Commissioner of Education Endorses Firing of Manalapan HS Principal
The State Commissioner of Education has ordered the dismissal of Jeff Simon from his tenured position as principal of Manalapan High School.
New Jersey State Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf has ruled that former Manalapan High School Principal Jeff Simon be removed from his tenured position.
The Freehold Regional High School District originally filed tenure charges against Simon in February 2012 for violating district policies including mishandling student activity funds and cash from the school play and football games. The charges also included the violation of district fire drill policy.
For an in depth breakdown of the tenure charges filed against Simon by the district, click here.
Cerf upheld the former ruling of Administrative Law Judge Donald J. Stein, issued on Jan. 22, which called for Simon’s removal. Stein upheld two of the three tenure charges against Simon and concluded that Simon’s testimony was not credible. Cerf rejected Stein’s dismissal of the third charge, which states that Simon is unfit to serve as principal, stating that it is imposed as a penalty when the first two charges are upheld, which indicate Simon's inadequacy as principal.
The State Commissioner of Education said that he was satisfied with the judge’s account of the testimony from the nine day hearing; Cerf said the recitation was “both accurate and thorough” and that he finds Stein’s “conclusions as to the truth of the District’s allegations and the characterization of [Simon’s] behavior as unbecoming conduct to be fully supported by the record and consistent with applicable law.”
Cerf ruled that Simon “is not fit to discharge the duties and functions of his position as principal at Manalapan High School and he, therefore, cannot entertain the prospect of [his] return to the district and the resultant potential for the perpetration of a disruptive educational environment.”
According to the Asbury Park Press, Simon’s attorney Stuart Moskovitz intends on appealing the decision because he said he does not feel the hearing was fair. Moskovitz has until March 21 to file an appeal.
Curious George
4:08 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
This is a hatchet job if I ever saw one...There is no way these charges should have reached the level of Mr. Simon's dismissal. I've followed the case and heard what the witnesses had to say. If there was mishandling of money or thievery then the police should have been called in. Why weren't they? Because Sampson knew they wouldn't stand up in court. Why wasn't Mr. Simon made aware of the administration's displeasure of his "activities" before he was escorted out of the building? Because they wanted him out in spite of how much the students and parents liked him...Now Mr. Sampson has reinforced his ring of supporters and is sure of getting more rubber stamps for whatever he wants. They not only fired him from his job but made sure he can't get another one...That's vindictive and disgusting. Mr. Simon did not harm any students, he did not drive while intoxicated with any students and he did not have indecent relations with any students. This blatant railroading of a decent, caring man is beyond the pale and is a blight on this board.
Benjifranklin
9:32 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Georgie
A judge and the Commissioner of Education seem to be at odds with your assessment of the FACTS.
In fact the Commissioner reinstated one of the charges the judge had dismissed.
If you had actually read the decision, you would know it was the dependent who was caught lying and therefore lost all credibility.
You seem to feel that the 20 witnesses presented by the FRHSD were all lying and cooked their stories up. Too bad the FACTS do not support your claims.
It was the Commissioner himself who sent the whole matter to the committee concerning his license, not the FRHSD or the judge. It looks like the Commissioner of Education felt the charges rose to an even higher level than the judge.
Some parents may like him, and the kids who run wild may like him but ask why. Because he made up the rules by himself. read the decision where the judge said there was no remorse and that there was no evidence that he would do anything different if he got his job back.
BTW he
Benjifranklin
9:32 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
BTW. He knew that the Superintendent was not please and he joked with everyone about his need to improve.
Claudine Scozzari
12:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
To the Adults charged with the care and protection of minors -
NOT A JOKING MATTER!
If that is true - Jeff Simon is bordering on falsely accusing minors of stealing funds from after school activities. Creating criminal records with false accusations is not a joking matter when you are an ADULT the minors are supposed to TRUST!
The court system is not a GAME for the ADULTS to play with the LIVES OF MINORS!
Benjifranklin
9:32 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
Pending Approval
Benjifranklin
10:14 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Georgie
A judge and the Commissioner of Education seem to be at odds with your assessment of the FACTS.
In fact the Commissioner reinstated one of the charges the judge had dismissed.
If you had actually read the decision, you would know it was the dependent who was caught lying and therefore lost all credibility.
You seem to feel that the 20 witnesses presented by the FRHSD were all lying and cooked their stories up. Too bad the FACTS do not support your claims.
It was the Commissioner himself who sent the whole matter to the committee concerning his license, not the FRHSD or the judge. It looks like the Commissioner of Education felt the charges rose to an even higher level than the judge.
Some parents may like him, and the kids who run wild may like him but ask why. Because he made up the rules by himself. read the decision where the judge said there was no remorse and that there was no evidence that he would do anything different if he got his job back.
BTW he knew that the administration was not happy with him because the gave him a report on it that he showed all around town and laughed about it with everyone who would listen..
The only one who sunk the ex principal was himself.
