Teacher Booted And Principal Fined For Conflicts of Interest

The Conflict of Interests Board has fined two educators after finding that one used her position to invite subordinates to a church where she was a pastor, and the other owned a company that did frequent business with the Department of Education while he continued as a Teacher.

Richard Bourbeau, a special education Teacher at P.S. 53 in Brooklyn, had been an educator since 1985. From 2001 through 2006 he also co-owned the A-Plus Center For Learning, a special education support services provider that tutored DOE students for a fee.

Forced to Resign

His involvement in the group was discovered by the DOE in October 2007 and his fine, settled with the COIB, was $3,000. He will also resign, in exchange for charges being dropped and a neutral reference letter from the DOE.

Marsha Elliott, a Principal at I.S. 158 in The Bronx and an educator since 1988, invited many of her subordinates at the school to her church in Queens, where she became co-pastor with her husband in 1995. This was seen by the COIB as using her position to obtain financial gain or personal advantage for a private enterprise outside the school. Ms. Elliott was fined $1,000, which will be paid to the DOE, but she will retain her position.

Both cases were handled by COIB Deputy Director of Enforcement Dinorah S. Nutnez, and DOE Deputy Counsel to the Schools Chancellor Theresa Europe, in conjunction with the city Department of Investigation and the Special Commissioner of Investigation for the New York City School District.