Opinion: Drug-selling teacher

Shep,

Don't all criminals think they can "get away" with it? I don't think this has anything to do with his families positions in the BOE - he is just a dumb 22 year old. It has all to do with stupidity and thinking you will never get caught.


Jude

What are they STILL GETTING AWAY WITH. They got caught this time, who knows what else is going on. When arrogant and favored people think they can get away with stuff, evidently the SKY IS THE LIMIT.

That can be said about every profession in the world, private and public. There are people who think they can get by the system and will never get caught. I bet the French trader from Société Générale thought the same thing this 22 year old did. No one will no "what else" is going on until criminals get caught or tighter controls are put in place to catch them before they commit the crime. How would this crime have been stopped before it was committed? Here in my world, we have controls on top of controls to mitigate risk, but things can still slip through.

Jude

I have to agree with you Shep. Public perception of questionable "connections" at all levels of Bayonne's commissions, boards and contracts runs deep in light of high taxes and low services.

Its very important that ALL our officials start to understand the displeased awareness of voting, taxpaying citizens. Turning a blind eye is being accomplice to questionable dealings.

Laura,

I am not defending this teacher by no means. This teacher was stupid and when found guilty, goes to jail. However, what could the BOE have done to prevent this crime from happening? Do people in public employement, who do not have any connections, commit crimes while on the job?

I think I wrote on the NJO board about the city and nepotism. If relatives were not allowed to work in the same place as their parents, siblings, or other relations: who from Bayonne would have a job in Bayonne? With this being the probable case, should Bayonne only hire applicants that live outside the city and have no connections with any person who currently works for the City of Bayonne? Talk about 6 degrees of separation, in Bayonne, it is probably 2.

Just take the Washington Post article about Bayonne. The article named three people: I am related to one, I have been friends with another since I was 10. That is 2 out of 3 and I bet I know the other if I saw him.

We question the entire system when these problems arise but what is there to do about it? An elected BOE will not prevent these type of issues.

Jude

Jude,
It is unfortunate when somebody is arrested for a act like this, but being a teacher has weight to it. That the media reported it has done us a service; we are now aware that someone that is trusted with our children
perhaps should find another career (although honestly if he is found guilty he may just wind up asking you if you want fries with that burger). Look at the other scandals; the DARE cop who was caught with Ecstacy, the guidance counselor who got too frisky. This teacher will be suspended, or asked to resign. I'm sure this is an embarrassment to his family (or should I say fellow co-workers lol) and we should let the justice system run its course. It should also serve as a wake up call to the Superintendent in regards to hiring family members of teachers....

Hav ALL criminal activities within the BOE been committed by a relative of a current BOE or other City employee? Then you are saying by not hiring family, no incidents like this one will ever occur? What about friends of current BOE or City employee? Friends can be as close as relatives in some situations? If this is the way it should be, then I guess no one from Bayonne will be allowed to work for the City of Bayonne - the 2 degrees of separation thing again. The city will then have to recruit from outside Bayonne, which includes fire and police. Then the other constant argument comes into play: employees of the City of Bayonne should live in Bayonne - Now what? Can't have it both ways.

Jude

Jude,
Not what I meant...I myself worked there, and I had a relative that still works there. But as I see it, it not only brings embarrassment but also suspicion to the rest of said relatives and friends. Remember, the last thing the BBOE wants is scandal, because they can't afford any more scrutiny. And Jude, it appears the ENTIRE FAMILY of Yurchaks are employed by (you guessed it) the BBOE. Nepotism in this district is rampant, from the top to the bottom. Oh yeah, finding out who you were in nj.com took its "toll" but I think I found you...lol

Jude,
Of course every connected family does NOT have a responsibility to police every other family member but in Bayonne there is just a disproportionate amount of suspect nepotistic connections throughout the city and district. I agree with BOTH you and Shep. On one hand, one cannot condemn the son for the sins of the father but on the other hand, there is often sense of entitlement, being above the law and protections when patronage is inequitable. Bayonne is functioning in those shadow areas.

For example, last year, a well qualified teacher (unconnected to anyone) was let go ONE DAY before tenure. Actions like that can't help but make one wonder when we see a very young teacher like this, still in the district, who happens to have family connections.

Jude,

Your point is well taken. However, LDePinto is also correct. I have noticed in my years living here an extraordinary amount of incest with regard to city workers of all stripe. Bayonne is in one way a very small town, I don't have to explain this we all know what I mean. Mike ransom has a daughter at the BLRA whom just happens to teach Joe Doria's child piano. The new school board member just happens to have his brother that is the head of the EDC and a father-in-law that is very good friends with Collins. Just check who Malloy is related too. Do a search with how everyone is related or close friends when it comes to power here. The problem with familiarity is that it does breed contempt. Yes you are right that every criminal thinks they will get away with it. In Bayonne, the connected ones get a bigger break. The only reason we heard about this one is the the feds were involved and even the politicians can't fix that. This is what happens when there is one party control for ever. Just check who belongs to the Democrat organization all the way from the top to lowliest job in town.

