Lakewood Update: Your Taxes at Work

The Asbury Park Press reviews some of the results of a criminal investigation into Lakewood Public Schools’ finances, which was prompted by allegations of fraud. Among the findings:

• A special education teacher was paid for being in two places at the same time. After auditors confronted the district about the matter, the teacher returned $60,000.
• $53,000 in overtime was paid to executive secretaries who did not qualify for the money.
•  $1,700 was paid for a plane ticket so a Washington, D.C., lawyer could visit the school district.
• Up to 38 percent in annual pay increases were given to several employees who did not have contracts.
•  A person was paid $55,000 during the 2012-13 school year as a “professional development/parental involvement consultant” for a private school in the township.”We found no timesheets or activity logs to determine if services were provided,” according to the report.

The audit also notes that “the school district has had three superintendents since September 2008, eight business administrators since February 2008 and four assistant business administrators from December 2012 to December 2013.”