New Jersey school board will reimburse state for more than $33,000 in funds spent on Staff Fun Day

NEWARK, N.J. (CITC) — A New Jersey school board agreed last week to reimburse the state more than $33,000 after a “Staff Fun Day” was found to violate state laws governing the use of taxpayer money.

The Newark Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to pass a resolution requiring the funds to be returned. The move follows an Oct. 25 letter to Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León from the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of Accountability and Compliance raising concerns about the event.

The “Central Office Staff Fun Day” was held June 1 at a local dining facility, according to the letter. The event had a price tag of $43,813.90 and Newark Public Schools provided state aid of $33,649.07, or 76.8% of the bill.

According to the New Jersey Department of Education, Staff Fun Day was intended to “promote team building” and “reinforce a positive organizational culture.” Activities during the event included a hula hoop competition, trivia games, a “social media photo booth,” and an inflatable ax throwing tournament.

However, a review conducted by the department found that the activities lacked educational and professional content, were not supported by district staff, and did not meet required objectives for the use of public funds. According to the letter, these findings put Newark Public Schools in violation of several state laws governing the use of public funds.

“The event lacked an educational or professional development component and did not demonstrate a clear connection to the district’s strategic goals or organizational development,” the letter said. “Therefore, the costs associated with this event are not eligible.”

In the letter, the Department of Education ordered Newark Public Schools to return the $33,649.07 to the state. The resolution adopted Tuesday by the Newark Board of Education authorized the refund, but the district’s attorney said the board would not be required to “admit any wrongdoing.”

Board member Crystal Williams expressed frustration with the situation and wanted to know who was “responsible” for planning Staff Fun Day.

“Why was there no professional development?” Williams asked. “Where exactly can we expect this $30,000 to come from and how can we ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again?”

Board secretary Valerie Wilson said the repayment would not come from a “specific account” and suggested it could instead be deducted from future disbursements to the district. She also noted that the district will ensure that any “professional development” planned for the event in the future is “clear, defined and understandable.”

Newark Public Schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Crisis in the Classroom (CITC).

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