A few other notable former Bayonne teachers...http://www.nj.gov/education/legal/examiners/1998/sep/476-05-98-157.pdf http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/10/nyregion/10teacher.html Seems that nj.com wished to begin deleting again...

THE QUIET MAN....SO THAT EXPLAINS RANSOMS STAUNCH DEFENSE OF JOE DORIA, HUH?

No, Mike is a true believer. He has cashed in for his kids and when he is called out for it, he gets very mad. He does have a thin skin. Just tell him he is wrong sometime and watch what happens. But, he does truly believe. I never understand why he doesn't see the corruption for what it is and he will never admit there are problems. He is like many of us when it comes to friends, very forgiving.

YES, MY FRIENDS SAY THE SAME ABOUT HIM. VERY THIN SKINNED. I CAN'T REALLY SEE WHAT IT IS HE BELIEVES IN THOUGH. OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT DORIA HAS HAND FED HIM AND THE FAMILY FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

Although we have a population of a little more then 60,000 I feel there is a diproposionate amount of neopotism. I see no problem when a family member gets hired unless someone more qualified is passed over. I feel this is the case more often then not. I have seen it in the BOE, BPD and BFD. Can I prove it ? No. But I certainly feel it exists.

Having had two children go through the Bayonne School system, I am familiare with many young adults{late 20's-to mid 30's. I have knowledge of a couple of fine, knowledable people who have applied in the past for teaching positions to be told that they will be called. A very good friend of my daughter, whose family is connected had no problem what so ever. When I mentioned to her mother that she as lucky she laughed and reminded me who her father was and continued to tell me who else had jobs there. I know of another case that was very similar. Can I prove that nepostism was the case? Draw your own conclusions.

Same thing with the Police and Fire Dept. Many People receive high scores however they have to take a psychogical and interview. Nothing wrong with that but from what I understand the psychological and interviews is usually the deciding factor. That sounds in thory like a good thing. However who do you think is more likely to get the jobs?

Although 60,000 people doen't sound like very much-it seems suspicous to me that there are and abundance of family workers. There is nothing wrong with wanting a son, daugher, sister or brother to have a good job. What disturbs me is wondering how many good people where passed up because they had no real connections in Bayonne.

If you have a job in the outside sector many times a parent or friend will get you the interview. After that you have to prove yourself. If you fail-its bye-bye time. If a captains son is picked for a dept. and has a 90 day trial period-how many sargeants are going to give a bad evaluation. Again draw your ow conclusions.

Amen!

18. What about the Smith and Baccarella clans? Leo BHS V.P. , Rich BHS Principal, Phil BHS phy ed., Nancy Boydale BHS phy ed., Bill Bodayle security? BHS, Pat Smith BHS, parttime, Rich's wife and 2 daughters Elem. teachers, Phil's wife ((not 100% certain)and son Elem. teachers, Mark Smith BPD, Leo's son, Leo Jr. FD, A " Baker's dozen"- around $1,000,000 total salaries. Probably missed a few cousins in the count. The most objectionable, to me, is the Principal position. Rich never taught at BHS and his exposure at the high school was limited to about 3 years experience as a VP. He's been there for six years now and hasn't accomplished too much He's a nice guy, BUT that's it. One of the best VP's Tim Mercier, can't even get a 12 month position. He's a former Phy. ed teacher but he's bright. His only drawback is he's not in the "Loop".

Oops, almost forgot, Leo is doing double duty. The Principal of the new Twilight School has been absent since day one, so Leo is subbing for him. Leo workd from 8 until 3:30; Twilight begins at 2 and ends at 6 then Leo has night school from 7 to 9:30. Where is Leo from 2 until 3:30? House 2 or Twilight? How much are we paying him?

lulu...
Kudos to you...made one hell of a point....but I did work with Rich Baccarella at Washington Community School while he was principal...he was well liked by students and staff, and did the job with gusto...in regard to BHS...it is not run by just one person; it is the combined efforts of ALL staff that make the difference...and yes, perhaps it is unfair that Timothy Mercier is not more than what he is, but this is the BBOE...

The sad thing is, this unfortunate incident is not the only one. It is the only one, recently, that has come to light. I have a close relative who is employed by the BOE, and it would curl your tail to know all the things that happen, that never make it into the papers. Back in Sept., a bus driver left a child, who was sleeping, on the bus...child was found, thank goodness, by a crossing guard, who alerted the police. The bus driver got re-positioned to custodian, because of a family connection, while the bus attendant, who had no ties, was fired. Many other employees found with drugs...switched to other schools, kept quiet. Many, many incidents like this...no word of them in the papers...makes me wonder what else is going on.