Pleasantville, NEW JERSEY

How does it cost $65 million every year to educate 3,600 children?

When you live in New Jersey, you don't ask those kinds of questions because it is a given that taxpayers are the best kind of Jersey cows - one that gives and gives and keeps right on voting for the crooks who steal everything that isn't nailed down.

September 7, 2007 - Without irony, the headline of the Philadelphia Inquirer story was, "Another 'horrible day' in Pleasantville district". They were playing off the words of the state monitor who oversees the schools. He wasn't kidding.

In this Atlantic County town's beleaguered school district, 13 superintendents have come and gone in the last decade, and allegations of fiscal mismanagement and corruption have been regular items on the school board agenda.

FACT: A state monitor was appointed in the spring by the state Department of Education after financial audits of the district found a number of discrepancies.

FACT: The district receives $65 million a year in school aid from the state for 3,600 students. (66% are black; 31% are Hispanic)

FACT: Last month, a county grand jury indicted board member David Thomas on charges of official misconduct involving his job as assistant director of public works in Atlantic City.

FACT: A law firm's investigation in the last year over a disputed bill accused several past and present school board members - including Adams, a former president - of violating the federal Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act with what appeared to be "pay-to-play" deals involving campaign contributions and contracts for insurance and roofing.

The law firm said the actions had involved more than 20 individuals and businesses, including officials aligned with another Callaway brother, Craig, a former Atlantic City Council president who was sent to federal prison this year on bribery charges.

Eleven officials were arrested yesterday. From the New York Daily News: Among those arrested yesterday was Passaic Mayor Sammy Rivera, 60, allegedly accepted $5,000 at a secret restaurant meet, offering to use his influence to name the dummy company Passaic's official insurance broker.

Rivera, a former cop with a checkered history, was also a featured member of Hillary Clinton's long list of campaign endorsements. He was on Clinton's Mayor's Council and her National Hispanic Leadership Council.

Also arrested: The Rev. Alfred E. Steele, 53, is the Assembly's deputy speaker and, until resigning under pressure Thursday, was a Passaic County undersheriff.
See yesterday's arrests posting.