Logan Park High School theft handled as 'employment matter' without police
The missing funds were recovered, along with legal and accounting costs.
Photo:
RNZ / Tess Brunton
A Dunedin high school didn't go to the police after almost $365,000 was misappropriated by a staff member more than five years.
An external accountant first discovered
Logan Park High School was missing funds
last year. The money was taken between 2019-24.
The school's board of trustees said it sought legal and accounting advice, and was told it was best treated as an employment matter, as it was one individual acting in isolation.
"Our priority was to recover the funds in full and as quickly as possible, while ensuring the matter was handled appropriately," the board said.
The missing funds were subsequently fully recovered, along with legal and accounting costs, and a review was conducted.
The board said the person was no longer employed by the school and they had made changes to ensure this wouldn't happen again.
The high school emailed parents on Thursday to tell them what had happened, acknowledging that might come as a surprise, but the financial risk had been eliminated.
The board declined to comment further on the personal details, saying it was an employment matter.
The Ministry of Education said it was aware of the matter and would work with the school to better understand the processes they followed.
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