From CT Post:
City school officials were counting on Principal Marilyn Taylor to turn around Dunbar School–one of the lowest scoring in the state. But police said while officials were waiting, Taylor was sitting in casinos gambling away more than $10,000 in student activity funds.
On Friday, Taylor, principal at Dunbar since the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year, surrendered to police after learning they had a warrant for her arrest. She was charged with first-degree larceny and was released after posting $20,000 bond pending arraignment Jan. 2 in Superior Court.
Full story here.
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I feel so completely vindicated in voting against allowing Family for Urban Schools of Excellence to take over the management of Dunbar School at a cost of over $400,000 per year in management fees.
Mayor Finch, Paul Vallas and Kenneth Moales Jr. need to be held accountable for this fiasco.
Moales was the fake “Dr.” Sharpe’s number-one fan and constantly praised Principal Marilyn Taylor. Even after FUSE was exposed and was crumbling and it was discovered a known registered sex offender was allowed to work at Dunbar School and “Dr.” Sharpe was not a doctor at all and had served federal prison time for embezzlement and tax fraud, Moales was still fighting to keep FUSE and Marilyn Taylor in charge of Dunbar School.
The same convicted sex offender Mayor Finch felt should serve on the ethics commission and make judgments about the conduct of others.
Mayor Finch then hires the director of FUSE for Dunbar School who was completely aware a known sex offender was working at Dunbar School and did nothing about it as a deputy CAO at an annual salary of $90,000 per year plus benefits on the taxpayers’ dime.
2015 cannot come fast enough!
So now what PAC was the real money sent to?
Maria was right on the money on this one.
First, thanks to the police for arrested this pathetic piece of shit. Second, I wonder how they knew she was in a casino gambling over $10,000 of student activity funds from a school that is such great need in an area that is underserved. Where is the community outrage!!! I can’t breathe! I am disgusted and Principal Marilyn Taylor should be ashamed. She is one stupid bitch and I would like to know every one of her political connections and their thoughts. I am also curious what comments any mayoral hopeful has to say as well as the elected council members for that district. This is just so very sad. What a total disrespect for the children and parents of Dunbar. The teachers must be completely outraged. Maria Pereira, you would most likely have a pulse of what’s happening in that building. It is just so disappointing. I want her to have jail time and restitution. She should be banned from working in any public or charter school. She should be ordered to do community service working in the very community she stole from.
Steve, the detectives would have had the bank locate the ATMs where the withdrawals were made. That is how they knew 24 withdrawals were made at Mohegan Sun. Mayor Finch, Moales and Vallas were all instrumental in bringing the phony Dr. Sharpe and FUSE into our community. This debacle must be laid at their feet.
Steve,
All the teachers and staff knew was Marilyn Taylor had been placed on administrative leave because of a personnel/personal matter that was under investigation. Fran Rabinowitz did NOT elaborate about what was being investigated. The news of her arrest broke after school was let out for the Christmas break. I would venture a guess the teachers and staff are sick about this situation.
Steven Auerbach, where is your outrage for Mayor Finch? It was Finch who decided to keep dealing with FUSE even after it came out about the problems with this company. First start at the beginning and that’s Mayor Bill Finch.
Steve, you question the outrage of the community, the teachers, the mayoral hopefuls and the district leaders, but you never question the outrage of Mayor Bill Finch. Wasn’t it Finch who brought FUSE into our city? So my question to you is where is the outrage of ya boy Bill Finch or shouldn’t he be outraged or just the poor black people from the community who had nothing to do with bringing the fox to the hen house?
Donald Day, Ron Mackey. First, let me be clear because I know texting and blogging leaves out emotions and sometimes people do not get the true impact of a post. Do you imagine I am Bill Finch’s number-one supporter? Because he has done anything for me? Do you imagine I would not hold Finch and his piece of crap treasurer Moales, a leader in your community, responsible? Do you imagine I would support someonewho did not take responsibility or respond to this outrage? As usual, you two are attacking Finch but not attacking that vile woman who stole from the poor in your community. I can’t breathe and you guys are suffocating me. Mary-Jane Foster, Marilyn Moore, let’s hear your comments because these are the issues, not birthday cards and Mustang this is not my perspective. Ron, Donald, my support for Finch is just Steelepointe and Downtown development. I stated only a scandal can dethrone him. Plus for the record, I understand the political connections but let’s get serious, this is about a disgusting woman stealing by the name of Marilyn Taylor not Mayor Finch gambling at Mohegan Sun. Just as I wouldn’t condemn you for supporting Joe Ganim and Ernie Newton and assuming you were part of their sideshow. Now for all of you thinking I am Finch’s number-one cheerleader, thank you. If anyone believes I have given up on Mary-Jane Foste, think again. John GOMES? Chris Caruso, Joe Ganim, Donald Day, Dave Daniels, John Fabrizi or myself :-), I have not. If you have a platform and can raise the money, go for it. People are listening. Waiting. But it is all about the Bass, I mean Steelepointe not Meghan Trainor. 🙂
Absolutely beyond-the-beyond disgusting.
