Mount Vernon City School District.  Mount Vernon Exposed recently revealed that School Board Trustee Len Sarver is alleged to have taken tools to use for his private electrical business that was paid for by taxpayers.  Former buildings and ground foremen John Zambelli is also alleged to have pilfered the district out of tens of thousands of dollars of tools that were sold for profit to friends of Zambelli who are private contractors.

The audit in 2002 also noted that improvements are needed with Mount Vernon’s systems and activities for collecting and reporting data for State aid and grants.  Without these improvements, critical data will continue to be incomplete and inaccurate and will negatively impact Mount Vernon.  In fact, due to the negligence of city school officials, Mount Vernon was at risk of loosing $12 million in State aid and grants. 

The true dropout rate cannot be properly calculated because city school officials were too busy stealing from taxpayers.  During the period of the audit, Mount Vernon school officials calculated the dropout rate to be 1.2% however auditors founds the dropout rate to be 6.7% or between 5 and 6 times higher than initially reported by school officials.

One of the responsibilities of a school district’s board and superintendent is to establish adequate internal controls including the control environment.  A school board can set the overall tone by establishing overall policies, communicating them to school district mangers, and holding the managers accountable for the results.  However the board has not always done this, according to the audit report.  For example, the Board has not provided the necessary fiscal oversight to appropriately monitor the budget and expenditures and also has not instituted comprehensive policies and procedures.  According to the audit report, the Board allowed numerous accounts to be overspent, including the Board’s own conference account, and also did not review all claims for payment.

Auditors stated that a school board needs accurate and timely budget status and other reports to monitor the financial condition of the school district and to enable timely corrections to the budget plan.  Auditors also stated that a school board has the ultimate responsibility for the fiscal health and stability of a school district.  The report indicated that board members did not routinely receive required information such as monthly budget status reports, cash reports, bank account reconciliations, or the Extra classroom Activity Fund reports.  Auditors stated that without these reports, the Board couldn’t effectively monitor the financial condition of Mount Vernon.  In addition, the Board did not use the budget to effectively control expenditures.  Mount Vernon’s budget status report indicated numerous accounts with negative balances. 

During School Board trustee France Wynn’s previous stint with the school district, auditors found many questionable expenses, including $225.00 for three people to attend a wine tasting event.  The board at the time of Wynn’s tenure did not have written policies for the Board and Superintendent travel and conference expenses or for the use of district credit cards. 

Mount Vernon did not have a written policy concerning the usage of postage meters and to make sure that the meters are used for appropriate purposes.  According to the report, Mount Vernon used its meters to mail more that 3,200 pieces of mail unrelated to district business.   Mount Vernon Superintendent Judith Johnson recently authorized the printing of thousands of fliers at taxpayers’ expense.  The fliers in question were placed in children’s backpacks and urged their parents to vote yes for the budget in violation on New York State laws.

History tends to always repeat itself.  Many of the policies and recommendations set forth in the auditors report have not been implemented to this very day.  Reports are still being hidden for board members and wasteful spending is still out of control.  The school budget is $115 million more than it was ten years ago, yet children still have to go into street and beg strangers for money to save the sports program. 

TO BE CONTINUED……..

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………..

EXCLUSIVE: MOUNT VERNON TOP LAWYER CONFIRMS JUDGE ADAM SEIDEN APPOINTED TO ILLEGAL TERM

MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL CHIEF JUDITH JOHNSON WILLFULLY VIOLATES F.O.I.L. LAW

CORRUPT MT. VERNON SCHOOL CHIEF JUDITH JOHNSON

The administration of Interim Superintendent Judith Johnson continues to operate in an unscrupulous and unethical manner.  As previously reported by Mount Vernon Exposed, there is a massive cover up going on at the central office while public continues to be stonewalled with getting basic information. 

It appears that Judith Johnson plays by her own set of rules and does not believe in transparency and full disclosure.  Mount Vernon Exposed publisher Samuel L. Rivers requested documents through the NYS Freedom of Information Law or F.O.I.L.

A response was received from the district but the written correspondence from the district was not in line with the Freedom of Information Law.  The NYS Freedom of Information law states each entity subject to the provisions of this article, within five business days of the receipt of a written request for a record reasonably described, shall make such record available to the person requesting it, deny such request in writing or furnish a written acknowledgment of the receipt of such request and a statement of the approximate date, which shall be reasonable under the circumstances of the request, when such request will be granted or denied, including, where appropriate, a statement that access to the record will be determined in accordance with subdivision five of the Freedom of Information Law. 

The Freedom of Information Law further states; 3. (a) Each entity subject to the provisions of this article, within five business days of the receipt of a written request for a record reasonably described, shall make such record available to the person requesting it, deny such request in writing or furnish a written acknowledgment of the receipt of such request and a statement of the approximate date, which shall be reasonable under the circumstances of the request, when such request will be granted or denied, including, where appropriate, a statement that access to the record will be determined in accordance with subdivision five of this section. An agency shall not deny a request on the basis that the request is voluminous or that locating or reviewing the requested records or providing the requested copies is burdensome because the agency lacks sufficient staffing or on any other basis if the agency may engage an outside professional service to provide copying, programming or other services required to provide the copy, the costs of which the agency may recover pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision one of section eighty-seven of this article. An agency may require a person requesting lists of names and addresses to provide a written certification that such person will not use such lists of names and addresses for solicitation or fund-raising purposes and will not sell, give or otherwise make available such lists of names and addresses to any other person for the purpose of allowing that person to use such lists of names and addresses for solicitation or fund-raising purposes. If an agency determines to grant a request in whole or in part, and if circumstances prevent disclosure to the person requesting the record or records within twenty business days from the date of the acknowledgement of the receipt of the request, the agency shall state, in writing, both the reason for the inability to grant the request within twenty business days and a date certain within a reasonable period, depending on the circumstances, when the request will be granted in whole or in part. Upon payment of, or offer to pay, the fee prescribed therefor, the entity shall provide a copy of such record and certify to the correctness of such copy if so requested, or as the case may be, shall certify that it does not have possession of such record or that such record cannot be found after diligent search. Nothing in this article shall be construed to require any entity to prepare any record not possessed or maintained by such entity except the records specified in subdivision three of section eighty-seven and subdivision three of section eighty-eight of this article. When an agency has the ability to retrieve or extract a record or data maintained in a computer storage system with reasonable effort, it shall be required to do so. When doing so requires less employee time than engaging in manual retrieval or redactions from non-electronic records, the agency shall be required to retrieve or extract such record or data electronically. Any programming necessary to retrieve a record maintained in a computer storage system and to transfer that record to the medium requested by a person or to allow the transferred record to be read or printed shall not be deemed to be the preparation or creation of a new record.

What is Judith Johnson hiding? Why is Judith stalling and stonewalling board members?  Why isn’t Judith giving the asbestos reports to school board trustees?

Judith Johnson has not worked in the best interest of the taxpayers since her inception in Mount Vernon. 

Will Judith do the taxpayers a favor and resign? Only time will tell.   

  MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL CHIEF JUDITH JOHNSON WILLFULLY VIOLATES F.O.I.L.

PHOTOS OF $200K SPENDING AT ARMANI CHARTER SCHOOL

CUSTOM PURPLE MOLDING

$50K FILE SERVER

CHAIRS TO MATCH MOLDING

BRAND NEW UNSECURED LAPTOPS