Indicted Teacher Still Teaching at MATC

Wonderful.

A woman who was charged last month with embezzling more than $300,000 from a now-defunct public charter school was recently hired by Milwaukee Area Technical College as a full-time science teacher.

Rosella Tucker will draw a $34,000 salary, plus benefits, this semester for teaching classes at the Milwaukee and West Allis MATC campuses.

Late last month, Tucker, 54, was indicted in federal court on charges that she misused funds intended for New Hope Institute of Science and Technology, a school she established in 2003 with a charter from Milwaukee Public Schools.

“We considered the idea of a buyout,” MATC spokesman Jim Gribble said. “Our attorney advised against it on the basis that the person is innocent until proven guilty.”

I sure hope that someone is looking over her shoulder. 

1. This gets a 10 on the stupid meter. I’m a little perplexed about the buyout comment. So they want to give her more money? The money she stole wasn’t enough?
   Maybe someone can explain this.

   Posted by on February 09, 2008 at 1054 hrs




2. First there was art Jones, then the failed co-op business ventures and now this guy.  Who is running this place? 
   Just bend over WI. taxpayers, you are going to get in the end.

   Posted by on February 10, 2008 at 0331 hrs




3. This is ridiculous! Is nobody in school systems thinking anymore? Why should she be given a post that she has been proven to have corrupted. This is plain stupid.

   Posted by Viktor on February 10, 2008 at 0332 hrs




4. I think the point was, nothing has been “proven” yet - at this point her status is “charged”, not “convicted”.  If you read the whole article, it goes on to state that she was offerred the full-time position before she was indicted, so at that point, the school system was hiring someone who had not been indicted.

   The other point made is that in this position at MATC she will not be handling money, so her arrest isn’t really relevant to her job duties.

   It’s all in the details!

   Posted by on February 10, 2008 at 0838 hrs




5. mht, you sound like a member of the trecher’s union hacks
   First, since she was just hired, she would have been on probation, so they could have fired for no reason at all
   2nd, so what if she doesn’t handle money, it’s about morality.  She will have to deal with budgets for her classroom, so she will have responsibility for that.  And there is expensive equipment in the room, would you trust her with that?
   Would you want your son or daughter in her class knowing you have a person who allegedly stole $300,000?  I know I wouldn’t

   Posted by on February 10, 2008 at 1435 hrs




6. The closest I get to education is having a daughter in elementary grade school. Never been a teacher, never will be, no thank you.  Not a “trecher’s union hack”, sorry. 

   Thanks for the assumption, though.  I know it is rude to come here and offer another perspective that could be based on some logical thinking and analysis, but I know that spoils the fun of just pulling crap out of your butt to support your own comfortable world view.

   As to being fired while on “probation”, (and I am no attorney), I know that some teachers are hired by “contract” - and I admit I don’t know if MATC teachers are “contract” employees or “at will” (at which point, yes she could be fired without cause) or union.  I do see that a “buy-out” offer was considered.  Usually that is applicable to “buying out” a contract, no?

   In any event, she “allegedly” stole $300,000.  Most probably she did, but I can’t fault MATC for acting under the assumption that technically this person has yet to be proven guilty.

   Posted by on February 10, 2008 at 1549 hrs




7. Say, she deserves a second chance but someone should closely watch over her shoulder. She has to prove herself that she really deserves the trust given to her this time. She’s a teacher and she should uphold her name.

   Posted by Humus on February 11, 2008 at 0503 hrs