Madison Schools Director Of Facilities Investigated: Report

MADISON, NJ — The director of facilities for Madison Public Schools, John Eschmann, is currently being investigated after reports surfaced accusing him of mistreating custodians in his previous job as buildings and grounds supervisor for the Montclair school system, the Superintendent for Madison Public Schools Mark Schwarz confirmed.

The many allegations, that also involve other Montclair school officials, were made by current Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Robert Kelley, in a letter, which the Montclair Local first reported on.

"The district became aware of this news story yesterday, May 12, 2021, and is actively investigating these allegations," Schwarz told Patch via email.

Eschmann starting working for the Madison school system in August 2020. All of Kelley's allegations directed at him pertain only to his time in Montclair.

Kelley claimed, for example, that Eschmann tried to get Nishuane School head custodian Kimberly Raison, a Back woman, fired by asking him to use his status as a Black man. He also accuses Eschmann of being partly responsible for the state of Montclair schools being dirty and having a host of issues that put students and faculty at risk.

The full report is available here.