Evangelista to Repay Funds to FRHSD Associated with Diploma-Mill Degree

Freehold Regional School District President Heshy Moses announced that Assistant Superintendent Donna Evangelista will repay the district $5,400 in stipend and tuition fees associated with her unofficial degree from Breyer State University, garnered in 2007.

Moses read a letter during the public comment section of the Board of Education meeting on Monday, Nov. 14 saying that this would be the last statement about “this most unfortunate event.”

A number of teachers, assistant superintendents, and former superintendent James Wasser received doctorate degrees from the unaccredited Breyer State University in 2007. The elevated degrees lead to an increase in their salaries, approximately $2,500 a year, and the taxpayers paid for the tuition for the district employees to attend BSU.

The pay raises were reduced when BSU was discovered to be an unaccredited institution. The district voted to change it’s policies in 2008 to only accept degrees from schools with licensed credentials.
 
By an unanimous resolution, Moses said, the Board of Education contacted the New Jersey State Comptroller regarding the Breyer State University scandal in an attempt to right the situation. The comptroller recommended that the Board ask for a return of the funds from Donna Evangelista, who is the only recipient of a doctorate degree from the “diploma mill” who still works in the district. 

Moses sent a formal letter to Evangelista asking her to refund the tuition money paid to Breyer State University, as well as the stipend paid to her as a result of her advanced degree.

The district will not look to recover the money lost from those employees who no longer work in the district. “The district cannot look to recoup funds from retirees without engaging in a costly legal procedure,” Moses said.

Moses also added that the district cannot disclose any information regarding any ongoing legal proceedings involving any current employees.

Teacher Lorraine Taddei-Graef, one of the teachers who received a doctorate from BSU, currently holds a, which is paid through a stipend. Taddei-Graef asked the state to reverse the Board’s decision to reduce her salary two years ago, but the litigation is ongoing.

"We ask all members of the public to help us move on and we ask the public to direct all comments to current issues effecting this district," the Board president said. "Contacting the office of the state comptroller was indeed an informed decision and we feel that the action brought ultimate resolve to a serious event that has adversely effected the reputation of this district."

The $5,400 will be returned to the district by 2016, Moses said.

Correction: The initial article mentioned "superintendents" received a degree, when in fact only one superintendent - James Wasser - received a doctorate degree from BSU.