Three employees fired, two others disciplined. undefined Paterson Eastside High School basketball scandal From news that six overseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling. Got a tip for a story? "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. My mom, shes a housekeeper and she used to work at a house in the Palisades, and the lady had kids and was very school-oriented, said Azucena Hilario, a Bravo junior. What if they came knocking on the door?". But over here, you're like a god.". VIDEO: Eastside students disciplined after racist video leak, Newton-area residents earn degrees from Georgia State University, Newton, Alcovy, NCCA students earn top awards in District Science & Engineering Fair, Newton state lawmaker honors county school superintendent, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 2-3, 2021, Weekend Edition Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 30-31, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 6-7, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, June 12-13, 2021, Weekend Edition Saturday-Sunday, June 26-27, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, August 7-8, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, August 21-22, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, August 28-29, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, September 11-12, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, September 18-19, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 25-26, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 9-10, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 16-17, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, October 30-31, 2021, Wednesday Edition: Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 6-7, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 13-14, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, December 4-5, 2021, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 22-23, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 29-30, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 19-20, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, March 5-6, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, March 12-13, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, March 26-27, 2022, Weekend Edition: Saturday-Sunday, April 2-3, 2022, Weekend Edition, Saturday-Sunday, September 17-18, 2022, Fairview Elementary named National Beta School of Distinction. Shes hoping for a scholarship to pay her way. A pipeline of talented players to New Jersey is alive and well, but at times things can go awry with the process, as evidence by the recent scandal at Paterson Eastside. I am sure we can agree that getting our kids back to school and focused on their studies, their friendships and their future's is the important goal, and we look forward to doing just that.". Father Heric and the board co-chairs told teachers, the principals were fired due to restructuring. He told his father he needed a mattress and a TV, but even after the father sent $600 to buy both, they never materialized. Rodriguez left Puerto Rico in 2011, chasing the promises of a coach from New Jersey -- his own apartment, a spot on an elite high school team and a Division 1 scholarship. Finally, Evans had said that one of Eastsides principals, Karen Johnson, would not be disciplined because she was going to retire. *Ugly accusations tearthrough highest levels of school. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). 2:14. More:Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, More:Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, More:Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal. These financial allegations have since receivedmainstream media coveragecourtesy ofThe Greenville News. All rights reserved (About Us). A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. Find NJ.com on Facebook. We had faith. We have also rescheduled our back-to-school dates to allow us to refocus on the classroom and prepare adequately. In short, the district and the students fully understand the infractions that took place at last night's game.The students involved in the incident from both schools have had a tremendous season and have worked incredibly hard to be successful. The split-level home sits on a congested street, about six blocks from Eastside. We heard strong opposition to the changes from both the faculty and our community. It did not escape the notice of the Boyle Heights Beat reporters that a USC student had put out a video in which she said she didnt care about college but was looking forward to games and parties. But there are far more serious allegations being probed by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s special investigations unit including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer to themselves as The Disciples.. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. *Homeland Security joins probe, with eye on international pipeline. Justice Wallace interviewed 29 people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and 1 current player. That's room and board, she has to eat and that takes money. "She didn't know any English, so I just kind of guided her through that," Fontan said. "He was very intrigued and impressed with her level and quality of skills and wanted to speak more in depth with her and her family about the opportunity of a lifetime," the report said. HSI agents have also reportedly been asking questions aboutBrian Gem Garrison a former adjunct tennis coach atEastside High Schoolin Taylors, S.C. who was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor last spring. ", To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Wealthy celebrities and business executives allegedly paid small fortunes to rig their kids SAT scores, bribe coaches and gain entrance to elite colleges, in some cases taking tax deductions for bribes disguised as charitable donations. She says that, on weekends, her mother makes and sells pupusas outside the South L.A. home they rent from an uncle. It didn't take long to realize the living situation wouldn't match the promises. Deputy reportedly cleared after being accused of failing to report intimate knowledge of Upstate scandals . "Nobody wanted to spend the money once she got here. Its absurd.. "I should have been properly advised by those (at the school) and told the implications because I didn't even know I was out of status. *A Star-Ledger Editorial: Report flawed by 'unexpectedly bizarre conclusion', Justice Wallace's work is "relentlessly ignorant of those who coach sports on this level. Teachers told KIRO 7 Eastside Catholic has buses that bring students who live far away to Eastside Catholic to play football -- with tuition paid for through the Independent School Association. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. All rights reserved. Email Audrey Bass at asbass@greenville.k12.sc.us with any questions! Supervisor of Athletics at Eastside High School phone: 973 321-0515 Email: thill@paterson.k12.nj.us. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. In an interview, Ugboaja said officials at Evelyn Mack demanded money for room and board for Ejiofor and he refused. The smell of marijuana often wafted into their room, and they feared arguments downstairs eventually would escalate. *Eastside girls team out of states, multiple suspensions announced. Ortiz arrived in Paterson unexpectedly in 2012. After that, theres figuring out how to pay for it. "She was treated like a freak because she was so tall," said a New Jersey coach familiar with Aquino who declined to be identified due to the delicacy of the situation. She said she had secured a student visa and Form I-20, which had been signed by officials at the North Carolina school. Boys and girls teams face state tournament bans. "Nobody ever said anything to me about I-20s," Lyde said. Blessing Ejiofor landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2014, working through a mental checklist of her new life in North Carolina. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. In addition, two Board members have stepped down. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how . The students also talked about how, at a high-powered school, they might be in a distinct minority and be looked at as students who maybe didnt deserve to be there but got a break. In the last week, these students have looked across the divide at youngsters their own age who live in an alternate universe of abundance and entitlement. From news that sixoverseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling athletes to Paterson since 2013 and the waves of fallout pounding the school and its officials, here's the reporting of Steve Politi and Matt Stanmyre: *The Fast Break: How final 2 players escaped Eastside. Our district prepared and addressed each step of the Corrective Action Plan,and as a result of our follow-up on each area, we have received several positive reports from the NJSIAA monitor regarding our current 2017-18 athletic programs, said Terry Corallo, the district spokeswoman. Aquino made it to the U.S. after a Paterson resident named Felix Ayala discovered her playing on ESPN, according to an internal school report obtained by NJ Advance Media. The stories, including allegations of human trafficking, highlighted how players on the boys and girls teams suddenly and mysteriously arrived with promises of playing time, eventual college scholarships and new homes, according to interviews with players and internal school documents. "This is her cry for help.". Eastside Catholic updated its website announcing Father William Heric, the school's chaplain, as the interim president on Thursday. Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Once students fake their way in, do the parents keep paying to have someone fix the tests they take in class? COVINGTON, Ga. - Students at Eastside High School are under fire after a social media post went viral showing discriminatory and racial remarks and actions. But who would look at a student of privilege and wonder the same thing? "I used to play great players that are already in the NBA. 1:07. Thats not their job. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. As we previously reported, Thornblade club officials have acknowledged the existence ofserious financial irregularitiesrelated to the operations of the facility including alleged credit card fraud that was first reported earlier this year to the Greenville countysheriffs office. The Beat reporters heard each other out and decided to invite a teacher, a college student and a parent maybe Azucenas mother to participate in a radio talk show about the scandal. "I am innocent and didn't know any better," Ejiofor said. "She's obviously confused and doesn't understand what's going on. More specifically, we have been informed that investigators are looking to question a former athletics coach at Eastside over his alleged proximity to some of the central figures in this unspooling drama. I would call the school about that.". Between five and six boys basketball players from Paterson Eastside lived with the team's head coach this season. supports HTML5 video. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist. When the member refused to pay his monthly dues, his wife was reportedly provided with video evidence of her husbands infidelity. 140 Highway 142, Covington, GA 30014. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); "Americas government since 1989 from top to bottom has been Thornblade Saga: Internal Affairs Investigation At Greenville County Sheriffs Office, Charleston Democrats Fret Over Former Republican Seeking Local Office On Their Ticket, Washington DC Protesters Target Lindsey Graham Over Supreme Court Vote, #SC2018: James Smith Touts Poll Showing His Viability, Bamberg SC Detention Center Officer Arrested Following Alleged Assault On Inmate, Mark Powells Palmetto Past & Present: Lost Confederate Gold, Ron Paul: The Anti-War Movement Roars Back To Life. Blessing Ejiofor (left) and Andrea Aquino pose in a picture posted to Twitter in November 2015. *NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players. We are in the process of hiring an interim president. - Karen Hatch, Eastside Catholic, Marketing and Communications Director. I used to play against them and perform good. Eileen Shafer, the schools superintendent, submitted a status report on the 50-step plan to the New Jersey Board of Education during a recent meeting in Trenton. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. Their stories, when taken together, reveal just how far a high school program would go to scour the earth for talent, only to then discard many of the same players. "Especially because it was our kids who had to suffer the most because of this.. Capers, who said he coaches football at Irvington High School in Essex County, asserted that Paterson is now being held to a higher standard than are other districts. We just had one get into the University of Oregon, but I dont know if theyll be able to afford it, Kelley said. 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