LINWOOD – Assemblymen John Amodeo and Chris Brown, R-2, have asked New Jersey state Comptroller Matthew Boxer to initiate an investigation into the Pleasantville School District.

In a letter to Boxer dated Friday, Feb. 3, the legislators requested that the state look into the “mismanagement of public funds and the performance of government offices, employees and programs” in the district.

The letter points out that because of its status as an Abbot district receiving 74 percent of its funding from the state, all New Jersey taxpayers have a vested interest in the Pleasantville School District.

According to the letter, the district receives about $62 million of financing from New Jersey per year.

“State taxpayers need to know their dollars are not being wasted and are spent effectively and efficiently for the optimal educational benefit of these students. And Pleasantville Board of Education has hardly assured them of that.”

The letter cites an investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office and the Pleasantville Police Department into alleged misuse of district resources in cases where materials were ordered and paid for, but failed to arrive at the schools.

“This latest investigation joins a series of setbacks and shortcomings over the last several years, making it abundantly clear that the Pleasantville Board of Education can no longer operate without state scrutiny,” the said in the letter.

“While we are confident in the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s ability to investigate this latest matter, his scope is limited and will not address the systemic problems that impede the board’s capacity to function and address the pressing and urgent challenges faced by the district.”

The assemblymen cited other persisting problems in the district.

“Today’s Pleasantville High School seniors have witnessed a new superintendent almost every year of their education while the district cycled through the hiring and firing of 15 different superintendents over the last 15 years.

“They started the eighth grade when five school board members were arrested and later sentenced after receiving money in exchange for supporting contracts.

“Through most of their high school studies, a state Department of Education-appointed fiscal monitor oversaw district monies after audits found accounting inadequacies and financial irregularities – including even the most basic economic and management practices – involving bank accounts and general ledgers.”

The real impact of the management issues is on the students, they said, citing a 48 percent failure rate by Pleasantville students on the High School Proficiency Assessment in language arts and a 71 percent failure rate on the HSPA in math.

“While the headlines have been hard-hitting, what’s even more chilling is how it has impacted the future success of our students,” the legislators said.

“We’ve waited years to see the schools fixed, and it hasn’t happened. It’s time to stop condemning our children’s future and start doing something to provide these kids with a quality education and schools where they’ll learn. For them, time is running short.”

The assemblymen said they hope the comptroller will intervene.

“By statute, the comptroller has broad authority to carry out investigations for the benefit of New Jersey and, where necessary, to propose and enforce remediation plans of government entities, including local boards of education. You have both the ability to identify the problem and take the needed steps toward cleaning it up.”

Pleasantville Board President Doris Graves, contacted this morning, said she was unaware of the letter and had not read it. She declined to comment until she had a chance to read it.