Former Oakcrest Principal Files Lawsuit Against Superintendent and Regional School Board

Joseph Carruth

Former Oakcrest Principal Joseph Carruth has filed a lawsuit against the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School Board and Superintendent John Keenan. 

Carruth was hired by the District in November 2014 and placed on leave in May 2017. At that time over 250 students of Oakcrest held protests against the school for the Board placing Carruth on administrative leave. 

On July 5, 2017, the Regional School Board held a Donaldson Hearing on the employment of Carruth and after several members of the public addressed the Board, the Board did not reinstate Carruth.

According to the lawsuit filed by Sebastian Ionno, Esq. of Pitman, Carruth alleges several counts of discrimination, racial discrimination, retaliation, falsification of records and wrongful termination.

Greater Egg Harbor Superintendent Notifies Staff of Budget Cuts; Layoffs Anticipated

Superintendent John Keenan notified the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Staff today of major budget cuts which includes cuts in staffing, equipment, supplies and professional development. 

Email from Superintendent John Keenan:

"Preparing our 2017-2018 school budget presented us with many challenges.  We are not immune to the economic hardships facing Atlantic City and Atlantic County.  In various degrees, all Atlantic County schools are caught up in this regional economic turmoil. 

Adding to our difficulties is our declining enrollment.  In the last five years, we have lost 13.4% of our enrollment or 508 students.  This year alone, we dropped by 107 students.  This further affects us because we have lost tuition revenue from our sending/receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township.

For many years, our state aid has remained flat, and the state has not followed its own funding formula.  This essentially amounts to a cut in state aid because state funding has not increased in relation to our rising expenses. This year we have been shorted $2 million dollars.  Each year, we have cut our budget to fit in with these many restrictions, and we are forced to approach each budget year with an already lean budget.  The rallying cry for years is for the governor to fully fund schools instead of passing the burdens on to others.

Our residents face similar challenges and hardships.  We are only permitted to increase revenue on the tax levy by 2%.  For us, this amounts to $620,833.  While many of our residents see this amount as a burden in increased property taxes, the 2% simply does not keep pace with the millions of dollars in increased expenses.   $1.3 million in increased salaries, utility expenses, tuition for special education placements, and transportation costs for regular education, special education and homeless students far exceed our allowable 2% tax levy increase.  Lastly, our proximity to the Atlantic County Institute of Technology presents more of an issue for us than for other high schools.  Payment for students attending ACIT for next year amounts to $4.1 million dollars.  All of these factors affect our economic condition and we are forced to make $4.7 million dollars in cuts.    

Our Board of Education and administrative team has worked to prepare a budget that allows us to preserve our overall programs.  However, almost every area of our budget has been cut.  From supplies to equipment to professional development, we have analyzed and scrutinized all that we do.  The enormity of this cut will affect us all.  We all know that education is a people profession and our human resources make up the largest portion of our budget.  It is most unfortunate that with cuts this deep, we are forced to reduce staffing.  We realize that all staff are anxious regarding their positions for next year and we especially know how vital this information is to each of you.  This week, we will personally speak to each individual affected regarding their status for the next school year.

Our preliminary budget was approved on March 20^th with the final budget due May 1^st.  Throughout the coming months, your supervisors and administrators will share more information regarding various department supply cuts.  As we develop our master schedule for 2017-2018, we may have need to consider transfers and crossovers.  We are unable to finalize those decisions until May.

I am saddened to have to share this news with you, but keeping you informed is a priority for us."

Thank you for your understanding.

John J. Keenan

Superintendent

609-909-2671

Greater Egg Harbor School Board Ordered to Pay Wrestling Coaches After Losing Arbitration Case

There seems to be no end in the continuing labor disputes between the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association and the Greater Egg Harbor Board of Education.

On December 10^th, 2016, Arbitrator Robert Glasson issued an Arbitration Award sustaining the position of the Association that the Board and Administration again violated the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. 

The arbitrator ruled that the language in the contract was clear and unambiguous and that the Board had violated the contract by failing to compensate three assistant wrestling coaches as prescribed in the contract. The Board was ordered to pay three assistant wrestling coaches $764 each.

Contract Talks Break Down Between GEHR School Staff and Board; Ongoing Bargaining Crisis Continues

In an attempt to reach a settlement in the ongoing labor dispute between the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association (GEHREA), which represents 435 teachers and educational support professionals and the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Board of Education, the negotiations committees from both sides met on Monday, November 7th  in an attempt to again resolve the issues that have resulted in the teachers and staff working without a contract since June 30, 2015. After close to 3 hours, the talks broke off. 

