I think the way pension works... they take away the years when it started....
So, if it went on for 10 year... and he has 35 years with the district... his pension is calculated based upon 25 years of service... That is my understanding of the law... but I'm not certain.
That is how they did Scarpelli with Brick to my knowledge.

Ask his very good friend Chris Christie about that!!!

JD is correct about the pension issue!

As I understand it, no he will not. He is convicted of a crime and forfeits it.

I also hope he spends the next 10 years doing something to help others. That he doesn't waste his education. That if he is really sorry he will figure a way to help others even while he is away. If he takes good care of himself and stays active, he should live to enjoy his golden years with his family. god bless them all*

Because he was convicted of an 'on the job' felony, yes, he forfeits his pension.

I read this story about how the State of New Jersey pays a pension to a former head sheriff that admitted to molesting 8 boys and was caught in a sting with a 9th that was really an undercover State Trooper, yet he only did 9 months in county jail is not a registered sex offender and collects a pension from the state. This is not only outrageous but it puts the community at risk because people like this never stop. here is the link for the article please read and help bring this matter public. http://bit.ly/Qo9mz3

I think we should demand a little light be shed on this pension issue and that the profits of this corruption be auctioned off with all proceeds to go to the board of education. This in no way compensates those shut out of jobs, or students who were taught by less than sterling pedagogy. (friends and relatives, instead of the best qualified).

Thats his son.

that is a teacher in the district with the same name, not related.

not his son

So what.. was his son involved? As far as I'm concerned the son DOESNT pay for the fathers sins. IF he is a good teacher, let it be. Enough grief in that house? Was his wife at the sentencing today? or the girlfriend?

It is his son.

That link is a teacher in the district who just happens to have the same name. (It's my husband's info.) He is not Mike Ritacco's son or a member of his family.

@ Jodi...your husband is a great teacher as well, my daughter was lucky enough to have him, the people on here need to get their facts straight before they post them

Well said PJ!

You mean give it back to the schools where it REALLY belongs. To help our children.

I guess

Yeah, it seems that when he was Atty. Gen. confronting all the corrupt towns in NJ he just happened to "skip" Toms River. Christie is just another crooked hack.

How do u figure he's a crook? Please explain..

The guy is fixing NJ and you call him a crook. I think your just jealous because the democrat politicians are so much more crooked. there are so many more cooruptions on this side especially with mayors. Trenton, Camden, Newark...

and your proof of this is???? I'd like to verify what you are saying.

I agree with you Mattie! Christie is a big mouth bully that is just or not more crooked as the rest of them.

Until all the monies are paid back....it should come out of his pension....that is justice

The judge SPANKED the BOE.... big time...
In fact he asked if any BOE members were in the audience as he wanted to rip them...
but he went and did so anyway!!!

Chastising someone who is not there is not the same as bringing charges against them. The BOE facilitated Ritacco's thefts.

Who cares if the judge dressed-down the BOE- the voters are keeping them in office. It is inconceivable to me that a BOE that are this convicted felon's handpicked stooges keep getting elected. But then, you elected a tax dodger to state assembly as well. Wake up sheeple.

Get over it dude

Maybe Christie is... He signed a law requiring NJ school board members to pass a criminal background check, so don't you think the Gov vetted Ritacco before letting Mike raise/donate campaign funds for him? Maybe the Gov looked the other way then (and when Christie caught other towns' corrupt politicians), but he sure has stayed clear of the crook lately.

Christie and Ritacco are BUDDIES.... from waaaay back. Wake up and smell the schemes and corruption

Mattie has it figured out!! They are supposed biddies from way back that why he's a crook. Lol good job of sticking to the facts.
To mattie.

What are you - 12 years old Dan B?

LOL...its funy how Christie is the root of all evil. Pretty soon he will be blamed for cancer, global warming, world hunger, 911, the patmark shooting....am I forgetting anything? Oh yea, I forgot to set my alarm clock this morning and ran late....I'm sure he had something to to with that also, poeple need to wake up. He's not perfect but he's actually resolving some issues rather then creating them, like the previous administrations over the past 20 years.

