SOUTH COUNTRY SCHOOL DISTRICT

[GREGG2272]

SOUTH COUNTRY SCHOOL DISTRICT. LONG ISLAND NEW YORK. MEDIA AND NEWS ARTICLES INDICATE A 4 TO 5 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL. THE BLAME WAS IMMEDIATLY PLACED ON THE AUDITORS, WITH NO ACCOUNTABILITY FROM WITHIN THE DISTRICT, THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY. THE SD IS TELLING THE TAX PAYERS THAT THEY MUST RAISE TAXES TO COVER THIS SHORTFALL. PERHAPS AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE DONE. SCHOOL TAXES ARE ALREADY OFF THE CHARTS ON LONG ISLAND, WE CAN NOT HANDLE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR MISTAKES LIKE THIS. THANK YOU



Report Fraud, Abuse, and Waste



The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department are committed to ensuring schools, BOCES, libraries, museums, educational organizations, and our programs use their funds in an effective and efficient manner. If you suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of public funds, you may report these allegations to us in the following ways.



Email: oas@mail.nysed.gov Fax: (518) 473-0259 Phone: (518) 473-4516



Write to: New York State Education Department

Office of Audit Services

89 Washington Avenue

Room 524 EB

Albany, NY 12234



In all cases, please provide as much detail as possible concerning your specific concerns along with any relevant information you can provide. You do not need to provide your name; however, you may want to provide your name and contact information in the event additional questions arise. Thank you.

[scresident]

yes,,,i think i will request an outside agency looks into this as well,,,,,thanks for the contact names

[scddd]

when is the meeting about the missing 5000000

any school personnel retired early and living in the Carribean :?: 8)

[forthechildren]

Lets see where do you start. We have an assistant superintendant for everything under the sun. We have a business manager that cant add, has hooked up with every crooked accounting firm there is. Our standarized testing scores are through the floor, placeing us 3rd from the bottom, our trustee Mark Grossman is getting paid from the Teachers Union ( No conflict of intrest there ) then Mark Grossman uses his contacts to keep a computer consulting frim of the BOCES list with his newly elected friend in the County Legislature Jack Eddington ( See County Board of Election Finance reports ) Mark Grossman, Dr LaFever, and Toni Matteresse all donated to Jack Eddington. Jack Eddington was on the BOCES Board.

Those last comments are attributed to a free audit that they derailed not to expose their million dollars of technology waste.

Oh the hits just keep coming. Everyday another rat jumps ship. While all this is going on our Board President keeps acting like nothing is wrong, that would be Gary Zannazzi President of Sweezy fuel. In the end William Floyd and Roslyn will be just to other names on a list that now includes South Country School District.

Do you need your bank to let you know there isn't any money in your accounts?

since when is jack eddington on the boces board?

[guest2005]

At last nights 9 PM meeting about the audit, it was revealed in a very lo key way that our district had its records requested for a grand jury. It was explained that this was normal procedure, yeah right. :shock:

The crooks will soon be part of a much broader investigation into 5.3 million dollars thats missing or unaccounted for.

Maybe they can hirer Trustee Mark Grossman to do their PR. :lol:

[guest2005]

perhaps Toni Matarese can loan South Country the 5 millon since she is suing the school board and others for 20 millon! :shock: What a hoot the BOE gives her a job she can't handle and now she sues them!!!! :roll:

[SCSD TAXPAYER]

HOW ABOUT AT LAST NIGHTS 9 PM BOE MEETING A TAX PAYER READS A LETTER SENT TO HIM FROM A LAWYER REGARDING LA FEVER AND COMPANY TELLING HIM HE HAS NO 1ST ADMENDMENT. GUESS WHO THE LAWYER WAS LA FEVER'S DAUGHTER AIMEE! WONDER IF HER FIRM KNOWS SHE IS DEFENDING HIM AND HIS CRONIES! IS SHE GETTING PAID FROM DADDY :)

[GREGG2272]

