Lyndhurst Teacher Doesn't Teach, Still Gets Paychecks the School District But, Public Infor- Members

Wood-Ridge • CaHstadt • East Rutherford • Rutherford • Lyndhurst • North Arlington 4% Pulse of the Meadowbnds®" A gaggle of F. Murray Abraham problems in ER stars in 'Offices' Read more Read more Page A3 Page BIO Established 1894 www.LeaderNewspapers.net Thursday, April 30, 2009 Lyndhurst teacher doesn't teach, still gets paychecks the school district But, public infor- members. By Susan C. Moil* John Blevis, a tenured high school SENIOR REPORTER science teacher with more than 20 mation available from state and fed- In November 2006, the school dis- years experience in the district, was eral legal filings paint at least part of trict, alleging that Blevis' behavior suspended from the classroom with the picture. was not in line with normal mental LYNDHURST — With so many pay by the board of education in and physical health, requested that people in the nation facing unem- In 2005 and 2006, Blevis' relations January 2007. His name and his he submit to a psychological and ployment, it's bizarre to contemplate with other district staff "deteriorat- salary —<• $97,965 — are still on the physical evaluation. a job that pays almost $100,000 per ed," according to a decision ren- district's payroll. year, with no work required. But, More than two years have gone by dered by the state commissioner of Blevis declined, and the board sus- that's exactly the kind of situation the To put the figure in perspective, since Blevis was suspended, and the education in 2007. According to the pended him with pay shortly after- Lyndhurst School District finds itself this year's initial increase in state aid situation remains unresolved. decision, the district complained that in. to the Lyndhurst School District was As with all things related to school Blevis allegedly taped conversations Please see TEACHER on $124,000, roughly $27,000 more than with other staff members, talked to This article is the first in a three- personnel decisions, much of the Blevis' salary. himself and demeaned female staff PageA7 part series about public employment story is held in strictest confidence by School NJMC gets budgets second fail in NA, chance on Lyndhurst EnCap site By Alexis-farrozi SENIOR REPORTER By Suson C MOMMT SENIOR REPORTER LYNDHURST — Now that the infamous EnCap Golf Unofficial results indicate Holdings, LLC project has basi- that proposed budgets of cally been put to rest, Gov. Jon almost $32 million in S. Corzine recommended the 1 .>• mllmi si and $20 million in site be reexamined for other North Arlington failed «o land-use options. receive voter approval Tuesday, April 21. "It goes without saying that In Lyndhurst, with 13 per- Rutherford, Lyndhurst and cent of the 11,955 registered North Arlington would want voters entering ballots, 767 whatever is going to get the voted no to the budget, while lowest impact ratables possi- 712 voted yes. The majority of ble," Rutherford Councilman voters, 814, also said no to the John Genovesi said. "It has to second budget question allow- be low-impact ratables. ing for $500,000 in bathroom (Rutherford) cannot be sad- improvements. dled with the burden of high- density housing." "I'm disappointed," said Lyndhurst Superintendent of The New Jersey Schools Joseph Abate. "But, I Meadowlands Commission, am aware of the fiscal crisis that which has zoning rights over the nation is undergoing." Officials report first profit in years the EnCap property, passed a resolution at its April 22 meet- Abate noted that the budget ing initiating a review of the did not exceed the spending or By John Sobs land-use plan for the massive tax ,caps set by the state. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF redevelopment site that was In North Arlington, 643 no once slated for luxury housing, votes trumped the 497 who RUTHERFORD — The Williams golf courses and other upscale saidyes. Center's history is etched into its side development. Superintendent Oliver like a cave drawing from ancient times. This is a great day for the Stringham defended North On the imposing brick wall that faces Arlington's proposed budget Meadowlands," stated NJMC Route 17, beneath the white block let- Chairman Joseph Doria, the The NJDOE classifies our ters that spell out Williams Center, is commissioner for the state community as below adequacy the washed-out name of the theater's Department of Community in funding education," past Rivoli-Rutherford. The sign is a Affairs. This is a chance for us Stringham wrote in an e-mail. local landmark, as much an institution to examine all the options and "And the NJDOE also has indi- of South Bergen as the Carlstadt water start planning what makes the cated our district is a high per- tower or Meadowlands landfills. most sense for this