Most of you cranky posters here would never say that about the President because he's in a different party than you and Christie: "He's not perfect but he's actually resolving some issues rather than creating them, like the previous administration..." Most posters on Patch are like Fox News -- unfair and imbalanced.

That will be gone like a fart in the wind. $ talks LOUD...

Corzine...not corsine

Gus Kakavas, Jamie Jupert, Ed Gerrity & Tom Baxter...ALL still Board Members!

Which one of these Ritaco BOE members are up this Nov?

Where is the like button. Lol. Your right they are just talking bs instead of facts.

I am not a teacher, have never been a teacher, and not married to a teacher either, but nice try, Denis. And why should teachers be demonized and vilified by the likes of Christie, anyway? What is it about a teacher's job that makes them unworthy of a good pension and benefits? You are ridiculous....

Denis...you may not want to believe it, but there was a connection between Ritacco and Gov. Christie. That's not to say Christie did anything wrong, but to deny the connection (fundraising, campaigning, vetting done by Christie, Christie considering RItacco for his Education Reform Team, and even a past "friendship", if you will) is ignorant. Again...this IS NOT saying Christie did anything wrong.

two freinds of mine who are recently retired TR teachers (and the only ones i know) say they were not at all fans of Ritacco and suggest many others weren't either. Of course that is not a statistically significant sample, and only anecdotal, but I suspect there are a decent number in bth camps

Mattie - When has Christie ever demonized teachers? Their union, yes....but he has taken great measures to differentiate between the two in every press conference and town hall meeting I have seen. Additionally, I am not a teacher but was a stay-at-home mom for many years. Am I "unworthy" of a publicly funded pension and benefits?

Shouldn't you be at work? Quit sitting home collecting unemployment and go find a job ya bum!

He spanked the BOE....
in fact wanted to know if anyone from BOE in courtroom so he can publically admonish them...
and can you believe they are still going for re-election.
Rubber Stampers...

Speaking of the Toms Riverfest, they were counting the money in a room at High School North. How much of those proceeds do you think went into MJR's pocket?

riverfest you have no idea what you are even saying.

Mike is done and cooked. He already did all of his squealing thats why he was sentenced today. What a criminal, 11 years is a long time and he must serve 85% of that. He will be in jail till he is 74.

Ed I am sure they already looked into all of that...are you serious?!

All a bunch of scumbags! How do they sleep at night?

As a convicted felon, he has lost his pension.

He won't get his pension, what is wrong with you people.

They need to get Jubert, Baxter & Kakavas & Gerrity out of the BOE ASAP! They are all long time associates of MJR! Had front seats for themselves & all their relatives at concerts, ate fancy catered for free at the TRFest while all the school employees volunteered their time (foodless) etc...could go on forever! All of them need to go!

Someone out there in cyber-space please tell me that two of the board members that were on during Mike Ritaco's era are really not going to run again this November. Please, I just heard Kakavans and Ruter are actually runnng again. I for one cannot believe that these two leftover Riacco era rubber stamps are running again. Judge Pisano would of loved to have these two in his court to admonish today!

Someone out there in cyber-space please tell me that two of the board members that were on during Mike Ritaco's era are really not going to run again this November. Please, I just heard Kakavans and Ruter are actually runnng again. I for one cannot believe that these two leftover Riacco era rubber stamps are running again. Judge Pisano would of loved to have these two in his court to admonish today!

Nigel..
Sorry to tell you... but Kakavas, Reuther, and Jubert are running for re-election.
Jubert is South Toms River and has 1 opponent.

Don't worry about John Reuther running for TRBOE again. Ritacco & his buddies, Jupert & Kakavas never liked Reuther, since he always went against them. Jupert (Henninger) and Kakavas have kissed Ritacco's ass for YEARS!

