Board wants tussle over titles to come to end
Some residents still irked over incident involving degrees
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer
It took about six weeks, $23,000 in legal fees, and a direct order from Jane Oates, the executive director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, for Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser to publicly announce that he would relinquish the title of Dr. that he has been using since July 2006.

During a Sept. 8 meeting of the FRHSD Board of Education at its headquarters in Englishtown, Wasser read a prepared statement in which he said that although he was legally entitled to the title, he and Assistant Superintendent Donna Evangelista would comply with Oates' directive.

In August, Oates ordered the administrators to cease and desist use of the doctoral title. Her letter to the administrators stated that Breyer State University, an online institution, is not considered a duly authorized institution of higher education as required by state statue.

"I will comply with this request … titles are not important. I will continue to work hard and focus on the day-to-day business of educating our students," Wasser said.

He said that although, according to the New Jersey Department of Education, "I am legally entitled to the title and there is no evidence of fraud or deceit, it is time to move forward."

Oates did not return a message left by Greater Media Newspapers seeking additional comment on the advanced degree situation involving the FRHSD administrators.

In a separate letter to board President Patricia Horvath of Manalapan, Oates asked district officials to make certain that all employees are in compliance with state law.

In recent weeks, one other district employee publicly stated that she holds a doctorate degree from Breyer State University. No further action regarding that employee has been discussed by the board in public.

District officials will amend the FRHSD's professional development policy.

According to the board's attorney, Stephen Edelstein, the key changes being made to the policy will include: "programs on continuing education are required to meet the Core Curriculum of New Jersey statute; graduate courses must be taken at an accredited (school) recognized by the state; reimbursement will be provided to the staff member if he or she receives a grade of B or its equivalent; there will be dollar limitations; and the staff member must be employed in the district for one academic year."

Wasser, Evangelista and Frank J. Tanzini, a retired FRHSD assistant superintendent, received doctoral degrees from Breyer State University, an online institution that has been deemed an apparent diploma mill. The three administrators each received a $2,500 pay increase for their advanced degree and the district paid $8,700 in tuition to the school.

Wasser said the pay raises that came with the advanced degree would be given up by the administrators.

Some of the board members who addressed the public said they did not believe Wasser intentionally defrauded the school district by obtaining his advanced degree from Breyer State. Some blamed themselves for not being more certain of the requirements surrounding the payment of the tuition and the awarding of raises.

Horvath said, "I truly believe that Jim had no intention to deceive the public. It's unfortunate that diploma mills exist. This board will comply with New Jersey statutes."

Horvath said the incident surrounding the administrators' degrees "should not undermine the growth and accomplishments of our district."

Board member Christopher Placitella of Colts Neck said, "I apologize for failing to ask hard questions that could have averted this controversy."

Board member Joan Leimbach of Howell said she believes the board failed to do its job.

"Who would of thought that the absence of one word (accreditation) would cause so much harm? The buck stops here. Some good came out of this. We are now (revising) our policies."

Leimbach was referring to the fact that while Breyer State officials said their university was accredited by a private agency, they acknowledged that is was not accredited by an accrediting agency that is recognized by the federal government. That difference apparently became a key point in the Commission on Higher Education's ruling that ordered the administrators to stop using the title of Dr.

Board Vice President Diana Cappiello of Englishtown said she would like to see a monetary cap placed on tuition reimbursement.

Board member Tom Caiazza of Freehold Township said, "The board must continually provide oversight to do the right things the right way."

At one point during the situation, board member Katie Goon of Marlboro released a written statement that asked the entire board "to join me in asking the three administrators to voluntarily remove the title of doctor and to disgorge any financial benefit they may have received as a result of their participation in the Breyer State program. In addition, failing compliance with this common sense approach to resolve this issue, I would ask the board to consider seeking the resignation and/or removal of these individuals."

During the Sept. 8 meeting, Goon said she was "disappointed how this issue came about. I would like to board to pay closer attention to contracts and policies in the future."

Goon was not on the board when the FRHSD administrators received the Breyer State degrees and the raises.

When a Greater Media Newspapers reporter sought to ask Goon if she was satisfied with the resolution to the situation and whether she had been pressured by the superintendent, her fellow board members or the board's attorney to change her position as it related to Wasser, she declined to comment.

"I really would prefer not to comment," Goon said on Sept. 11.

The board members' comments at the Sept. 8 meeting did little to ease the minds of people who said they believed a trust between the district and its constituents had been broken.

Resident Jim Sage said, "This is the largest economic and academic fraud in the history of this district. You have failed to set moral and ethical standards for our children. You all have cheated. Students will think cheating and the easy way out is the right thing. We must send a signal loud and clear that that behavior will not be accepted."

Resident Fred Lund did not accept the board members' explanation that the situation did not involve fraud.

"This was a deliberate fraud to the district, and the tuition reimbursement should be refunded," Lund said.

Resident Steven Johnson said he believes Wasser intentionally deceived the district.

"I believe Mr. Wasser knew what he was doing. There is a level of corruption here. Mr. Wasser, you have put a mar on your reputation and on the schools. We need you to be accountable," Johnson said.

He asked Wasser, who has been the superintendent of schools since late 1998, if this was the legacy he wanted to leave behind.

"Mr. Wasser, what do you want us to remember about you?" Johnson asked.

Debbie Gates Kane, the president of the Freehold Regional Education Association, which represents teachers in the FRHSD, read a statement in support of Wasser.

"Public employees are targets. We live in a technological society where anyone can become a victim of circumstances. I represent over 1,000 teachers and support staff members. This superintendent has had a positive impact on students and staff," Kane said.

Before the meeting was adjourned, Placitella offered one final statement on the matter.

"Good people make mistakes and good people forgive," he said.