Exposing the Truth about gutless school reform hypocrisy lacking in evidence…and other random opinions
There are strong indications that Ann Lewis is informing people that the News Journal is lying, specifically about her husband’s work duties as it relates to a pensional qualified position.
We can see how Bob himself views his work assignments. To those Ann is telling otherwise, check your sources, because it’s obvious to people with real degrees: Nichole is telling the truth.
18 thoughts on “There are strong indications that Ann Lewis is informing people that the News Journal is lying, specifically about her husband’s work duties as it relates to a pensional qualified position.”
The simp[le fact that she wrote a letter in 2011 for her husband (and the other two lteachers) that their employment at Pencader was terminated (cc the pension office), after the Pension office notified her that it was illegal for them to draw a pension and a salary at the same time, then continued to pay them, shows intent to commit fraud. Does it not?
Also, think about the extravagant salary she paid her husband (almost as much as she made), and the kid’s that went without things because the school was in such dire needs financially (ie. Chior, textbooks, etc.) Also, the teachers that were making less than half of what her husband made, and having to buy their own supplies?
It is just criminal.
People are so brainwashed, and she will spin it to say what she wants everyone to think. It is so sad. Our state DOE is a shambles and an embarassment to every child and taxpayer.
And they are just rumors unless you have factual information that is what she has done. Why do you put it out there as fact if it is just rumored or do you like the drama?
Because I have consideration for my source. Not about drama, about accountability to taxpayers.
CSD resident – you must be new to this board… I have not seen Mr. Young put stuff out there as strong rumor that he doesn’t have facts about. He can’t reveal the complete facts without revealing his sources. He won’t do that to his sources.
Just wondering if Pencader could be doing more pension fraud then just these three teachers. By the way, does anyone know who the third teacher is?
I know that Helen Swartz is considered a “contracted employee”, but works almost full time. She is retired from Maryland? Or Delaware?
Helen Swartz is a retired “contracted” employee but she works within the specified hour limits. No she is not the third teacher involved in this situation.
If you did not know about the scam with Mr. Lewis and the others, how do you know for sure about Mrs. Swartz? Is she a personal friend?
Hmmm.., not sure it was very smart to go on public record claiming a $68,000 spend against Title 1 funds for such duties as bus greeter and detention monitor. Does Title 1 usage ever get audited??
That’s a good question for the DOE’s Department of Justice!
Susan, thank you. DOE and justice in the same sentence. Hilarious.
Oh, my goodness! You are right!! Lol
Susan, go read the Pencader checkbook. Look for staffers receiving monthly payouts. Educational Consulting – which we all know is Bob Lewis. Roccia who is there by name. Helterbay – a quick online search of DE business licenses show that one to be Swartz. But, I’m leaning towards Yeager who has a monthly take of $5831.80 for a total of $40,000+ That looks like salary pay to a pencader employee turned “independent contractor.” But, then I am just playing armchair detective…
I want to add some background for the discussion above. The facts are that Bob Lewis and two other Pencader teachers were simultaneously receiving a “generous” paycheck from Pencader and a State of Delaware pension. This cannot be disputed and this dual payment of State of Delaware funds continued for Bob Lewis through March 2012.
The pension office had assumed Bob Lewis had really been terminated in October 2011 based on the letter from Ann Lewis. The letter was used as evidence in the July 11, 2012 hearing in Dover.
The pension office “discovered”, from the News Journal coverage about his March termination, that Bob Lewis was actually working at Pencader after September 2011 and was continuing to receive the dual compensation.
The Pension office wrote to Mr. Lewis and stated that, from their perspective and policies, that Bob Lewis should not have been receiving a pension check in the October 2011 through March 2012 period. They wrote that he had to repay the State of Delaware, and they proposed a reduction in his monthly pension until they (State of Delaware) had recovered the six months of pension check value.
Bob Lewis decided to appeal this reduction of pension action of the Pension office, as was his right.
His appeal argument appeared to be that he was teaching only a minimal amount, and he did mention the “morals and ethics” course he taught – hence he should be considered a part-time teacher and that he was not in a “pension eligible position” at Pencader, which position is usually defined in terms of hours worked per week. (This argument cannot be used by the other two Pencader teaching retirees, as they did teach full-time schedules).