Excellent comments from DD, RM, BW and MP.
I’ve got to wonder if this latest outrage would have become public information this year IF the FUSE operatives were still running the show at Dunbar under the supervision of the “[Outgoing] Commissioner’s Network?”
How’s the state investigation of Moales going? The fed investigation of Sharpe and FUSE?
Don’t forget the following excerpt–from Aug 29, 2013 article:
www .ctednews.com/politics-education/bridgeport-education-advocates-celebrate-new-dunbar
Bridgeport’s Board of Education president, Rev. Kenneth Moales Jr. is in favor of FUSE’s involvement and is excited about the role FUSE is taking on. FUSE’s chief, Dr. Michael Sharpe has become directly involved with the operation of Dunbar School.
At the celebration, Moales said Sharpe’s credentials are beyond reproach, and FUSE has already helped pioneer this approach in Connecticut with a partnership between Jumoke Academy and Milner Elementary School in Hartford.
Pete Spain, thanks for your input, it’s very powerful. The path leads straight to Mayor Bill Finch. Cheerleaders like Steve Auerbach really don’t matter when it comes to the facts and not about how they feel.
OMG Ron Mackey, I didn’t realize the impression I was giving the world was Finch could take a shit on my head and I’d say thank you. Sorry for the disgusting visual. I was not given a $90,000 a year job from Finch. I do not serve on any boards or commissions. Those are the people who most likely will be working their asses off for Bill even though they don’t live in Bridgeport. Honestly Ron, just like Anthony Musto you guys act as though I had some personal investment in his reelection. I will allow all candidates to do their thing and I will allow all Mayor Finch’s people sing his praises. I will be an observer, though I must admit as devil’s advocate, without me touting Finch and Steelepointe, who else would JML, Ron Mackey, Donald Day, Bob Walsh, Jimfox, Tom White, etc. etc. etc. go after? I will get off my soapbox and stop dominating this blog with my rose-colored pro-Finch pro-Bridgeport rantings. I will allow other candidates and their supporters to get out there and share their vision. Everyone on this blog knows my vision.
Steven Auerbach, no, Finch didn’t give you anything and neither did Musto for you being their biggest supporter, no it was your dislike and almost hatred of Marilyn Moore and Ed Gomes.
Ron Mackey, hatred? Do you think Marilyn Moore thinks I hate her? That’s a pretty ignorant statement, no? Hate her? Hmmm. That’s a pretty harsh malignment. I don’t think I hate anyone. You? Did you hate Anthony Musto? Do you hate Bill Finch? Hate is pretty harsh.
Steven Auerbach, I said “almost.” I ask you did you ever talk to Ed Gomes about your concerns, did “you” talk to Ed Gomes about your concerns?
Ron Mackey, I did talk to Ed Gomes, now what? It was actually Ed Gomes who gave me the disturbing answer regarding Steelepointe, now what? I also didn’t think Gomes was a great State Senator, and I certainly was not alone. Does that throw your love fest with Moore, Gomes, Caruso off a tad? I hope not. I am not a fan of Gomes and I choose not to do character assassination on him they way you do to Finch. Just suffice it to say I vote for Gomes at the request of George Bryant. Very disappointed in him, met him at a Moore meet and greet four years ago. His answer and hers made me vote for Musto. Is there anything I left out?
Ron Mackey, one more point of curiosity. Why are you going in all different directions about Moore, Gomes and personal assumed vindictive feelings? Why aren’t you addressing the thief and chief point of interest of this post? The disgusting actions of Principal Marilyn Taylor. Does that not bother you, that you are going after Finch?
I hold Moore in high esteem and I voted for her after the primary and had her sign on my lawn, you idiot.
Steven Auerbach, the Marilyn Taylor issue starts with Mayor Bill Finch and his support of FUSE.
Ron Mackey, the issue starts and ends with the thief Marilyn Taylor. Addressing FUSE and Mayor Finch is another issue.It was the principal hanging out at Mohegan Sun spending Dunbar money while Finch was mailing his holiday cards. Too bad you don’t see the difference. Every man shall be judged on their own actions, not associations.
