Feds investigate school employee’s ID theft
Riverhead Superintendent Nancy Carney confirmed Tuesday a federal investigation is under way to look into last month’s reported identity theft in which an unknown person stole a Riverhead school district customer ID number to illegally purchase more than $29,000 in computers.
During the public portion of the school board’s regular meeting, Ms. Carney described the suspect as someone who didn’t work for the district. She declined further comment due to the ongoing investigation.
School officials reported the theft on Dec. 19, when they saw that $29,070 was spent to buy 15 laptop computers, Riverhead Town police said.
EMPLOYEE RECEIVES 30-DAY SUSPENSION
The school board Tuesday night approved a pair of resolutions to suspend an unidentified employee for 30 days without pay.
The board voted 5-0 to approve the suspension. Board members Thomas Carson and Amelia Lantz were absent from the meeting.
The resolution states the decision is based on Ms. Carney’s recommendation to file charges against a “non-instructional employee.” A hearing officer will now be designated to conduct the fact-finding procedure to determine if the employee is guilty under “Civil Service Law Section 75,” according to the bill.
Ms. Carney said the suspension is unrelated to the identity theft investigation now being handled by the feds. No other details about the legal matter were immediately available.
6.37% STATE AID INCREASE FOR RIVERHEAD
Governor Andrew Cuomo has included in his tentative $142.6 billion spending plan released Tuesday a more than 6 percent increase in total state aid for the Riverhead school district over this year.
According to the budget, Riverhead would receive about $18,752,000 in state aid (see breakdown) for the 2013-14 school year, a 6.37 increase compared to the current school year.
The governor’s budget has now been sent to the state Legislature.