More background: there are a number of retired teachers who do work in the schools, for pay, but typically work less than 20 hours per week, with pay of about $10 to $20 per hour. My wife, Harrie Ellen Minnehan, can provide a list of example retirees who work in the schools on this part-time basis.
You can read the Bob Lewis testimony on-line and see if you can accept his argument that he was only working part time – though he was being paid at a full-time rate. I suspect that the Pension office will use this big paycheck as part of their arguments about him occupying a pensionable position, as the school could have hired someone who actually worked full-time for the $68 thousand annual pay rate.
A big issue here is why did Bob Lewis get such a great “sweetheart deal” with big pay and few responsibilities?
The Pension office will present a report on the Bob Lewis case to the Pension Board in September, and there will be a decision about whether Bob Lewis has to repay the State for some past pension payments. If he does not like the September decison he can appeal in the Superior Court system which is an expensive process. Bob Lewis appeared at the July 11 hearing without a lawyer. He should get a lawyer if he goes to Superior Court.
Was there any discussion, other than the blatant violation of pension rules, regarding these so called “outside contractor” positions? Very few people actually qualify as an outside contractor, and if you do, you are basically 100% self supervised at work (such as a landscaper), I believe, if your job depends of the directives of others you cannot qualify as an outside contractor and the employer is responsible to pay you through payroll (not off checkbook) and pay all employer/employee taxes. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Division of Unemployment doesn’t get involved as no taxes were collected on these “contractors” from October 2011-present, and these positions do not appear to be qualifying as a outside contractor. Would be interested also how many other schools are doing the same thing, they may not be breaking any pension rules, but tax collection is a different story.I read the entire transcript and feel that the letter written by the school in answer to the pension inquest appears to be meant to deceive, and a criminal investigation should happen next.
And it was suggested that Maurice Pritchett come in to save the day and he is also a retired Christina administrator but everyone was YEAH! Just depends on who you happen to like because the taxpayers would be affected with him as well.
I did throw his name out. He is retired from CSD for many years and a respected name in the community. I have met him several times and think he has the skills to guide the school from where it so clearly is now: under an ethical siege. I am confident Mr. Pritchett would not violate pension laws if he was even interested. I have not spoke to him on the issue. I do not have a say in any aspect of Pencader’s operation other than having the responsibility to ensure they fulfill their mission to taxpayers vis-à-vis providing an education to their students.
To newarkmom regarding “independent contractors” status for the “Pencader 3″. In the July 11 hearings Thomas Ellis, the Deputy Attorney General for the Delaware Office of Pension, did question Michael Scanlan, who handled the human resources responsibilities at Pencader, about the definition of an “independent contractor” and cited some IRS definitions that are avaiable.
The Pencader 3 would probably not qualify as independent contactors.
I am a consultant doing economic analysis in law cases, and have done this full-time and part-time over a 40 year period. I work at home. I determine my hours. I can refuse work (an sometimes do in cases where I cannot believe the loss claims). I do my analysis in my own way, and will take suggestions from an attorney, but really do my analysis independent of their supervision. So I am a genuine independent contractor.
But the Pencader 3 are not strong candidates for this classification. I suspect that a lawyer, or two, sometime in the future, will carefully examine whether the independent contractor claim by the Pencader 3 is credible and ask if there are legal penalties that should be considered? I believe the IRS has some penalties for this type of mis-classification. Mr. Ellis is very aware of this potential mis-classification as independent contractors by the Pencader administration and the Pencader 3.
I do hope that someone asks Bob Lewis and the others why they persisted in this dual compensation scheme when the State told them last September that it was in violation of the law?
They could have appealed the Pension office determination then, suspended their pensions, and continued to teach and receive their (probably) larger teaching salaries and defer the pension receipts. Actually, by doing this they may have qualified for a larger State pension when they really retired, as they would have more years of service. Why didn’t the Pencader 3 do the “right thing”? Was it all about the money?
