2019 in Review: Jim Thorpe board looks into credit card use

Jim Thorpe Area School District’s two top administrators left while the school board investigated potential misuse of credit cards.

Amid the investigation, two residents who first questioned the credit card won election to the school board.

In May, board members were questioned about a statement which showed a district credit card had been used for numerous meals at local restaurants and first class airfare. Only one board member responded. Michael Principe said he accepted the meals because they were meetings to discuss board business, and he did not feel guilty because he was volunteering his time as an unpaid board member.

In June, the school board decided not to renew the contract of superintendent Brian Gasper. He was replaced by John Rushefski, formerly the superintendent of Old Forge School District.

In July, the board received the results of a forensic review looking at potential misuse of credit cards. The forensic review, which was originally approved in November 2018, cost the district $15,000.

In September, the school board placed Business Manager Lauren Kovac on leave and voted to conduct a second internal investigation. This time, the investigation included the policies and practices of the business office.

The school board hired an auditing firm and outside attorney to assist with the investigation and paid another $5,000 at the outset. The district hasn’t disclosed the total cost of that investigation.

At the board’s November meeting, they accepted Kovac’s resignation, despite four years remaining on her contract. The board agreed to pay her $36,000 as part of the agreement.

At that meeting, Principe also announced that he learned that a plane ticket he accepted from the district, in order to attend a conference, was upgraded to first class without his knowledge. Principe said he would pay back the difference between the cost of coach and first class. Principe did not seek re-election.