Chris Christie calls for firings in wake of cheating scandal in school lunch program

[mota bhai 2,675]

TRENTON — A school lunch in Pleasantville costs $2.25.

Apparently, even that was too much for some members of the city’s board of education.

Three of the 12 board members in the Atlantic County district who served over the past three years misstated their income to qualify for free lunch for their kids. One also failed to report any of her salary as a substitute teacher.

Asked why, she told investigators she was not the one receiving the free meal.

"It is none of their damn business" how much money she made, she said.

It was not an isolated case. An investigation by the state comptroller, released Wednesday, found "widespread fraud" in New Jersey’s school lunch program that’s meant to serve needy families.

The investigation found more than 100 people on public payrolls, or their family members, allegedly lied about their income so their kids could eat in school for free. Among those caught cheating were 40 school district employees and six school board members in Pleasantville, Newark and Paterson

Officials said the investigation was sparked by a series of stories two years ago by The Star-Ledger into similar lunch program abuses at the Elizabeth Board of Education.

"Our investigations division ultimately uncovered false information on applications submitted by school board members, teachers, other school employees as well as state, county and local employees," state Comptroller Matthew Boxer said. "What we found are people who work for the government, lying to the government about how much the government is paying them — all to benefit from a program that is designed to help those in need."

The total amount of under-reported income was $13 million, the investigation found.

Boxer said all of those identified in the investigation were being referred for criminal prosecution to the state Attorney General’s office. The report did not identify any of the people by name.

A spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie said every public employee who lied about their income in order to get a free lunch "should be fired and prosecuted."

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/gov_calls_for_firings_and_prosecution_in_wake_of_cheating_scandal_in_school_lunch_program.html

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Why anyone would risk their reputation over a lousy $2.25 for a school lunch is beyond me. Christie is right to go after those moochers. Fire them. Then they'll actually qualify for free lunches.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Why anyone would risk their reputation over a lousy $2.25 for a school lunch is beyond me. Christie is right to go after those moochers. Fire them. Then they'll actually qualify for free lunches.

In some school districts, it's part of the culture. Everyone does it, every new hire is told they can do it.

Mostly urban districts, not surprisingly.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In some school districts, it's part of the culture. Everyone does it, every new hire is told they can do it.

Mostly urban districts, not surprisingly.

That's wrong and someone ought to drop the hammer and start changing the culture.

[mota bhai 2,675]

That's wrong and someone ought to drop the hammer and start changing the culture.

Our urban areas are cesspools of corruption. I kind of understand why suburban white folk get so suspicious about a 100% Obama vote in an urban precinct.