Incidentally, Michael Scanlan, the human resources person at Pencader mentioned above, has “left” his employer Innovative Schools (“under a dark cloud”) and has joined “Team Lewis”.
John:
When you get a moment please give me a call 302-545-8870.
Thanks,
Ray Arzinger
The simp[le fact that she wrote a letter in 2011 for her husband (and the other two lteachers) that their employment at Pencader was terminated (cc the pension office), after the Pension office notified her that it was illegal for them to draw a pension and a salary at the same time, then continued to pay them, shows intent to commit fraud. Does it not?
Also, think about the extravagant salary she paid her husband (almost as much as she made), and the kid’s that went without things because the school was in such dire needs financially (ie. Chior, textbooks, etc.) Also, the teachers that were making less than half of what her husband made, and having to buy their own supplies?
It is just criminal.
People are so brainwashed, and she will spin it to say what she wants everyone to think. It is so sad. Our state DOE is a shambles and an embarassment to every child and taxpayer.
And they are just rumors unless you have factual information that is what she has done. Why do you put it out there as fact if it is just rumored or do you like the drama?
Because I have consideration for my source. Not about drama, about accountability to taxpayers.
CSD resident – you must be new to this board… I have not seen Mr. Young put stuff out there as strong rumor that he doesn’t have facts about. He can’t reveal the complete facts without revealing his sources. He won’t do that to his sources.
Just wondering if Pencader could be doing more pension fraud then just these three teachers. By the way, does anyone know who the third teacher is?
I know that Helen Swartz is considered a “contracted employee”, but works almost full time. She is retired from Maryland? Or Delaware?
Helen Swartz is a retired “contracted” employee but she works within the specified hour limits. No she is not the third teacher involved in this situation.
If you did not know about the scam with Mr. Lewis and the others, how do you know for sure about Mrs. Swartz? Is she a personal friend?
Hmmm.., not sure it was very smart to go on public record claiming a $68,000 spend against Title 1 funds for such duties as bus greeter and detention monitor. Does Title 1 usage ever get audited??
That’s a good question for the DOE’s Department of Justice!
Susan, thank you. DOE and justice in the same sentence. Hilarious.
Oh, my goodness! You are right!! Lol
Susan, go read the Pencader checkbook. Look for staffers receiving monthly payouts. Educational Consulting – which we all know is Bob Lewis. Roccia who is there by name. Helterbay – a quick online search of DE business licenses show that one to be Swartz. But, I’m leaning towards Yeager who has a monthly take of $5831.80 for a total of $40,000+ That looks like salary pay to a pencader employee turned “independent contractor.” But, then I am just playing armchair detective…
I want to add some background for the discussion above. The facts are that Bob Lewis and two other Pencader teachers were simultaneously receiving a “generous” paycheck from Pencader and a State of Delaware pension. This cannot be disputed and this dual payment of State of Delaware funds continued for Bob Lewis through March 2012.
The pension office had assumed Bob Lewis had really been terminated in October 2011 based on the letter from Ann Lewis. The letter was used as evidence in the July 11, 2012 hearing in Dover.
The pension office “discovered”, from the News Journal coverage about his March termination, that Bob Lewis was actually working at Pencader after September 2011 and was continuing to receive the dual compensation.
The Pension office wrote to Mr. Lewis and stated that, from their perspective and policies, that Bob Lewis should not have been receiving a pension check in the October 2011 through March 2012 period. They wrote that he had to repay the State of Delaware, and they proposed a reduction in his monthly pension until they (State of Delaware) had recovered the six months of pension check value.
Bob Lewis decided to appeal this reduction of pension action of the Pension office, as was his right.
His appeal argument appeared to be that he was teaching only a minimal amount, and he did mention the “morals and ethics” course he taught – hence he should be considered a part-time teacher and that he was not in a “pension eligible position” at Pencader, which position is usually defined in terms of hours worked per week. (This argument cannot be used by the other two Pencader teaching retirees, as they did teach full-time schedules).