I SAY WRITE TO THE STATE,,THE AG AND WHO EVER ELSE!! I ACTUALLY GET SICK WHEN I MAKE MY TAX PAYMENTS.....ESP FOR A SD THAT RANKS SOOOOO LOW, YET THE TEACHERS GET HUGE RAISES. MY RAISE DOES NOT EQUAL MY SCHOOL TAX INCREASE,,,GO FIGURE

[DO IT]

i printed out the below information and put it in my entire neighborhoods mailboxes,,,,i suggest you al do the same!! the only way to get this waste resolved is to get outsiders involved


Report Fraud, Abuse, and Waste

The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department are committed to ensuring schools, BOCES, libraries, museums, educational organizations, and our programs use their funds in an effective and efficient manner. If you suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of public funds, you may report these allegations to us in the following ways.

Email: oas@mail.nysed.gov Fax: (518) 473-0259 Phone: (518) 473-4516

Write to: New York State Education Department

Office of Audit Services

89 Washington Avenue

Room 524 EB

Albany, NY 12234

In all cases, please provide as much detail as possible concerning your specific concerns along with any relevant information you can provide. You do not need to provide your name; however, you may want to provide your name and contact information in the event additional questions arise. Thank you.

[sick taxpayer]

how can the BOE keep the finance director knowing she screwed up. Is this the power of tenure? If it was Donald Trump we all know what he would tell her and her buddy "YOU'RE FIRED!!!!! :!:

[SC Taxpayer]

This is a disgrace!!! A 5 million dollar mistake but no wrongdoing on anyone's part. HOW CAN THAT BE!! It is an insult to think that the public should believe this! It is just business as usual in South Country! Sweep it under the rug and maybe it will disappear! Sorry! this is 5 MILLION folks!!!!What is the Board of Education doing about it? They have meetings the same time as other community meetings and then blame it on the auditors schedule. ARE YOU HOPING PEOPLE WON'T SHOW UP? Each time someone asks who will be held accountable they NEVER answer the question. They just go on to the next one as if it doesn't exist. Who is in charge of our finances? WHO ARE YOU HOLDING RESPONSIBLE SOUTH COUNTRY!! We the taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for their mistake. Are you serious!!!! Is it true that if we don't get the bond we are looking at a 20% tax increase just to cover the deficit?

[unhappy person]

Get this the Finance Director still gets to collect her salary and the poor taxpayers are the one's who are paying her. What is wrong with this picture. Why doesn't she leave? Could it be that no one else wil want her? :roll:

[newsday reader1]

Is it true that the Finance Director from South Country was friends with Andy Miller? Why did South Country use his software? Hey something is wrong with this pix :wink:

[unhappy taxpayer]

Get this the Finance Director still gets to collect her salary and the poor taxpayers are the one's who are paying her. What is wrong with this picture. Why doesn't she leave? Could it be that no one else wil want her? :roll:

the finance director in Southold resigns when there is a 600,000 mistake and South Country's stays with a 5 mil mistake. Come on BOE fire her ass! :!:

[pound of flesh]

Get this the Finance Director still gets to collect her salary and the poor taxpayers are the one's who are paying her. What is wrong with this picture. Why doesn't she leave? Could it be that no one else wil want her? :roll:

the finance director in Southold resigns when there is a 600,000 mistake and South Country's stays with a 5 mil mistake. Come on BOE fire her ass! :!:

[gregg2272]

the scsb is nothing but a bunch of parasites...........imagine me not paying my mortgage or taxes,,,my reason being "i used a different method of accounting",,,then saying,,,ok screw the taxes, ill vote myself a tax decrease,,,,,alllllll to be a school in 2005

[pound of flesh]

the scsb is nothing but a bunch of parasites...........imagine me not paying my mortgage or taxes,,,my reason being "i used a different method of accounting",,,then saying,,,ok screw the taxes, ill vote myself a tax decrease,,,,,alllllll to be a school in 2005

How about the BOE president who owns Swezey Fuel imagine his CFO making an accounting mistake, bet he would fire them!!!! :P

[gregg2272]

yes, i agree. imagine that. just curious, how old are you? im 33 and real close to leaving this island,,,,this gets me sooooo much, pit in my stomach

i printed out the below information and put it in my entire neighborhoods mailboxes,,,,i suggest you al do the same!! the only way to get this waste resolved is to get outsiders involved


Report Fraud, Abuse, and Waste

The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department are committed to ensuring schools, BOCES, libraries, museums, educational organizations, and our programs use their funds in an effective and efficient manner. If you suspect fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of public funds, you may report these allegations to us in the following ways.

