By:Jeff Lipton
Stoller has been the principal at Roslyn for about 10 years, since he took over the position after he left Lawrence in 1994. "He left Lawrence for a very good opportunity in Roslyn," said Syd Mandelbaum, a Lawrence school board member from 1989 to 2001.
Stoller left Lawrence to take advantage of a $15,000 to $20,000 increase in salary, Mandelbaum said.
"He was one of the best principals we had," Mandelbaum added. "He was loved by students. It was a big loss when he left." During Stoller's tenure, he said, students were accepted to some of the nation's best colleges and universities, including Ivy League schools.
According to a statement released by the Roslyn school district last week, the inquiry is centered in part on Stoller's travel expenses, part of a broader investigation of the embezzlement of district funds by members of the school district's administrative staff, including former Superintendent of Schools Frank Tassone.
"[The decision] might result in the reassignment of Dr. Stoller, or in other action based on the findings of the current investigation," said Roslyn's interim superintendent, David Helme. "The decision was a difficult one given Dr. Stoller's decade as the high school's principal."
Stoller allegedly charged the Roslyn district for six trips to Las Vegas, four to New Orleans and two to San Francisco that did not involve school business, according to published reports, and he reportedly took the trips at the behest of Tassone.
The Roslyn district has come under heavy scrutiny, as law-enforcement officials investigate the alleged embezzlement of at least $8 million. Tassone was arrested on charges of grand larceny after allegedly stealing more than $1 million of the district's money and spending it on vacations, meals and personal expenses, according to the Nassau County district attorney's office. Former Roslyn Assistant Superintendent for Finance Pamela Gluckin was also arrested and charged with grand larceny following an investigation by the D.A.
The alleged financial misconduct has led state Comptroller Alan Hevesi to launch audits of several Long Island school districts, including Lawrence, to examine administrative expenses such as credit card use, meals and travel. State auditors met with Lawrence officials last Friday to go over the logistics of the audit.
Kathy Raquet-Barry, Lawrence school board president, said she was told that the auditors will be in the district for three to four months, collecting financial data and records from Monday through Thursday, beginning Aug. 30. The auditors have been given office space at the Lawrence Middle School.
The Lawrence district has come under public scrutiny since it was discovered that $18 million in reserve funds was spent by the board, a mistake that was uncovered in 2002. School district officials said they invited the state to conduct an audit of district finances. "I honestly do not feel they will find any illegalities," said Raquet-Barry. "I'm sure they will show us some new [fiscal] controls. But the audit is good for the people to feel that all is crystal clear."
After she met with the auditors last Friday, Raquet-Barry said she was "very impressed by these people. They are very professional. The audit is a good thing, and I'm optimistic about it."
Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons said the audit will focus on internal controls in the district. "I don't think there will be any improprieties or malfeasance found from where I sit," he said.
During the Aug. 24 school board meeting, Lawrence school officials, who are operating for the second straight year with a contingency-budget limitation of a 2.4 percent increase after voters defeated the district's proposed budget, said there will be no out-of-state conferences for teachers or administrators during the upcoming year. "They will be restricted to within the state now," said Fitzsimons.
Board member Dr. David Sussman suggested a policy be put in place for tighter controls over teachers, administrators and staff personnel for attendance at conferences. He said those returning from conferences should be prepared to file detailed reports about them.
But Fitzsimons said that wouldn't be necessary. He said he has "every confidence" that those who attend conferences do so with the utmost professionalism. "I don't have a problem with it," he said.
Sussman also said that the district should take a closer look at cell phone use that is being charged to the district. He said that if the district could save up to $15,000 a year, one of the clubs or sports cut under the contingency plan could be restored. Fitzsimons agreed with this, saying that the district will look into whether "all those people are justified in the use of cell phones, and also if all people have a need for a beeper."