critical site. forming school district, while And it is important that local having one of the lowest costs Throughout its 90-year history, the officials and the public have a per pupil in die state." facility has seen many setbacks, from shaky finances to damaging fires. voice in this process." Now, the municipal govern- Now, the Williams Center, which ing bodies will review the foiled Dona's enthusiasm aside, encompasses the refurbished Rivoli Genovesi had a more critical budgets, deciding on which and several movie theaters, is showing categories of spending should view. signs of financial soundness, something "Now, take Joe Doria and be reduced. Municipal officials it could not boast of just a few years ago. can also override the voters Corzine, they make this sound and leave the budgets The center's trustees report that the grateful like they have another untouched. facility is slowly slipping off its bleeding crack at the project, but they red dress of economic loss and moving for the Arts, a nonprofit corporation, moros SY JOHN SOUK should be held accountable for Both Abate and Stringham toward more stable black attire. operates a network of theaters in down- their mistakes," Genovesi said. will recommend the latter. The center, perhaps to the surprise town Rutherford that has been offering "I fear once they get through After the municipalities take of local residents, even posted a profit entertainment to the local community Please see the remediation they will go z whack at the spending plans, this past fiscal year, officials said. for decades. According to financial back to marching to their same statements given to The Leader newspa- IAMSCE per, the Williams Center has seen an on Page A4 Please see How it happened The William Carlos Williams Center approximate $50,000 positive swing in Please see ENCAP on on Page A7 PageA6 CYiar\ie s !SurSetv Your SUNItg Planting Headquarters Vegetable Produce & Garden Center Plant. 275 Ri\er Rd. • N. Arlington Tfutt, Leituce, 201.998.8206 ftM ' ltfn>vn t aunt rlili/i r X (if;is Ircis • Shrill)- Itnllis • IYUMI ki*riiifi Plants >00 $179 Fresh Sod Delivery Available I till Lint ul ' . t'tniltuis arrive* dally FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, CALL: (201) 310-5)61 OR E-MAIL: ADVERTISEfcHEADERNEVVSPAPERS.NET A2 THE LEADER THURSDAY, APWl 30, 200P Police files ... U.S. Coins & Jewelry Bought EAST RUTHERFORD —James Diggs, 63, of Jersey City, was Also Comic Books Criminal mischief arrested April 20 at 1:49 p.m. for shoplifting two 1.75-liter bot- & Records RUTHERFORD — A Lincoln Avenue resident reported tles of Hennessy worth a total of $1,731, from BJ's Wholesale April 23 at 3:30 a.m. that he heard his car alarm go off and Club on Route 17 North. Bail was set at $1,000 and he was trans- noticed someone damaged the driver's side door lock of his ported to Bergen County Jail. Top 2002 Chevy SUV. Nothing was reported stolen. NORTH ARLINGTON — Paul Spana, 43, of Kearny, was $$$ Paid arrested April 16 at 10:34 a.m. for shoplifting four boxes of Advil Fraud liquid-gels worth a total of $48 in his jacket from Foodtown locat- 201-401-1020 ed at 1 Schuyier Ave. He was released on summonses. RUTHERFORD — An Eh/croft Parkway resident reported April 22 that someone used his credit card to make three pur- chases in North Carolina for $6,472.91. Stolen car CoE.irtfiCofns. RUTHERFORD — A 200 block of Carmita Avenue resident EAST RUTHERFORD — A Morgansville resident reported reported that sometime between March 31 and April 9, some- April 22 at 12:15 p.m. that someone stole his 2001 Ford, while one made four charges to his Bank of America card for a total of parked at BJ's Wholesale Chib on Route 17 North. $83.28. •- • Theft from car RUTHERFORD — A 500 block of Stuyvesant Avenue resi- EAST RUTHERFORD — Thomas J. Montanez, 39, of Jersey dent reported some time between April 22 and April 23, some- City, and Patrick Davis, 38, of North Bergen, were both arrested one damaged the driver's side door lock of a 2007 Infiniti and April 23 at 11:50 a.m. for shoplifting a Dewalt Drill set worth stole sunglasses, perfume and credit cards, while parked in front $1,125.67 from Lowe's on Route 17 North. Bail was set at of the home. $17,500 for both and Davis was transported to Bergen County RUTHERFORD — A Ridge Road resident reported that Jail, while Montanez was transported to Bergen Regional sometime between April 22 and April 23, someone entered an Medical Center. unlocked 2003 Hyundai and stole six CDs ($15), three savings WWW.MBCOMPUTERCONSUITING NET EAST RUTHERFORD — Julio J. Pina-Catena, 37, of bonds ($750 total), $400 cash and registration and insurance Rutherford, was arrested April 24 at 7:51 p.m. on two counts of cards from the car, while parked in front of the home.

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