Email: oas@mail.nysed.gov Fax: (518) 473-0259 Phone: (518) 473-4516

Write to: New York State Education Department

Office of Audit Services

89 Washington Avenue

Room 524 EB

Albany, NY 12234

In all cases, please provide as much detail as possible concerning your specific concerns along with any relevant information you can provide. You do not need to provide your name; however, you may want to provide your name and contact information in the event additional questions arise. Thank you.

[Pound of flesh]

yes, i agree. imagine that. just curious, how old are you? im 33 and real close to leaving this island,,,,this gets me sooooo much, pit in my stomach

I am 42 and a self employed carpenter. They are making it so hard I don't know how to make ends me. Don't want to leave because they can't straighten out a district!

it is sad that we have to make this choice....i dont want to leave but its getting near impossible to live here

[upset tax payer]

I think that what we have to do is go to all BOE meetings and let the Board know that the people have had enough. We are not going to pay for their mistakes! Make a stand and let them do the right thing :!:

[Sr. Citizen]

I am a senior citizen, why should I pay school taxes I have no kids, and especially now that they lost 5 millon!

[gregg2272]

wow,,,i am amazed at the replies to this board. it is a shame how we all make a decision to stay or go based on taxes. for me personally, i bought my house last year, and regret it, i actually get myself all worked up over my tax bill. it is very stressful. what gets me more is tha most budgets actually pass. i went to the south country sd, and graduated in 1990, the sd wastes soooo much money on trivial stuff. we had an assistant principle get arrested for picjking up a prostitute by the royal oak diner, he simply got re assigned to the adm. offices keeping the same salary. i would have got terminated. we have a gym/coach who got arrested in a sting at bald hill for lewd sex acts,,,yet keeps his job,,,,this plus the $100,000 plus salaries, health care for life,,,,,,,god!!! im sorry about the rant, just venting, and this is the only place to do it!!

[kt222]

how is it that teachers get raises year by year yet students cant read at grade level,perhaps some of the missing MILLIONS in which im sure is in someones pocket should be put back into learning rather then health benefits that last a lifetime for a teacher. PAY FOR PERFOMANCE, the more students that go into college then the better the raise

[disgusted with SC]

wow,,,i am amazed at the replies to this board. it is a shame how we all make a decision to stay or go based on taxes. for me personally, i bought my house last year, and regret it, i actually get myself all worked up over my tax bill. it is very stressful. what gets me more is tha most budgets actually pass. i went to the south country sd, and graduated in 1990, the sd wastes soooo much money on trivial stuff. we had an assistant principle get arrested for picjking up a prostitute by the royal oak diner, he simply got re assigned to the adm. offices keeping the same salary. i would have got terminated. we have a gym/coach who got arrested in a sting at bald hill for lewd sex acts,,,yet keeps his job,,,,this plus the $100,000 plus salaries, health care for life,,,,,,,god!!! im sorry about the rant, just venting, and this is the only place to do it!!

I know about the AP and teacher, how about Toni Matarese suing the School Board for 20 mill and being allowed to stay in her position where she is in control of the school network! Those ninnies on the board should move her like they moved the teachers. How can they allow this to happen :!: :!: :!: :!:

i was curious as to what our (suffolk county) real taxes are after adding up everything,,,,,i came up with this:
6500 property
9000 federal
3200 state
360 cell taxes mostly suff county tax / year
240 home pjone
120 tv
240 lipa fuel surcharge
500 sales / year
4200 ss

suffolk county!!! tha wave of the future!! and i make 65000,,,,look at what it really is!! like pathetic

[GREGG2272]

i wrote a letter to the super asking specific questions about our 5000000 problem,,,,,,no response!!

