Administrators urged to make concessions
Marlboro rep wants benefits returned and end to use of 'Dr.' title
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

Katie Goon, who is Marlboro's representative on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education, last week called on several district administrators to stop using the title of doctor and to return any benefits they received after earning advanced degrees from an online institution.

The ongoing situation involves FRHSD Superintendent of Schools James Wasser, Assistant Superintendent Donna Evangelista and retired Assistant Superintendent Frank Tanzini, all of whom received doctorate degrees from Breyer State University, an online institution. The FRHSD paid the tuition for the administrators and awarded them raises after they received the advanced degrees.

Breyer State is not accredited by an accrediting agency that is approved by the federal government.

Published reports have questioned the legitimacy of the institution and its requirements for awarding advanced degrees.

Goon, who was elected to the school board in April, said she made her feelings known Aug. 21 because she was not going to be able to attend the board's Aug. 25 meeting. She said she would be out of the country. Goon said on Aug. 21 that she did not know what would happen at the meeting.

"I gave it a lot of thought," she said of her decision to release a statement prior to the Aug. 25 meeting. "I wanted to wait for the state Department of Education report (examining the situation). You can't act too soon; you have to wait for all of the facts. It's a combination of all of the things that have happened over the last few weeks."

She released the following statement Aug. 21:

"It greatly disturbs me to see that the Freehold Regional High School District has become the subject of ridicule over the last few months. This is a direct result of the substandard degrees that no fewer than three of our administrators have received.

"As a parent, as well as Marlboro's elected representative to the Board of Education, I want not only my children, but all of the children in the district, to continue their higher education by attending accredited colleges or universities. Similarly, our teachers, assistant superintendents and superintendents, have an obligation to the students and parents to earn the right to be called 'administrator' or 'superintendent' and most especially 'doctor' by attending accredited institutions of higher learning, rather than some on-line unaccredited diploma mill.

"Teachers and superintendents are obviously role models to our children. As such, these individuals have an obligation to maintain the highest standards of excellence in all aspects of their lives, but most especially in their academic background. I understand that Mr. Wasser has enjoyed many accomplishments in the district and that he may not have violated his contract, per se. However, this is not a matter of contractual obligation, but rather one of moral obligation to parents, students and all members of the school district.

"I truly feel that the term 'doctor' should not be applied to anyone who has obtained a degree from an unaccredited institution. This not only dilutes the honor given to the title 'doctor,' but also detracts from those who have earned the right to be called 'doctor' by attending a fully accredited school. With this in mind, both I and most of the parents and students of the district, expect the administrators who have taken the 'easy road' in attaining the title 'doctor' to immediately relinquish that title, as well as any financial compensation that is attached to it. Anything less is simply unacceptable.

"Further, if our administrators are truly interested in teaching our students valuable lessons in life, they will not only voluntarily comply with the wishes of the district, and this representative, but they will go back to school at an accredited university and earn their advanced degrees with hard work and dedication on their own time and at their own expense.

"It goes without saying that the district's policy in this regard must be immediately revised such that eligibility for tuition reimbursement and salary increases are only permitted when approved in advance, and the individual obtains such preapproved degree from a fully accredited institution.

"To be clear, I am asking 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," Goon said.