Curious George
2:02 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
The amount of money that was actually mentioned as missing was $120 and as I understand the facts, the chain of custody of that missing money never connected Mr. Simon directly to it. Do you really think it was worth the cost of well over $500,000 in legal fees to the same law firm that has so poorly misrepresented the FRHSD throughout the Wasser debacle to pursue this case to this degree if there wasn't a disengenuous plan fire Mr. Simon from the beginning? If they felt he stole the money, the police should have been notified. None of the other charges warranted this kind of verdict. As cynicinmarlboro stated, the former principal from Marlboro was involved in a DWI accident with his own child and is now a Sup't. in Keansburg. There is no indication that Mr. Simon caused any injury or harm to any student. This case was pure retribution against him for selfish reasons. He is a decent man with a family to care for and has had his ability to work taken away from him...
cynicinmarlboro
10:15 am on Saturday, March 16, 2013
I'm still not convinced he put children in harms way, but might have gone against district policies. And other charges should have been investigated by the police. So here's a man who can no longer work in the profession while a former Marlboro principal actually put his own child in jeopardy by having an accident while driving while intoxicated, copped some kind of plea and is now Superintendent of Keansburg. Somehow I fail to see the justice.
Benjifranklin
2:02 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
The bogus issue of "children in danger" is not the criteria, despite your attempt to link. it. The judges decision and that of the Commissioner of Education is clear. He made up the rules as he went along and failed to follow district rules and policies despite having been given a written evaluation. I am not totally sure but I believe he also had a pay raise withheld for not doing what he was supposed to do. There was never a criminal charge involved with the tenure charges. Read the papers, there is never an allegation that he pocketed the money, although I have to wonder based upon all the questionable financial hokus pocus. If his license is lifted, who is to blame? The person who was convicted, or those who blew the whistle on him.
Benjifranklin
2:02 pm on Saturday, March 16, 2013
The problems of the other principal had nothing to do with school, school kids, or even on school time (although he is on duty 24/7). He was fired (resigned) and the justice system treated him like any other person who is DUI. The Commissioner of Education did not feel this incident warranted removal of his license was in question or proceedings would have gone forward. They didn't because there was no legal basis to proceed. The importance of following rules, policies and the law is what we all teach our children. Someone who disregards these rules and boasts that he never even read the student handbook (that contains the rules for students) and then claims "I run the school by my own rules" surely can not be considered an educational leader. The judge and the Commissioner agree.
Claudine Scozzari
12:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
More importantly, NJ now has case law at the Office of Administrative Law according to Administrative Law Judge Donald J. Stein for utilities. The principal did not follow procedures in place. In real life, the children of this community should understand that the consequences of the lack of respect for procedures as it pertains to Government actions have cumulative detrimental effects that ruin communities.
In the case of utilities, procedures are in place for funding of utility maintenance and upgrades that provide the children of this State clean water, heat and hot water, and electricity to power the lights required to read during the dark days of winter.
The Educators union has taken over the DOT union, so it is only natural for a principal to provide this State with case law for the children of this State. It a shame that the people being paid with tax payer dollars in the charge of the minors of this community was the person on complete display in the media. ( BUT #?@ HAPPENS)
It should send a message to the EDUCATORS - your corrupt behavior will not be tolerated in this community.
Claudine Scozzari
12:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
"Count Three
Count three alleges that missing play proceeds from the December 2011 High School play were mishandled. Six performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” yielded cash proceeds of $4,652. The money was collected from various sources and placed in envelopes with the amount written on them."
Adults should not be PLAYING with the lives of minors. By allowing the perceived criminal behavior, the principal was endangering their lives and destroying their futures of minors who were proactively participating in an after school activity that provides skils that are needed for any business operation.
Budgets and cash flow.
Claudine Scozzari
12:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
"Count One
Count one involves the improper collection of money for security guard payment during a Mr. MHS event in May 2011. Charles Janetti, a science teacher at Manalapan High School, testified that Simon asked him to give him $300 to $400 of the Mr. MHS proceeds to prepay the security guards at the event. District policy requires that security guards never be paid in cash, but by voucher only."
Where's the IRS???? Better yet, where is the INS?
This is an undocumented worker problem. Did the security guard pay taxes (like a waitress) on the cash payments for work performed?
Claudine Scozzari
12:32 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
"Count Four
Count four involves the transfer of student activity funds to purchase championship rings. Simon testified that he removed $6,000 out of the yearbook account and transferred it to the business account in order to pay for the championship rings for the baseball team.
Simon stated that he never read the Student Activity Handbook and was unaware of the stipulation that money raised by a club had to be solely used for that club; Simon testified that he had done this before and was never made aware of the fat that it was an issue."
The minors from Manalapan (personally - I was a permanent resident from 1972 through 1990, and the adults I deal with professional noticed this problem in the work place) have produced WRITTEN PROCEDURES for student activities for the legacy of the community - only to be destroyed by some A-Hole claiming he CARED.
And, his caring was evident in his leadership of the school. And, let's not forget the all important secretary (aka the Administrative Assistant)
You did some assisting. (And, the telephones are probably still not answered or the filing complete) Those job functions are no longer required.