Introduction to the Investigation
A report recently released by the New York City Special Commissioner of Investigation (SCI) found four paraprofessionals with the Department of Education (DOE) falsified their timesheets while assisting in the transportation of three separate special needs students to and from their school in the Bronx. Robert Brown, Michel Desgrottes, Alex Gonzalez, and Carla Alvarez were all found by the SCI, back in 2022, to have forged their timesheets while performing their Special Transportation Paraprofessional (STP) duties for three teenage students at P176x, located in Co-Op City. The school is part of District 75 and is for students with special needs. Such students usually need specific assistance while being picked up to go to school and when they are returned to their parents or guardians at the end of each school day.
The Investigation Findings
SCI received a complaint in 2020 about discrepancies in the four paraprofessionals’ timesheets. Upon investigation, which involved questioning all four employees, it was found that they had added hours to their timesheets during both pick up and drop off during the 2019-2020 school year. Brown had forged his timesheets from September 2019 to June 2020, while Gonzalez forged his from September 2019 to January 2020. Desgrottes and Alvarez falsified theirs from October 2019 to February 2020. During the investigation, it was noted that the timesheets and the timing on the GPA trackers did not match up.
Details of the Timesheet Forgery
All four mentioned in their timesheets that their times started earlier or ended after their schedule, according to their position’s agenda. The paraprofessionals each noted their sessions began when they came to pick up their assigned students at the students’ homes, and then said their sessions started again when they received the assigned students at the end of school day. But the job’s agenda requires each daily session to begin when both paraprofessional and student board the bus together. The sessions then begin in the afternoon when the bus arrived at the school to pick up the two, despite how long both had been waiting and how long the student was in the paraprofessional’s care. Brown also claimed to have worked days when his assigned student’s parent drove and picked them up from school. According to the report, “he must have filled out his timesheets the following week and “forgot” that he did not take the bus with Student A on a [prior day].”
Financial Implications
Each of the STPs was paid differently per hour for their job, ranging from $22.85 to $31.91. Calculated with the number of hours each falsely claimed to have worked per week meant different amounts of extra payment. For Brown, he earned an extra $2,864.25 during this period while Desgrottes got an extra $448. Meanwhile, Gonzalez earned $31.91 extra and Alvarez obtained $679.05.
Response from the Department of Education
A spokesperson told amNewYork that these types of cases are not uncommon throughout the city. “Time theft [or] billing taxpayers for labor that was not performed, is a common violation that SCI investigates on a regular basis. The SCI website has multiple case reports posted regarding time theft. This type of time fraud robs the school district of vital tax dollars and disrupts the learning environment for our students, which is why such cases are among the important forms of fraud that SCI tirelessly roots out.” Randi Levine, is the policy director for Advocates for Children, which gives free advocacy and legal services for parents and their children, including low-income families and children with disabilities. She thinks cases like these are part of a wider issue.
Wider Implications and Recommendations
“While any cases of fraud must be addressed,” Levine said.”An issue we hear from families again and again is that their children with disabilities are waiting – sometimes for months – for the DOE to find a paraprofessional to ride the bus with them. In fact, last year, more than 300 students with disabilities were waiting for the DOE to assign the required paraprofessional they needed to ride the bus, in violation of their legal rights.” “The City must take steps to ensure it can recruit and retain the paraprofessionals needed for students with disabilities to ride the bus safely and ensure that students can get to school on time every day,” Levine added. As written at the end of the report, the SCI listed two Policy and Procedure Recommendations for the DOE to follow and prevent further time theft. One was for STPs be told when exactly shifts begin and end each session. The other called for more timesheet oversight.
Conclusion
The case of the four paraprofessionals falsifying their timesheets highlights a significant issue within the Department of Education. The financial implications of their actions are substantial, with the four earning thousands of dollars in extra payments. The DOE has taken steps to address the issue, including sending disciplinary letters to the staff members and confirming recoupment of funds through payroll. However, the case also raises wider concerns about the recruitment and retention of paraprofessionals for students with disabilities. The City must take steps to address these issues and ensure that students with disabilities receive the support they need to succeed.
FAQs
Q: What was the nature of the investigation conducted by the SCI?
A: The SCI investigated four paraprofessionals with the Department of Education for falsifying their timesheets while assisting in the transportation of special needs students.
Q: How many students were affected by the paraprofessionals’ actions?
A: Three teenage students at P176x, located in Co-Op City, were affected by the paraprofessionals’ actions.
Q: What were the financial implications of the paraprofessionals’ actions?
A: The four paraprofessionals earned thousands of dollars in extra payments, ranging from $448 to $2,864.25.
Q: What steps has the DOE taken to address the issue?
A: The DOE has sent disciplinary letters to the staff members and is confirming recoupment of funds through payroll.
Q: What are the wider implications of the case?
A: The case highlights a significant issue within the Department of Education regarding the recruitment and retention of paraprofessionals for students with disabilities.