Kakavas' wife & daughter given good jobs in TR Schools. Juperts sister snared a secretarial job in Transportation, too!

Geena, Don't forget his son-in-law, he is Deputy Director of the Toms River DPW. Wow, any family left that is NOT on the public payroll?

I'm tired of the jobs that get handed out amongst districts all over. That is criminal and should be investigated. It isn't just TR. Look at any surrounding district's websites and take note of familiar names. In today's poor economic climate there are hundreds of people applying for these school jobs. However, daughters, nieces, sons, my best friend's son....list goes on and on, get hired.
Ritacco's crimes were horrible but school corruption all over needs to addressed. It makes the good, hard working school employees look bad.

I had a former teacher tell me that once Ritacco is/was actually convicted of a felony crime (has happened) he can ONLY collect any actual monies deducted from his paychecks, but NOT any other monies added to or included in any way in his pension package / retirement. So let's just assume for the sake of Sh*ts and giggles that Ritacco had $200 taken out of each paycheck (2 cks a month) over the years... THAT would be the only money he can get back from his pension fund/retirement packages. Now, knowing Ritacco as we all do (crook) I'll bet he didn't have ANY pension taken out of each paycheck, nor anything else. Too bad, for the cheater, huh?

There is already a law. Because he's been convicted of a felony, he has lost his pension.

The Amy Court transaction is suspicious...
betcha cash on the side to Bellu...
Ritacco turned around and sold parcels to Cardone and Cranston for HUGE profit.. on paper at least... then built their homes...
Mr. and Mrs. Cardone retired... Mr. Cardone is principal at St. Peters in Red Bank and Mrs. Cardone is prof at Georgian Ct. Seems they new what was coming and left.

SO

Oh don't worry... He might be the biggest rotten apple from the tree, but more little apples will be falling... It's not over, yet.

And btw, Didn't Chris Christie have Ritacco 'penciled in' for some sort of state level education administrative position - just a short time before the hammer came down on Ritacco? I seem to recall something about that, but I'd have to snoop around to find out.... anyone know? Christie has all but abandoned his pal now... been quiet as a church mouse, hasn't he?

Reuther is innocent. He ran AGAINST one of MJR's choices for board member...and won! Go after Kakavas & Jupert. If they had an ounce of decency, they would resign! Kakavas used to run all over the place driving Ritacco around while Jupert has had her hands open for free gifts for at least 15 yrs. She's eaten more expensive dinners on your dime than you can imagine!

Anyone who votes for Kakavas or Jupert should sit beside Ritacco in jail!

Geena D, REUTHER IS SPINELESS! HE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR COMMENTS. Are you one of his buddies????

@ragtime....don't know reuther. If he spinless, like you say...then yes...he belongs on my list of "no goods." What I do know is Ritacco & his cronies did NOT want him on the BOE. That only made me sure he wasn't "one of them." Yup...spineless...he deserves the boot, too!

ED - HIS PENSION IS GONE DUDE

First of all, remeber that he has a family who could be reading this, so grow up Joe. And second of all, engineers and attorney's are contracted and would have NO idea how much money another contracted vendor is being billed. Before you start talking nonsense think a little.

I voted for you and I agree with your post. Let the fact that the public "may be" more aware inspire you to try again. Thanks for caring enough to fight the machine in the first place.

Robert Bressman - For the record, when you needed a favor, Robert, you didn't hesitate to ask him. And he helped you!

HA HA HA, Haelig with his free lifetime health benifits for life for doing nothing and Lutman also free lifetime heath benifits for life . Both of them suckling on the teat of the Toms RIver tax payer to the tune of $50,000 a year for life!

Well said Mr. Bressman

@ragtime, for the record, if going to the person that heads the District to have the District do what they should be doing is asking for a favor, then you're misguided. My daughter is disabled, the route she was on for school bus pick up for the boys would not allow my grandsons to be picked up there, the boys had to be driven from Seaton Rd every morning to out by Midas muffler on Rt 37E. Ritacco took care of it, he could have ignored it because of who I was, he didn't, but I would hardly call that a favor, it was more like the right thing to do. That whole bus thing was ridiculous.

