Administrators at a Queens middle school have treated favored teachers to annual boozy getaways on the taxpayers’ dime — while failing to provide mandated staff training, The Post has learned.
The Department of Education is investigating the claims, including how only select staffers at IS 10 in Astoria are chosen to attend the sodden sleepover at Club Getaway in Kent, Conn., officials said.
“It’s supposed to be professional development,” said an IS 10 teacher who went on the trip last year. “But after some workshops in the morning, it’s really just benders.”
Only staffers close to Principal Clemente Lopes and other administrators get to go while those out of the inner circle are excluded, according to the source.
“You’re not supposed to even talk about it,” the whistleblower said.
“You either get invited or you don’t. It’s not good for morale. Because you have cliques forming among the teachers, and this is the prize for being in line with administrators.”
The event is held under the auspices of the Middle School Principals Association, where Lopes currently serves as president. The whistleblower said teachers and administrators from other schools were also present last year.
According to its online description, the MSPA fosters professional development amongst its members for the sake of students.
DOE spokesman Will Mantell said school funds are used for the event, and the agency has launched a probe.
“We are reviewing this matter,” Mantell said. “We are focused on serving students in the classroom, and the goal of training teachers and staff is to better serve students.”
The teacher said the weekend event is centered on partying and socializing.
“We haven’t had actual professional development in our school for two years,” the source alleged. “So you have to wonder why there’s the time and money going to this when we can’t even get what we need in the actual school.”