[unhappy taxpayer]

i wrote a letter to the super asking specific questions about our 5000000 problem,,,,,,no response!!

Does not surprise me if he cared he would tell the Finance Director to resign and he would leave with her. Is it true there is a 20 millon lawsuit against the BOE? I heard rumors that the adm. asst. for tech has it in the works, him and her are best friends! :roll:

[carpenter man]

i wrote a letter to the super asking specific questions about our 5000000 problem,,,,,,no response!!

were you at the last boe meeting? You better watch out he will have his daughter send you a letter! Imagine hiding behind her legal skirts. Hope she doesn't have his looks :wink:

[KT222]

Nothing surprises me today. The state needs to take over our schools. IF NYS IS ONE UNITED EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,WHY DO WE PAY MORE IN TAXES ON LONG ISLAND THEN UPSTATE NY.

[gregg2272]

nope, i wasnt there!! heres a good one for you guys, i dont know if its true. i also dont agree with this,,,,but one has to wonder.............i read in another board of a guy who lives in sachem faced with the 12% on top of the already high taxes, his would have been like 8000 in a regular neighborhood. ok, so what this guy says he did to re-coup some of the money that the school "stole" from him was to have a "slip and fall" on the grounds,,,,,he then sued, got a settlement and it offset his taxes. i wonder how many other friviolous lawsuits there are because of the crazy high taxes.....what people do,,,,,or are driven to do!!!

i think im going to vote myself a tax decrease

[unhappy7]

Did you notice at the parade for the Football team last night, the Super wasn't even there? You think he woud show some respect for the team they are the only thing making South Country look good lately!

well, he is prob busy trying to blame other people for the missing 5 million. give him a break!!!

[unhappy7]

He is busy alright, figuring out how to spend all the money he made coming here! He was like a wolf in sheep's clothing telling everyone he wasn't here for the money! He sure wasn't here for the district!!!! I say throw him and his cronies out now!!!! Someone should tell the BOE president to grow up and take the bull by the horns :!: :!: :!:

[WHO CARES?]

Did you honestly want him there. I"m glad he wasn't. He is a disgrace.

So true. who cares if LaGivemeaFever was there or not. He's either a crook or incompetent. Either one of those types should not show their faces in public.

[gregg2272]

bunch of thiefs!!! why do only 60% of the kids read at grade level,,,,yet the teachers continue to get huge raises and tenure??? tenure!!! in 2005 on long island they get tenure!! they can totally suck as teachers yet are secure for life!!

[unhappy7]

He should be ashame of himself. He wouldn't go because he is so jealous of the coach. Hell they should throw him out now and make Joe Cipp the Super. We would be in better shape. How did he get there anyway? What happened to the inside principal, I heard he was the best? DId you hear that he had someone inside on the BOE when he was hired to get him in and that he gave that person a job in the district while on the BOE? And they think that Roslyn has problems. He should leave now no one will miss him :!: :!:

[still unhappy]

bunch of thiefs!!! why do only 60% of the kids read at grade level,,,,yet the teachers continue to get huge raises and tenure??? tenure!!! in 2005 on long island they get tenure!! they can totally suck as teachers yet are secure for life!!

Tenure is the reason they can't get rid of fat ass Birmelin! What good is she to us, she can't add. Did you hear her ask for a calculator at the BOE meeting. The hell with tenure get rid of her. Maybe she can get a job as a cashier and mess up Super Saver :P

[gregg2272]

if this werent so serious, it would be funny!!! pathetic!!

[unhappy7]

if this werent so serious, it would be funny!!! pathetic!!

This is pathetic, just today I was talking to a Bellport politician not naming names and he said that if birmelin and LaBeaver had b___
they would both resign. How can they look the people in the face knowing what they did. Pathetic is the word.

Rumor has it he is sending a letter to the district how he hates to leave here but has to go back to his children!

Bet they could care less!!!! 8)

[gregg2272]

wow,,,i hope so!!