Bressman - You could have contacted Margaret Minnich, Director of Transportation, and she would have handled it immediately and without question. Margaret is a true professional who goes out of her way to help anyone with these issues. You used your name and position, like any other big man in town, and went DIRECTLY to the superintendent thinking everyone would be afraid of you, drop everything and get it done. There was no question that the situation needed to be corrected. For now, we'll let your "other" favor go unmentioned.

@ragtime, First off I didn't know who was the Director of transportation, and I'm not sure what you mean by me being like every other big man in town. I have no position with this town, I'm just a regular person, a taxpayer that ran for the school board. The bus thing again was no favor to me as you stated, it would've have been corrected. For the record I never got any favors from Ritacco, a person who you obviously owe allegiance to. You seem to know more about the School District than I do, how did you get your job?

Bressman, not everyone works for the school district. I don't. I do have friends that work there, NO family, just friends. Many of them are good, solid, taxpaying people. Yes, I know about your run for the Board and I agree that you took abuse during that time. I wouldn't say that I have an allegiance to Ritacco, however I certainly will NOT get on this bandwagon of bitterness and hate toward the man. He took responsibility for what he did and will now pay the price. End of story. If there are no EQUAL or BETTER sentences for D'ALONZO, GARTLAND & COTRONEO, then we can only conclude that this was a political fiasco of major proportions. I fully expect the TRPatch and the rest of the media to follow those 3 individuals as closely as they did the Ritacco part. And, Bob, we taxpaying citizens pay a very steep price for this free, democratic society we live in, whether we speak up or not.

Hey Ragtime,
You work for the school district, "end of story."

Fedup, NO, I don't. But if you can get me in, that would be great! Then we start a "new story". Do you have one of your own to tell???

@Old Timer Nels Luthman is a retired teacher, he earned his free benefits for life, these were negotiated benefits as was Bob Halieg's, If your company gave you lifetime benefits would you give them up even though you worked to earn that benefit? You should be glad that people like this are putting the BOE and the Town under the microscope as to what they are doing now. Are you aware the town pays over a half million in supervisor salaries just to run the park system, do you have any idea what their pensions and benefits amount to. The salaries that administrators get and pension and we the taxpayers give them each a $15,000 tax free annuity to retire with, are you kidding? Do you realize that the Newark School District pays out tax free annuities to hundreds of people in the district and it's on your dime because it's an abbott district school. Stop worrying about what they're getting and start worrying about what we will soon be paying out to the people who are in the system and haven't collected yet

Robert, I have to agree with "Oldtimer". You are wrong, yes I am retired and recieve a full benefits pacage. From the private sector not the taxpayers back like Haelig and Luthman. My benefits are paid for from my private 401-1, saving plan and my employers private business pension, not your dime or mine. Those two cost the taxpayers of Toms River over $75,000 a year in free health benefits on my dime, it was NOT private money it is public money.What don't you people get, the tax payers are over burdened by this.Don't compare these two that get free health benefits and a pension on the public dime opposed to private money.

Nnc,
I can assure you my dad's paid benefits are pennies compared to your numbers. If you are going to throw it out there...have the numbers to back it up.

My guess is that he's headed to the Federal Prison ( country club ) in West Virginia that Martha Stewart spent time in.

Just go to a BOE meeting and watch them rubber stamp everything.... appointments, promotions, tenure, etc.

in return for jobs for friends and family!!!

The big thing to post is Pisano's comments regarding BOE and lack of oversight...
and wanted to know if any BOE member was in the courtroom as he wanted to rip them...
but he went ahead and did so anyway...

BOE still hasn't changed... rubber stampers.... translation... lack of oversight.... agree to whatever is recommended by admin...
nothing has changed since Ritacco left.