More background: there are a number of retired teachers who do work in the schools, for pay, but typically work less than 20 hours per week, with pay of about $10 to $20 per hour. My wife, Harrie Ellen Minnehan, can provide a list of example retirees who work in the schools on this part-time basis.
You can read the Bob Lewis testimony on-line and see if you can accept his argument that he was only working part time – though he was being paid at a full-time rate. I suspect that the Pension office will use this big paycheck as part of their arguments about him occupying a pensionable position, as the school could have hired someone who actually worked full-time for the $68 thousand annual pay rate.
A big issue here is why did Bob Lewis get such a great “sweetheart deal” with big pay and few responsibilities?
The Pension office will present a report on the Bob Lewis case to the Pension Board in September, and there will be a decision about whether Bob Lewis has to repay the State for some past pension payments. If he does not like the September decison he can appeal in the Superior Court system which is an expensive process. Bob Lewis appeared at the July 11 hearing without a lawyer. He should get a lawyer if he goes to Superior Court.
Was there any discussion, other than the blatant violation of pension rules, regarding these so called “outside contractor” positions? Very few people actually qualify as an outside contractor, and if you do, you are basically 100% self supervised at work (such as a landscaper), I believe, if your job depends of the directives of others you cannot qualify as an outside contractor and the employer is responsible to pay you through payroll (not off checkbook) and pay all employer/employee taxes. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Division of Unemployment doesn’t get involved as no taxes were collected on these “contractors” from October 2011-present, and these positions do not appear to be qualifying as a outside contractor. Would be interested also how many other schools are doing the same thing, they may not be breaking any pension rules, but tax collection is a different story.I read the entire transcript and feel that the letter written by the school in answer to the pension inquest appears to be meant to deceive, and a criminal investigation should happen next.
And it was suggested that Maurice Pritchett come in to save the day and he is also a retired Christina administrator but everyone was YEAH! Just depends on who you happen to like because the taxpayers would be affected with him as well.
I did throw his name out. He is retired from CSD for many years and a respected name in the community. I have met him several times and think he has the skills to guide the school from where it so clearly is now: under an ethical siege. I am confident Mr. Pritchett would not violate pension laws if he was even interested. I have not spoke to him on the issue. I do not have a say in any aspect of Pencader’s operation other than having the responsibility to ensure they fulfill their mission to taxpayers vis-à-vis providing an education to their students.
To newarkmom regarding “independent contractors” status for the “Pencader 3″. In the July 11 hearings Thomas Ellis, the Deputy Attorney General for the Delaware Office of Pension, did question Michael Scanlan, who handled the human resources responsibilities at Pencader, about the definition of an “independent contractor” and cited some IRS definitions that are avaiable.
The Pencader 3 would probably not qualify as independent contactors.
I am a consultant doing economic analysis in law cases, and have done this full-time and part-time over a 40 year period. I work at home. I determine my hours. I can refuse work (an sometimes do in cases where I cannot believe the loss claims). I do my analysis in my own way, and will take suggestions from an attorney, but really do my analysis independent of their supervision. So I am a genuine independent contractor.
But the Pencader 3 are not strong candidates for this classification. I suspect that a lawyer, or two, sometime in the future, will carefully examine whether the independent contractor claim by the Pencader 3 is credible and ask if there are legal penalties that should be considered? I believe the IRS has some penalties for this type of mis-classification. Mr. Ellis is very aware of this potential mis-classification as independent contractors by the Pencader administration and the Pencader 3.
I do hope that someone asks Bob Lewis and the others why they persisted in this dual compensation scheme when the State told them last September that it was in violation of the law?
They could have appealed the Pension office determination then, suspended their pensions, and continued to teach and receive their (probably) larger teaching salaries and defer the pension receipts. Actually, by doing this they may have qualified for a larger State pension when they really retired, as they would have more years of service. Why didn’t the Pencader 3 do the “right thing”? Was it all about the money?
Incidentally, Michael Scanlan, the human resources person at Pencader mentioned above, has “left” his employer Innovative Schools (“under a dark cloud”) and has joined “Team Lewis”.
John:
When you get a moment please give me a call 302-545-8870.
Thanks,
Ray Arzinger