The Dark Side of New York's Education System

The stunning revelations about six Department of Education employees stealing slots meant for homeless children to take their own kids on luxurious taxpayer-funded trips have raised questions about the rot that runs deep within the city's public-school system. The scheme, led by Linda M. Wilson, a supervisor tasked with supporting students in temporary housing, was uncovered by the Special Commissioner of Investigation for city schools. From 2016 to 2019, Wilson and her cohorts used a $300,000 federal grant to create fake permission slips and forged parents' signatures, allowing them to take their own kids on trips to Disney World, Washington, DC, and other destinations. The affected homeless children missed out on these opportunities, while others were handed a chance to explore the world. A whistleblower claimed that many of the homeless students listed on the paperwork never even attended the trips. This shocking disregard for the well-being of vulnerable students is just one example of the corruption that plagues the education system. The public-school system's lack of accountability has created an environment where employees feel emboldened to engage in questionable behavior. This is not a new phenomenon – consider the case of Eric Goldstein, a former DOE big shot who took millions in bribes from Somma Foods to put contaminated chicken on school lunch plates. He served just two years in prison. Another example is Amanda Lurie, a top Office of Student Enrollment bureaucrat who barely showed up for work and sold clothes online during work hours, only to be rewarded with a promotion and a $9,000 raise. The recent report by the Special Commissioner of Investigation, which was only finalized in January 2023, exposed the extent of the corruption. The employees involved were eventually forced to exit the DOE, but many managed to avoid paying full restitution. This case serves as a stark reminder that the interests of children are often overlooked in favor of those with more power and influence.