Wasser Watch

Mr. H. James Wasser is uppity. He wants you to call him Doctor because the taxpayers bought him a bogus degree from an online diploma mill that was kicked out of Africa and Alabama. It is hard to imagine that Liberia and Alabama have higher standards than than the Freehold Regional High School District.

The public will have the opportunity to address the Diplomagate scandal of Mr.H. James Wasser at a special meeting of the Freehold Regional High School District on Monday, September 8, 8PM at the Administration Building, 11 Pine Street, Englishtown, NJ.

According to the published agenda, public comments will be limited to 30 minutes, and each speaker will be allowed 3 minutes to speak, "unless designated otherwise" by the Board President. Those wishing to audio or video the meeting are required to get a permission slip from the Board Secretary prior to the meeting. Ha!

One would think that the board and Mr. Wasser would want to put on a better show than their last meeting and make a different video presentation that this one courtesy of Barry Goldwater:



The Asbury Park Press editorial board today called for Wasser to make amends or the step down.

Given the restraint on the expression of outrage that the overweening school board is likely to place on the public on Monday night, I recommend the public prepare their remarks carefully, and to take guidance from former Presidential candidate Pat Paulsen. Tell Wasser and the board:

"We've upped out standards. UP YOURS!"

Wasser Watch

Mr. H. James Wasser is the poster boy for New Jersey's taxpayer abuse.

According to an article is the Asbury Park Press the once esteemed superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School System who was forced to retire early due to the outfall of the scandal over his diploma mill doctorate, is cashing in $132,000 in unused vacation and sick time on his way out the door.

Wasser, 60, will also receive an annual pension of $129,311.

The APP mentioned that Wasser joined the regional district 23 years ago as a substance abuse counselor. That must be when he noticed that New Jersey taxpayers were under the ether.

Wasser is not the only one with such lucrative retirement packages. Just last week we saw the former Keansburg police chief cash in a similar deal and take over the borough administrator job with a six figure salary.

As I young man I learned that a career in "public service" was a trade off between income and security. Public servants made less money than their private sector counterparts but their jobs and retirements were secure, so long as they did their jobs and did not commit crimes. It was a system that made sense.

It stopped making sense over the last 30 years as public service incomes started to exceed private sector incomes, but the security that came with those jobs and retirements remained and expanded.

The system is upside down.

Governor Christie came into office promising to turn Trenton upside down. To bring it back to fiscal sanity. He has done an extremely admirable job cutting spending on the state level and passing a 2% property tax cap through the legislature which he signed into law yesterday. Christie has had a remarkable first six months. He has become a national leader for government reform.

Lately he has been saying that Trenton is indeed upside down. That his administration has it by the ankles and is shaking.

I'm not convinced that Trenton is upside down. It is tilted, knocked off balanced, but not quite upside down. Trenton could tilt back to its inequitable equilibrium. The special interests are plotting and fighting to see that it does.

As we approach the six month mark of the Christie administration it is appropriate that we celebrate. The accomplishments of Christie's first half year in office are impressive. But they are only the start of what is needed to reform New Jersey's government on all levels.

Today's news about Wasser's booty is a reminder of how much more work needs to be done.

Wasser Waste

The school superintendent formerly known as Doctor, H. James Wasser, "resigned" his position at the Freehold Regional High School District effective at the end of the current school year. He will stay on at the same $200K+ salary as an administrator for special projects through the 2010-2011 school year when his contract would have expired.

What a waste. The taxpayers of the FRHSD will now have to pay two superintendent salaries for the 2010-2011 year.

Wasser scammed the school board again. When he proposed this "resignation" last month, as the Asbury Park Press reports, the board should have turned him down. Either fulfill the contract or call in sick for the rest of the year. Wasser negotiated himself a $200,000 part time job for a year, and still gets paid for another year by cashing in his unused sick time.

CASAGRANDE: WASSER DEAL REINFORCES NEED FOR LEGISLATION TO CONTROL SCHOOL SPENDING

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande said today that the recent decision of the Freehold Regional High School District to create a new position in the district for Superintendent H. James Wasser after he resigns in June highlights the need for the Assembly to pass several pieces of legislation she has sponsored in order to cap unnecessary school spending.

“At a time when property taxes continue to force more and more people from their homes and from the state, and with the school portion the largest part of the property tax bill, it is imperative that we ensure school boards are spending taxpayer money as frugally as possible”, said Casagrande. “ We can no longer afford to give public employees five and six figure going away presents at retirement or have $200,000 make-work jobs.”

Casagrande is the prime sponsor of A-3185, which would have the Department of Education create a template contract for superintendents, and require the approval of Education Commissioner to make an y changes to the contract. She is also the sponsor of A-2583, which would limit payments for accumulated sick leave to $10,000 and broaden the scope of state and local employees covered by the bill.