According to Stephanie Tarr, President of the Association, the main stumbling blocks holding up a contract still remain to be salaries and the numerous proposals presented by the Board which would basically “gut” the current contract.  

“The Board has continued to maintain its salary offer, which while it has increased very, very slightly, still does not allow for the current salary guide to be maintained.” Tarr said. “We have asked the Board to show us a salary guide and explain how their salary offer would be implemented but to date they have refused to do so. 

Greater Egg Harbor Teachers Inform District They Are Exercising Their Right to Not Work on Election Day

Teaching staff members at Oakcrest, Absegami, and Cedar Creek high schools have informed Superintendent John Keenan that they are exercising their individual right to not work on Tuesday, Nov. 8 - Election Day, which is a legal holiday. 

The statute, N.J.S.A. 18A:25-3, permits teaching staff to elect not to work on a legal holiday with no loss of pay or disciplinary action. Election Day is a legal holiday as defined by N.J.A.C. 36:1-1.

Greater Egg School Board Meeting Turns Confrontational with "Vote of No Confidence" in Superintendent John Keenan

Photo Credit: Current

The labor strife existing between school employees and the administration and Board of the Greater Egg Harbor School District inched up another notch Monday evening and continues to escalate while morale continues to goes down for the over 400 members of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association who have been working without a contract since June 30. 

The Association represents the teachers and support staffs in Absegami High School, Oakcrest High School and Cedar Creek High School. 

At what began as a normal and calm regular Board meeting Monday evening, quickly deteriorated to a loud and raucous back and forth between the Board members and the staff members. 

At the open session to the public, Myron Plotkin, NJEA Representative and negotiator for the Association made the first statement to the Board. He first addressed the procrastination by the Board in setting a date for face to face negotiations prior to the super-conciliation session scheduled for Nov. 21. 

Superintendent Dishonest on School Safety Issues; Greater Egg Faculty & Staff Speak Out

Photo Credit: The Current

In the wake of a recent loaded gun incident at Absegami High School, Greater Egg Harbor Regional faculty and staff are speaking out about the lack of a proactive approach to security issues by Superintendent John Keenan and his dishonesty about the district’s safety procedures. 

Since the beginning of the school year, there have been 572 disciplinary issues reported at the three high schools. These incidents include dangerous/unsafe behavior, disorderly conduct, threats, fights/physical altercations, and weapons offenses. That’s an average of 26 incidents every day that school has been in session during September of this school year. 

Some of the students involved in these incidents were known to have serious behavior issues at the middle school level. In fact, they were recommended for out of school placement, but the district chose to keep them. 

Oakcrest High School Vandalized; No Police Report Filed by District

The ongoing controversy regarding Oakcrest Principal Joseph Carruth has now spilled over into vandalism at the Oakcrest High School which is located in Hamilton Township. According to sources the vandalism occurred in the evening of Monday, June 6, 2016. 

Oakcrest which is part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District appeared to be on the right track when Carruth was unanimously appointed by the Regional School Board on November 17, 2014.

Superintendent John Keenan who also appears to be back in the middle of the controversy, stated in 2014, Carruth was "known for his ability to establish meaningful relationships with students, teachers, and parents alike, Carruth’s strong administrative, organizational and communication skills will be valuable assets as he assumes his role of Oakcrest High School principal." 

Galloway Council Demands Bonuses of GEHR Superintendent and Administrator be Rescinded

Galloway Township Council passed a resolution Tuesday night demanding the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School Board rescind the payment of bonuses to the Superintendent and school Administrator. 

Galloway Council is demanding Superintendent John Keenan and the Administrator return the $25,000 and $10,000 bonuses respectively and allow the money to be used to benefit the students in the district. 

The School District has received $31 million dollars in State aid. Aid that is coupled with tax dollars that are being raised by taxation from hardworking taxpayers from Galloway Township and other sending districts, the resolution said. 

"The rationale for the bonuses is to reward the Superintendent and Administrator for the performance of their duties" Galloway Council said in the resolution. 

Greater Egg Regional School Board Shuts Down Galloway Mayor at Public Meeting

You may sit back and say I guess I heard it all; but after you finish reading this article the only thing you may wonder is, "What are they hiding"?