Steve,
Hope you are getting a rest during this vacation but I see you are doing a lot of posting and explaining. Specifically my initials (JML) lead the list of people you identify as ‘going after’ you. Sorry you have that impression. Please look back at your source material and see where I have cast a personal attack on you. Perhaps you would reconsider your accusation.
In my writing I attempt to connect the story to the fiscal background as well as to the framework that ‘supports’ governance as we experience it, day in and day out. Each of us is a bit player in the drama. Some have louder voices than others and use them. Many have personal agendas to exercise and do so. Your voice has been about construction of buildings after several decades, but you have seemed unwilling to specifically deal with the fiscal difference this will mean to city dwellers in terms of tax relief, demand for services, jobs and overall economic development. Time will tell.
Is there at least one star shining on the Dunbar School community at this moment? Didn’t the CT Post report scores increased in the year and one half since FUSE was appointed, problems were discovered, FUSE was unappointed, but Principal Marilyn Taylor was left in local command, and now she has been charged with felonious activity, certainly unbecoming a reasonably compensated educational professional?
Was there something important in providing a secure environment for perhaps a smaller number of children, with a changed code of appearance and responsibility, and buy-in with students, teachers and parents that moved the dial? Or not? Can you think of any people in Bridgeport history who were acknowledged as saints when they were appointed to public service positions, whether paid or volunteer? Are our pre-appointment and post-appointment inquiry mechanisms, across all boards, commissions, and department up to the task of expecting to reveal “sinners” against the public interest? And if our tools or ability to use our own existng tools and rules are not up to snuff, to whom do we look for genuine resolution? Perhaps Brett Broesder has an answer for that question on behalf of the Mayor. Time will tell.
There were no SBAC test scores released for 2013/2014. There were only in-house assessments that were given up to the third grade. There were no assessment scores for fourth through eighth grade.
Ms. Pereira,
On what basis was improvement reported then? A third grade test? Perhaps teacher reports or anecdotal narratives from parents? Thank you for providing a technical answer to an unasked question, but you did not challenge the statement that suggests some improvement at the school has been noted, I see. With appreciation to the teachers, paraprofessionals, parents and youth seeking education advancement … Time will tell.
John, it is obvious the city does not do proper due diligence in many instances. I can’t believe they did due diligence when they hired FUSE and its employees. Did they do their due diligence on this principal? I doubt it. She did not just become a gambling junky. Did she have a problem with gambling down in Louisiana?
Look at the Police Department, did they do due diligence on the convicted felon they hired to teach a new class of rookies?
Did they do due diligence on the spokespeople for the mayor or the police department?
What have they done about the illegal spending on charitable donations made by the council? What have they done with the two council people who spent their stipends on themselves shopping at Super Stop & Shop or paying their cable bill with the stipend? I know, how stupid of me, they bought groceries for their constituents and had them all over to watch cable shows.
John, the city hall in this city has turned a blind eye to crimes by their favorite few.
I have received very credible information Marilyn Taylor has obtained legal representation and Interim Superintendent Fran Rabinowitz wants to recommend Marilyn Taylor be given an opportunity to resign and in return taxpayers will give her up to two month’s severance. Fran should be ashamed of herself and any BBOE member who supports her recommendation needs to be held accountable.
Honestly Maria, why would Fran Rabinowitz allow her to resign and pay her two month’s severance? She should be fired, no unemployment and go to jail and serve the community when released. Any discussion of a slap on the wrist, resignation and the gift of eight week’s pay is just ludicrous. The love affair with Fran Rabinowitz may be coming to an end if your sources are correct.
Steve, my sources are highly credible. If she is allowed to resign that means she has a much better chance of being rehired by another district where she could do this again. Believe me when I tell you I have had to learn the hard way about Fran Rabinowitz.
Ms. Pereira,
You voice a concern, “rehired by another district where she could do this again.” I am not forgiving her or excusing her for her alleged transgression against the Student Activity funds. As a professional educator and administrator she has abused a boundary she should have understood. I have no idea what practices or processes would prevent such temptation (but check signing by two parties or other practices) might have prevented this from becoming a problem.
Can the community use her talents ever again? Time will tell.
Was she playing roulette?
All this crap swirling around the BOE the last few months. We have Baker leaving to take a state office and this just after he gets elected as State Rep and now rumor has it he wants to run for State Senator. How many freaking offices does this guy want to run for? He accomplished nothing while on the BOE. Dave Hennessey runs for and is elected president of the BOE and he has been a mute on the BOE. The BOE under Moales hires FUSE which has all kinds of liars and cheats and thieves on their payroll and they keep the principal that came with this group, why???
Now the big thing is what have the city and BOE done to make it better for the school children?