Pearls of Wisdom

In October 2009, the Fort Lee School system was scandalized.  Judith Meller, a Fort Lee High School guidance counselor, apparently thought tampering with student grades to help them get into better universities was an acceptable practice for a guidance counselor.   At that time, the High School principal, Jay Berman, was suspended.  The members of the Fort Lee BOE apparently felt that, as principal, Mr. Berman should bear the responsibility for this egregious behavior by a key employee. 

Mr. Berman took the matter to court and won.  Administrative Judge Carol Cohen stated in her decision that it was her belief that Jay Berman was not Ms. Meller’s direct supervisor and was totally unaware of her transgressions. Therefore he could not be legally held responsible for her actions.  Mr. Berman returned to work, but no longer as principal of Fort Lee High School.  He was assigned as principal of the Early Elementary Childhood Center at the Church of the Good Shepherd, a program serving pre-school children with disabilities.

 It was announced at the BOE meeting on May 2, 2011 that Jay Berman is now suing the Board for damages.  In such a litigious society, this is hardly shocking.   The town will suffer from this lawsuit, regardless of the outcome.  If Jay Berman was ever categorized as a victim, he may soon be a wealthier victim. 

 Harry Truman, U.S. President, kept a sign on his desk stating “The Buck Stops Here”.   One would think that a high school principal would have a similar sign.   Maybe Judge Cohen should remember “Give-em Hell Harry”!    Question:  Assuming Jay Berman did not know what Ms. Meller was doing, should not one of his assistants, who directly supervised Ms. Meller, have known and reported it to him?  Is it not the responsibility of the High School Principal to have some inkling that his staff is changing grades?   So, I am not letting Mr. Berman off the hook completely; he has to take some responsibility for the performance of all key staff members in the High School.

This past week, the School Board notified some valued employees that they may not be returned for the 2011-2012 school year. One of those employees was a school principal!  It would not be too farfetched to extrapolate that Jay Berman may be transferred to that position. And how sad that would be!   We might lose a valuable Fort Lee asset to retain someone that is no longer desired by Fort Lee Township.   Even if Jay Berman is totally innocent, there is no positive future for him here!  Let the Board settle the lawsuit, but ask Mr. Berman to move on, and let Fort Lee move forward.