Galloway Township Mayor Don Purdy attended what was supposed to be a routine Regional School Board Meeting at the Cedar Creek High School on Monday, January 25, 2016 when he was shut down by the Board during public participation.

Purdy, who represents a town with a significant amount of 55 and older communities, single family homes and a high foreclosure rate due to the decline of Atlantic City, requested the Board evaluate their budget for 2016 and propose a flat budget with a zero increase. The Boards response however, was that this years budget was already slated to utilize the full 2 percent cap increase they could possibly use leaving the tax rate to increase for not only Galloway Township but also for Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City and Port Republic.

Purdy spoke at the meeting with the support of the other Greater Egg Harbor Regional Mayors excluding Egg Harbor City. Mullica Township Mayor James Brown was also in attendance at the meeting. Brown and Purdy also represent the Atlantic County Mayor's Association as President and Vice-President respectively. 

With permission Purdy spoke on behalf of Port Republic Mayor Gary Giberson and Hamilton Township Mayor Roger Silva. All according to Purdy, are requesting the Board to realize the significant impact a tax increase would have on their respective communities.

An additional topic of discussion was the merit bonuses Superintendent John Keenan has received as part of a condition in his employment contract. Bonuses that were above and beyond his entitled salary of $167,500. Purdy questioned the fiscal responsibility of the Board in awarding such merits and utilizing taxpayer money for bonuses. Keenan received a merit bonus of $24,750 in 2015. According to Keenan's contract, he will continue to receive merit bonuses at a substantial increase until the expiration of his contract in 2019. Additionally, if Keenan's contract is renewed, the merit bonuses will continue until at least 2024. 

The Board voted in the affirmative in 2015 on Keenan's merit bonuses with two abstentions. One from Garrison and the other from Sartorio with no reasoning listed in the minutes.  

At the height of the conversation Purdy was shut down by the Board and not permitted to continue his comments due to a 3-minute rule stated by the Board.  As part of the Board agenda, the Board states it welcomes public participation and values the opinions from the residents. That was not the case here. Although the agenda states "each speaker is asked to limit their comments to three minutes", there is no law that the Board can limit or prohibit the freedom of speech of those in attendance. But they did that of Galloway Township Mayor Don Purdy as well as other members of the public that spoke.

After other members of the public spoke at the meeting, the Board requested if anyone else would like to comment.  Purdy approached the Board again and requested to continue as all other public concerns were heard. At that time according to Purdy, Superintendent John Keenen stifled Purdy by waiving his hands to the Board President Carol Houck and stating Purdy's time was up. The Board President at that time did not permit Purdy to continue to speak and address the Board.

Keenan has already been placed in the middle of controversy this past year with the Teachers Union by forcing them to vote against him.


The members of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District are voted in by the residents of the respective sending districts which includes Galloway, Hamilton, Mullica Township, Egg Harbor City and Port Republic. Galloway Township makes up the majority of the Board Member seats. According to Purdy, he was trying to address the concerns that most affect the majority of the Board, however, the Board's answer was that Purdy should have called ahead in order for his concerns to be heard.

Each Mayor of the respective municipalities have an open unlimited forum in which they can speak to the public on these issues at their Town meetings, yet they were not permitted to speak to the Board directly without limiting their speech in public to 3-minutes.

Purdy stated he was disappointed in the conduct of the Board and although each municipality may limit their public portion, he has never stifled a member of the public that has come forward to address concerns within his town that may go over the limit. 

Why? Only the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School Board Members can answer the question of, "What are you trying to hide that Mayor's can not openly speak at your meetings"?

Frustrations with Greater Egg School Superintendent Leads Teachers and Staff to Union Vote

Superintendent John Keenan
Photo Credit: Shore News

Frustrations continue to grow while morale goes down for the over 400 members of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association who have been working without a contract since June 30. 

The Association represents the teachers and support staffs in Absegami High School, Oakcrest High School and Cedar Creek High School. On Wednesday, members gave a unanimous vote of confidence to its union leadership.  The vote of confidence stated  “The Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association gives a vote of unconditional confidence to its Negotiations Committee, Action Committee and Association Leadership and will support all actions that may be determined by the Action Committee and endorsed by the Leadership.”

Stephanie Tarr, President of the Association told the members that “Your leadership believes that many of the problems we are facing this year and last are due to ideas and changes suggested or implemented by Mr. John Keenan, our new Superintendent. 

Mayor Don Purdy when reached for comment stated, "I am concerned" but wanted to reserve comment until he reaches out to the Superintendent.