Casagrande called the board’s decision to move Wasser to his new position the lesser of two evils and said “ If we’re required to pay him until 2011, I’d certainly rather have him working for the district rather than sitting home collecting a check. My point is, that in the future if a board feels there is a genuine reason to fire someone- and I would argue that despite the opinion of some former and current board members, benefiting from a degree from an unaccredited institution is a genuine reason- they should be able to do so without having to make a devil’s bargain that puts the taxpayers on the hook once again. ”

Wasser Watch

Lightshines said...

With all of the quotes and articles about Wasser, we haven't really given him a chance to give his side. So we sent out our ace reporter Tevye to get Wasser's take on all this:

If I faked a Doctorate,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I faked a Doctorate.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I faked a PH, biddy biddy PH,
PHD from BS, BSU.

I'd build a big tall house with rooms by the dozen,
Right in the middle of the town.
Using taxpayers money, naturally.
I’d have me one great career just going up,
And a District even longer coming down,
And education leading nowhere, just for show.

I'd fill my schools with cheats and turkeys and quacks and losers
For the towns to see and hear.
And rent-a-cops just as hostile as they can be

And each loud "hey" and "yo" and "shut up your mouth"
Would land like a trumpet on the ear,
As if to say "Here rules a powerful man."

If I faked a Doctorate,
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
All day long I'd biddy biddy bum.
If I faked a Doctorate.
I wouldn't have to work hard.
Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.
If I faked a PH, biddy biddy PH,
PHD from BS, BSU.

Wasser Watch

The Asbury Park Press reports that Mr.H. James Wasser, Superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District will foresake the $2500 raise he received as a result of obtaining a phoney doctorate and will stop using the title Doctor.

Wasser is not reimbursing the district for the $23,000 in legal fees it has spent since this scandal broke. Nor has he apologised for his deception.

Board members promised to change the district's policy on degrees earned by personnel and increase oversight on contracts for high-level employees.

Warble for Wasser

Bert said...
Jim Wasser is not a celebrity. So we've hired a real celebrity -- Brenda Lee -- to interpret what Wasser is telling everyone:

I'm sorry, so sorry
That my board and attorney are fools
They didn't know
I didn’t go to real schools
I'm sorry, so sorry
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Uh-oh
Oh, yes

I tell you corruption
Is part of being on top
I own this Board
So I don’t have to stop.

[Spoken:]
I'm sorry
So sorry
Please accept my apology
But I’m keeping the money
Cause you were too blind to see
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Uh-oh
Oh, yes

I tell you corruption
Is part of being on top
I say what’s right
For my bennies I’ll fight
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Uh-oh
Oh, yes

I'm sorry, so sorry
Please accept my apology
But I have no bosses
I don’t let nobody oversee


Thank you Bert

Wasser Watch

The Asbury Park Press reports that Mr. H. James Wasser, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District, issued a public apology "for (his) lack of due diligence concerning the Breyer State University issue."

Oh please.

How about an authentic statement of contrition for your arrogance and belligerence over this issue for the last few months. Recovery from assholeness starts with admitting that you are an asshole.

Assholes are always the last to know that they are one. Wasser hasn't gotten it yet.

Wasser Watch: A National Embarrassment

The Asbury Park Press reports that Mr. H. James Wasser's invitation to speak before the National School Boards Association's national conference next April has been revoked over Wasser's phony PhD from Breyer State University and the resulting scandal.

What's up Doc? Bend over and say AAHHHH.

Mr. H. James Wasser likes playing Doctor.

Barry Goldwater has a great video of Wasser defiantly scolding his critics.

Wasser Watch

Mr. H.James Wasser, the disgraceful superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District who received a phony doctorate and stuck the taxpayers with the tuition bill and salary increases has taken to making grandiose speeches about how great he is and how terrible his critics are.

The Asbury Park Press has a letter about the latest incident from Leon Sirulnick of Manalapan and a video from Mark Rosenwald.

Wasser Watch

The buzz about the Freehold Regional High School District is that Mr James Wasser, Superintendent, of Diplomagate fame, may submit his resignation at this evening board meeting.

Wasser Watch

Check out the News 12 video on Dipolomagate. It seems as if Mr. Wasser and his comrades may be guilty braking laws already on the books. Never mind the new laws and regulations that Codey wants.

If Education Commissioner Lucille Davis doesn't have authority to fix this mess, perhaps the Monmouth County Prosecutor's office does.

District 11 legislators Senator Sean Kean, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and Assemblyman Dave Rible have all been out front on this issue, speaking out for the taxpayers and the integrity of our educational system. But the Freehold Regional High School District is in legislative district 12.

Did I miss the statements from Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon?

Mark your calenders for September 22, the FRHSD board's next meeting.

Diplomagate

State: Wasser is no Doctor

The New Jersey Commission on Higher Education has issued a ruling that H. James Wasser, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District, shall cease using the titles Ed.D or Doctor or be subject to fines.

Wasser Watch

BECK TESTIFIES AT SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE ON “DIPLOMA MILL” BILL

Senator Jennifer Beck testified today in front of the Senate Education Committee urging them to pass S-2127, a bill designed to prevent public school employees from receiving raises based on advanced degrees from unaccredited institutions, and also to prevent tuition reimbursement for such degrees.

