Board stands behind decision not to seek state AG’s report

Board stands behind decision
not to seek state AG’s report

The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has reiterated its stand that a case against the district’s superintendent has been closed.

Reading from a statement during a Nov. 19 meeting at Manalapan High School, board President Patricia Horvath said the board had been informed that a motion filed by Donald DeGroot (the district’s data processing manager) seeking the release of the state attorney general’s investigative file into matters concerning Superintendent of Schools James Wasser had been denied by Superior Court Judge Linda R. Feinberg, sitting in Mercer County. Feinberg ruled on the matter Nov. 16.

Horvath said Susan Kase, deputy attorney general, and Francis Cook, an attorney representing Wasser, opposed DeGroot’s motion on the grounds that the matter had already been closed by the Attorney General.

In view of that decision, Horvath reiterated the board’s earlier decision not to pursue release of the investigative report, saying, "The matter is closed."

Commenting on the case, Cook said, "In order for the Attorney General’s Office to close a file they have to make a determination that there is no evidence or there is insufficient evidence of criminal wrongdoing. That’s the determination they made. As soon as the file was closed, there were certain rabble-rousers who sought to have the file disclosed, which never happened."

Cook said there was no overriding, compelling reason to release the report that would outweigh the state’s interest in maintaining the privacy of the investigation materials.

Cook pointed to another lawsuit filed by DeGroot under the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The attorney explained that DeGroot sought to have the attorney general’s investigation file produced in connection with that lawsuit. The attorney said he had no doubt the judge would deny the request, because, "Judge Feinberg, a very bright, articulate judge, understood immediately that the attorney general’s investigation file had absolutely no relevance ever."

He added, "The truth of the matter is, the reason why certain people were seeking the attorney general’s file was to continue to incite controversy within the district. These people just show up at the meetings to create a ruckus. They accuse the board of trying to hide something when the simple fact is, (Wasser) was investigated for 23 months and nothing was found. It’s just going on and on and on."

According to Cook, the board would like to bring this case to closure. The people seeking the release of the attorney general’s investigation file are trying to keep the issue before the public, he said.