Principal suspended amid fund allegations

Teresa Hinds

Thursday, Dec. 5, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

The Clark County School District has suspended a middle school principal until questions surrounding his possible misuse of school money are answered.

School district administrators, citing confidentiality associated with personnel matters, are not revealing any information about the suspension of Steven Weiner.

Administrative and teaching sources, however, say he was suspended after auditors discovered evidence of possible forgery and misuse of K.O. Knudsen Middle School money. Weiner was suspended without pay, SUN sources said, adding that he will receive back pay if found not guilty of the allegations.

Weiner transferred to Robison Middle School in July and was suspended from his principal's job at that school. But the misuse of funds allegedly occurred during his seven years as principal at Knudsen.

School district officials will not say how they learned of the alleged misappropriations. It is routine, however, to audit a school when a top administrator is transferred or otherwise leaves.

Neither Superintendent Brian Cram nor Edward Goldman, assistant superintendent of administrative operations and staff relations, would comment.

When asked about allegations against Weiner, Goldman said, "It's a personnel matter and we do not comment on personnel matters."

A check with the district attorney's office showed no criminal charges have been filed at this point against Weiner.

One Knudson employee, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisal, said school employees are being questioned by district auditors about questionable purchases, including:

* A portable basketball hoop.

* An order of athletic equipment including a treadmill used in the home of another school employee.

* Cameras that were allegedly ordered for the counseling department.

* Five rods and reels purchased as Secretaries Day gifts from Oshman's Sporting Goods.

The employee recalled one instance where the auditors talked to a group of teachers who worked as a team at Knudsen.

"This team supposedly was in the hole some money, but it turns out the money was never spent" after auditors looked into the matter, the employee said.

What this means, the source said, is that the books showed a certain amount of money had been spent in support of this team. But the investigation showed that the money had not been spent for the team.

Investigators are also hearing, SUN sources say, that Weiner ordered employees to perform work for him, including washing and waxing his car and shampooing carpets at his home.

"No one will talk to you about this, but it's common knowledge around the district," a Knudsen employee said.

Goldman did explain the investigative and disciplinary process of any employee who is suspected of inappropriate conduct.

"The process is that when the district receives information from whatever source about inappropriate activities, we conduct an investigation. After the investigation is completed the district makes a recommendation, and that could be a warning, an admonition, a suspension, a demotion or dismissal."

If it is believed the employee has committed a criminal act, Goldman said "we refer that to a police agency, they investigate and if they believe a crime was committed, they refer it to the district attorney's office."

Officer Ken Young from the school district police said his department is not involved in the investigation.

"It's an administrative matter," Young said.

The SUN attempted to reach Weiner but messages left on his home answering machine were returned by Allin Chandler, executive director of the Clark County Association of School Administrators. He said Weiner had been advised not to talk about the allegations pending the outcome of the investigation.

School Board member Howard Hollingsworth, who represents the district Robison is in, said he didn't know of the investigation.

"I'm not aware that there's any investigation," Hollingsworth said. "I have not heard one thing on it. Until they have it pretty well figured out, they don't tell us about it. But I will call Dr. Cram and talk to him about it."

School Board members Susan Brager, Lois Tarkanian and Judy Witt also said they were not told by the administration about the investigation.

"In personnel matters, they (administration) rarely contact us, unless we're directly being sued," Witt said. Not being apprised of the situation, according to Witt, "is not abnormal."

School Board member James McMillan said he heard about the investigation "in passing."

"But that's the superintendent's business, not the board's," McMillan said. "I'm sure he'll do the right thing and then let the board know what the decision was."

Board President Larry Mason and board member Jeffrey Burr could not be reached for comment.