The bill passed out of committee by a 4-0 vote. The companion bill in the Assembly will be co-sponsored by Beck’s 12th District colleagues, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande.

The legislation was the result of recent revelations that the superintendent of the Freehold Regional School District, James Wasser, and two assistant superintendents received doctorate degrees from Breyer State University in Alabama, an institution which is not accredited by one of the eight regional accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The three school officials received raises based on the degrees and tuition totaling $8,700 was paid for the three degrees.

“It’s an outrage that we actually have to mandate that advanced degrees obtained by school officials are from accredited institutions,” said Beck. “Fortunately we seem to be on or way to ensuring that this does not happen again in another school district.”

Beck, who is a co-sponsor of the legislation, said her motivation for sponsoring the legislation was a loophole in the law which she discovered when the controversy first came to light.

“When my staff and I researched this issue and the legality of all of it, we quickly came to a shocking realization-while it is against the law in New Jersey to use the title “Doctor” or any letters after your name which indicate you have received an advanced degree if you have received that title from an unaccredited institution, the law is silent on the issue of tuition reimbursement or the granting of additional compensation based on such a degree.”

“So basically, you can’t call yourself a Doctor, but you can be paid like one.”

Beck closed by saying “School employees should be role models for our children in the pursuit of academic excellence. Unfortunately a loophole in our laws enabled some to take a taxpayer paid shortcut to an advanced degree and the monetary rewards that come along with it. By passing S-2127 out of committee we are one step closer to closing that loophole. I thank the Education Committee for their support and look forward to a vote of the full Senate on the bill.

Diplomagate

11th District Assembly members Mary Pat Angelini and Dave Rible have sponsored legislation that, if passed, will prohibited boards of education from paying for tuition from unaccredited universities diploma mills.

The Republican Assembly members cited the recent raises given to Freehold Regional School District Superintendent H. James Wasser, and one current and one former district administrator as reason for the legislation.

Marlboro resident Jim Sage, who first raised this issue, told MoreMonmouthMusings that public outrage over this scandal "is fast becoming a runaway snowball, picking up speed, momentum and size."

Sage said that the Freehold Regional staff is "circling the wagons and adopting a siege mentality."

The Freehold Regional board next meeting is on July 28 in Englishtown. Sage expects a large crowd calling for the resignations of Mr. Wasser and his fellow scholars.

Wasser Watch

It seems that the Freehold Regional High School District staff and faculty could open their own chapter of the Breyer State Alumni Association.

The Asbury Park Press reports that two teachers were forced to give up raises they received as a result of "earning" phony doctorates from the diploma mill. Three administrators, including superintendent Mr. H. James Wasser previously gave back raises.

How did it happen at 5 employees of the district all happened to get phony degrees from the same web site? That's quite a coincidence.

Are there other FHRHSD employees surfing Breyer State with matriculation in mind? Has tuition been paid for others by the taxpayers?

And the Wasser beat goes on...

MoreMonmouthMusings welcomes back Lightshines

Lightshines said...
Since he won't resign, they won't fire him and he won't return the money, it looks like this story isn't going away any time soon. So I asked Sam Cooke what he thought about all of it. He told me he personally interviewed Wasser who told him:

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the courses I took

But I do know that I conned you
And I know that if I can keep it too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about doctorates
Don't know much about education
Don't know much about leadership
Don't know what those ethics are for

But I do know about BSU
If I get the credit and the bill goes to you
What a wonderful world this would be

Now I don't claim to be an "A" super
But I'm trying to be
So maybe by being a Jack “A” super
I can win more goodies for me

Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the course I took

But I do know that I conned you
And I know that if I can keep it too
What a wonderful world this would be

La ta ta ta ta ta ta
(Doctorate)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Dissertation)
La ta ta ta ta ta ta
(what’s a book?)
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
(courses I took)

But I do know that I conned you
And I know that if I can keep it too
What a wonderful world this would be

Wasser Watch

Nothing new has happened, that I know of.

I just wanted to remind everyone of what a jerk off Mr. H. James Wasser is.

Wasser Watch

MoreMonmouthMusings welcomes back Lightshines for a special musical tribute to Mr. H. James Wasser.

I’ve been a scam forever,
And I broke the very first rules.
I put the con games and the scandals together,
I’m the Super,
And I write the rules.



I write the rules that make the whole world scream.
I write the rules that let me take special things.
I write the rules that make the students cry.
I write the rules, I write the rules.

My rules cut deep within you,
And I’ve got my own place on the Board .
Now, when I look out through your eyes,
I’m arrogant, and you know I’m very bold.



Chorus

Oh my con game makes you wince
I’ve got the ethics of a blintz
I wrote my contract so you can’t move.
Anger fills your heart,
Well, that’s a real fine place to start.
It’s for me, it’s from you,
It’s for me, it’s from you,
I’m keeping all I can keep for me.

I’ve been a scam forever,
And I broke the very first rules.
I used the district folks and faked a doctorate,
I’m the Super,
And I write the rules.