Wanton soup - give the new ones time and they will be no better.

Let's hope the public is smart enough not to re-elect them!

Better yet... get the transcript and read it at the next BOE meeting...

Because most School Administrators are Politicians themselves, the worst kind. The BOE members play politics with them too. They are all bone heads.

Trust me they are that stupid. They just might

It is long enough. Why should the taxpayers pay any more to warehouse this creep. I would like to see his assets auctioned off.

It was a quid pro quo with the BOE members...
BOE rubber stamps everything... look the other way...
and he will provide jobs to friends, family, and relatives!!!

Basically, Pisano said.... the BOE breached their FIDUCIARY DUTY....
read between the lines... no oversight, etc... the BOE acts as the overseer..

If you know this JB. You should share with the Attorney General.

Charlotte..
Go to a BOE and witness yourself.
Breach of fiduciary duty is a civil case... not criminal matter... it can be criminal if co-conspirator but that is difficult to proove...
Breach of fiduciary duty is easy to prove in this case...
the defense of ignorance will not stand up in court...
I'm going to write a letter to Pisano to attend a BOE meeting to observe and spank the board afterwards..

Are you related to Robert Haelig...and if so. . .I guess there's vindication for him and Richard Schiff, former editors of the website: oceancountypolitics.com.

Spooner, Joseph is Robert's son. Schiff was and probably still is a part of that group along with Carol Benson, Dennis Galante, Kathy Lazarro, the Golembeski family and others. Robert Haelig's daughter is Mary Gethard. TR Patch became their new home after OCPolitics died off. As Democrats, they are no better than the Republicans in town. In fact, if you remove "politics" from the equation, you're pretty much left with "The Hatfields and the McCoys"! Let's all bring our lawn chairs and line Washington Street and watch them duke it out. Don't forget to bring a jug of "moonshine" - many in the group can't function without it! BOTTOM LINE here is if anyone thinks TR and TRRSchools is any different from any other town or school district in this state, then they're not dealing with a full deck. This town and it's politics, out front and behind the scenes, is about as real as reality gets.

So tell me how the BOE did not know? Does anyone know the names of the old BOE members from say 5 -10--even 15 years ago? I am sure they are still around this town.

Spooner, I forgot to include dear old Nels Luthman with that group I mentioned earlier. Let's not forget Nels. By the way, go to a Board meeting and watch them all speak in "code" to Loreen Torrone who sits on the Board while the meeting is going on.

Class 4 - you can OPRA that information through Bill Doering, the Business Administrator.

Hey Linda, Betty, Marra, Do you all remember when you all voted to give Betty's daughter a job that she really wasn't qualified for? Oh, that's right we weren't supposed to know that. But, then again people that she works with really do have loose lips! What are you all upset because some of these people may have been correct in what they had been saying for years? Perhaps people like Carol Benson and Dennis Galante, Charlie Henry, Kathy Lazaro really knew what you as BOE members were turning a blind eye to? But, then again you could not shut them up because they were not looking for jobs for themselves or anyone in their families! Why do you feel that these people need to be attacked? All they wanted was the BOE and the Super to do their job, and that is give the teachers the best materials to educate the children of this district! As these children are our future! When Dennis Galante asked a question of a BOE member about a "private bus company" that was on a bill list he was told that this district did not utilize ANY "private bus company." This question was asked after the vote for paying the bills was already taken and passed. It later came out that Mrs. Vasil was wrong and that the district DID utilize Murphy's Bus Company! So, if they were wrong with something so simple as this what else were they missing? Oh, that's right the Judge answered that question for the taxpayers of the district!

Charlotte, let's see what cabinet post Christie gets if Romney gets elected. Christie doesn't Jersey that much that he wants to continue to be Govenor here. Everything is sweeter at the top. And a cabinet post will give him plenty of experience for his own run for the White House. His own greed will prevail. Don't think for one second he cares about Romney or any other politician that gets in his way.

