In addition to paying $5,000 to outside investigator Leroy Seitz to review the district's own HIB findings against Fischetti, the case has also racked up more than $15,000 in outside legal bills.
You may recall that the district hired Seitz nearly two months ago to review its own investigation that found Fischetti had allowed harassment and bullying of at least two former players.
Despite that, and a lawsuit filed by one of the former players, the school board on Feb. 22 voted to re-appoint Fischetti as coach this season by a 6-3 vote. Board members Johanna Wright, Chris Sabin and Elizabeth Baker voted against the re-appointment.
At the same meeting, Superintendent John Ramos announced that an outside investigator would be brought in to review the findings. It was later revealed that investigator was Seitz.
The firm of Schenck, Price, Smith and King of Florham Park, meanwhile, have also been brought into the case. The firm is the district's outside legal counsel at $175 per hour. Records obtained from a public records request finds that firm has also charged $15,535.57 since January for its work on the HIB case.
Seitz, meanwhile, has yet to complete his review of the HIB findings against Fischetti after being hired more than two months ago. District officials said last week that he had been delayed by a personal emergency. He is the current superintendent of the Parsippany-Troy Hills school district.
This has gone on way too long. The families bringing these allegations are simply wrong. The CHS Baseball Coaches are not bullies. The families are simply angry that their son's were initially cut from the team and then when the District's Attorney forced them back on the team they ware not given (in the family's view) enough playing time.
ReplyDeleteI also find it very suspect, that one of the parents (a self-proclaimed bullying expert) is involved. Can you say self-promotion?