[unhappy7]

I hope so too! Hope he isn't expecting a party. The only one I would go to is the one after he leaves!

[TaxedOut]

What is the latest word on our financial situation ? I heard we're looking at a 22% increase if we don't get help from the legislature. And that's only to cover the deficit. Is that true? What happens next year? We will be forced to carry a bare bones budget. How many cuts will have to be made? Will the taxpayers ever know the full story?

[sadfacts]

The NYS Legislature is not bailing us out, they are just increaseing the limit on our credit card. They will approve us bonding out the debt, it will still be our debt only with intrest.

We have the Technology Bond - Still Paying

Repair Bond ( For Roofs we had repaired that need to be re repaired ) - Still Paying

The 67 Million Dollar Bond for repairs that will begin shortly that we begin paying for in FY2008 - Will Be paying

The "were missing money that isnt missing accounting era Bond" that we will be paying starting Fy2007-2008 - Will be paying

All this plus new contracts that have to be settled and past mistakes and crookedness to yet tto be made public.

Yet nobody is at fault, Not the Board President Gary Zanazzi ( Clueless ) Former Board Vice President Ann Roden ( More Clueless ) our Superintendent Dr. LaFever ( laughing all the way to the bank ) or the Asst. Superintendant for Finance Camille Bermilin ( who cant do simple math without a calculator).

Did anyone see the add for a finance manager for University at Stonybrook in the Advance. You need a CPA license, a Master Degree, and 5 years experience for the job, and it pays $70,000- $80,000 a year.

We pay Camille $121,000 plus everything else which comes to about $145,000 when you are done. Yet the Board President will say such stupid things like " Its hard to get people to take these jobs at the money we pay " Wake up.

The only Board member more clueless then Gary is Mark Grossman. BUt he is atleast clueless so he can profit from the district, no laws broken there or conflicts of intrest.

[gregg2272]

maybe we should all meet up one day, ahaha. i think this is the only board on this site where every poster seems to agree!!

[unhappy7]

Maybe what we need to do is start a civic group and get a petition going to ask for Camille and LaFever's dismissal. That is the only way the BOE is going to take any action. Zanazzi doesn't have the guts to do it himself. How come Pat Med was able to fire their super but we have to keep this asshole!

How come all the district's with money problems are getting rid of their finance person, yet we are not? Is it true that her secty can't add either? How much are they paying those high falutining sectys there at Central Office? How many sectys does the Asst. Super for Human Resources have? I heard his secty is so bad she has 2 working for her. Whyt don't they hire capable people and be able to do without all the extras

They just want to spend our money :!:

[unhappy7]

What is the latest word on our financial situation ? I heard we're looking at a 22% increase if we don't get help from the legislature. And that's only to cover the deficit. Is that true? What happens next year? We will be forced to carry a bare bones budget. How many cuts will have to be made? Will the taxpayers ever know the full story?


you bet it will be 22%, and I bet we don't get the bond. I don't think LaFever wants us to get it, he wants to screw us before he leaves. You can also bet none of those cuts will be in Central Office. He wants to leave all his people there, that is why he has his little protoge filed a suit against the BOE. He figures that will make her untouchable! Hell who else could be making over 76,000 and never had to go to college. Only someone who obviously did something for him. You scratch my back I scratch yours, and who gets screwed us the taxpayers :roll:

[unhappy7]

I just got back from the parade for the football team, guess who was there the beloved :lol: super. How dare he show up for that when he didn't go to any of there games. Doesn't he know no one wants him around. And get this who was he with but Pretty Boy Eddington! I heard him and his protoge in Tech are right up Pretty Boy's butt! Maybe they both will get a job wiht him.

[unhappy7]

Don't forget to go to the BOE meeting tomorrow night. I understand that they have alot to discuss. We need to show fat ass Birmelin and LaFever that we mean business we want them out!

Also Technology is on the agenda, maybe they will finally get a chance to have another company look in on it and see why so much $$$ is being spent there. Is it true that LaFever was blocking the other company from coming in? What is the deal with that :?: :!:

integrity