George- if you want to read how he did it...

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nj/Press/files/pdffiles/2010/Ritacco,%20Michael%20et.%20al.%20Indictment.pdf

Gus Kakavas is a disgrace!

Seriously? - The three new ones need to go too. Don't think for one second they don't have an agenda of their own. Giovine is using this as a steppingstone for own political resume. Pavliv so he can represent the Board as their attorney in the future. And, Torrone -- well her new husband wants Frank Roselli's job -- guess that means she would have to step down as a board member and let one of her cronies have her seat (Gethard, Haelig, Galante, etc., etc.).

Hey ragtime, I agree with you that this is a stepping stone for Giovine. But, if you take a step back a see you would see that it seems that Giovine seems to vote with the "Ritacco 6" as you are so nicely called. If Pavliv wanted the Board attorney job why would he have run for the BOE in the first place and not just place his name in the hat for the attorney spot? When I read the newspapers or hear on WOBM or read the Patch his voice or words seem to be the only one that are written or spoken. And, Torrone's husband wants Roselli's job? Why would he want it?

Kevin Smith spoke on Ritacco's behalf.
The TRRS website shows his email address and principal at Walnut..
The 6/19 Agenda shows Smith will retire 1/1/13... although the Walnut website shows another principal.

Actually, Kevin Smith is a pretty nice guy. He's just "star struck" with Ritacco. Another gofer like Kakavas.

chris Christie -- Is that a promise? Do you need an escort out of town?

JD, the secretaries would have to show up for work in order to update the TRRS website.

It's in the water - corruption and Cieba Geigy Koolaid.

Denis.....do you really have to stoop so low and call people names when replying to their posts?

Thank you Denis. I'm reading all these comments, and I have to wonder, why are some people trying to throw the mud at Christie? Everytime somebody suggests that they investigate the rest of the board, the subject is changed. We all know there others that haven't been caught yet. Do they really expect us to believe all these well educated people were fooled by this guy? I don't believe it. They all turned their heads and let it happen. I hope somebody keeps digging till they get ALL of them. To suggest that the voters are at fault is insulting. How could any of us have known the extent of the corruption? I know people who took your head off if you even tried to suggest he was anything other than "wonderful".

Denis and Andrea Sorenson: To a certain extent, Christie is a bit responsible for Ritacco running rampant throughout the school district. When Christie was US Attorney, he had the opportunity to go after Ritacco when everyone was up in arms about the attempted Camp Albocondo purchase. Instead, Christie turned a blind eye because it was all happening in strongly Republican Toms River.

Ritacco only backed away from the deal when Oceans of Love, the NJ Sierra Club and the Asbury Park Press all voiced their objections. If they hadn't, there's no doubt in my mind that an all-day kindergarten would be up and running not 1,000 feet away from a notorious Superfund site. And Ritacco's pockets would have been lined even further, as they probably were in the case of the Bubble (where the public was told that it was to be constructed using funds from the Schools Construction Corp., until the head wrote a letter to the District telling them there was no money left for an indoor track and the taxpayers had to foot the bill) and the Poland Spring (now Pine Belt) Arena (the place that was supposed to bring in millions in entertainment revenue from big-name acts until contract restrictions prohibited these acts from performing)

I'd love to see that as well.

ritacco's daughter was employee of gartland

the phantom, you just gave yourself away. I know you. Think you left out some people on that street.

We are aware. The question is what do we do about it. I say get rid of all friends and family of this creep.

Brick, I heard Ducey and Earp are not far behind. LOL

ritacco's daughter was a former employee of gartland while this was going on - why do you think the fbi didn't include any of the locals in the raid? she also had home - appliances etc installed on our dime - more to come !!!!

Probably all appointed by him,,,,He had his boys in place before siphoning the money..

.....and his wife & daughter work for the district! lol Anyone who votes for him and Jubert this year should be ashamed fof themselves!