Up to 100G swiped from Germantown High student fund

THE Philadelphia School District is investigating the alleged theft of as much as $100,000 from a student-activities fund at Germantown High School over the last four years.

The probe, which began in October, is focused on one former and one current employee of the school, both of whom had control of the fund at different times, according to John F. Downs, the district's inspector general.

The probe stems from a complaint to the district from the school's ROTC director at the end of last school year, claiming that one of the two employees had told him that the fund could not cover his attempted withdrawal of less than $10,000, sources said.

That employee allegedly was able to pillage the fund because "she does not look like your average thug," and she was not closely supervised "because they trusted her," a source close to the investigation said this week.

Sources variously estimated the amount stolen at between $85,000 and $100,000.

The school's former treasurer, Robin Harkins, resigned in March, a school district spokeswoman said. Harkins, who was treasurer for several years, had control over the student-activities fund, sources said.

The school district did not release either of the names, because no criminal charges have been filed. The identity of the current employee under investigation could not be determined.

Responding to questions from the Daily News, school-district officials this week issued a statement calling the alleged theft "financial mismanagement."

A preliminary audit by the district in October found no improprieties, but "further investigation was recommended," the statement said.

In December, the district's inspector general's office and auditing-services department began "a full investigation and comprehensive audit" of the student-activities fund, the statement said.

Two months ago, Principal Michael Silverman took control of the school's finances, including the student-activities fund, the district said.

Silverman, who became principal in September, declined to comment on the allegations.

District officials said that a final report of audit findings and recommendations concerning the alleged theft is expected to be presented to the School Reform Commission tomorrow.

As at most schools in the district, the Germantown High student-activities fund is intended for numerous student programs and for the school store, yearbooks, proms, and caps and gowns for graduation.

Students pay into the fund, which also includes donations and bequests from graduating classes and alumni of the school, on High Street near Germantown Avenue.

A student-government officer at Germantown High said yesterday that students were surprised recently when they went to Silverman seeking funds for a talent show and were told nothing was left. They ended up using about $300 "out of our own pockets" to put on the show, said the student, who asked not to be identified.

According to the school district's Web site, student-activities funds "are student-owned property, in the nature of a trust for educational purposes" and "should be collected and disbursed under the general direction of the principal."

Although sources said no principal is suspected of theft, the Web site says that a school's principal is responsible for "management and control of student activity funds" and for a system of internal controls, and is liable for losses resulting from negligence.

During three of the last four years, Germantown High's principal was Kathy Pizzimenti-Murphy, now principal at George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia. Last year's principal, Rose Ford, resigned at the end of the school year.

Vera Primus, president of the Germantown Alumni Association, said that alumni had told her that their classes had donated money, but when she inquired at the school "nobody could ever provide us with records" of the donations.

"The only records I did find was that a couple of classes - maybe '45, '47 and '50 - had given money," between $2,500 and $5,000 per class, Primus said.

Primus said she wasn't aware of the alleged theft. "It's a sad thing, if that's what was going on," she said.

Another person with close ties to the school expressed alarm at the theft allegations.

"I don't know how a person can get their hands on that kind of money without proper supervision," said the Rev. LeRoi Simmons, coordinator of the Germantown Clergy Initiative.

"It's pretty low to take from children," added Simmons, whose group has been working to protect students since an after-school shooting on Germantown Avenue five years ago.

At the same time the student-activity funds allegedly were being plundered, community groups were raising money to help the school improve its deteriorating library.

Last year, alumni held several fundraisers to buy books and to restore the library, which had empty shelves or outdated books.

Simmons and his organization contributed to the alumni effort. He said that members of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he is an associate pastor, did carpentry and electrical work.

At one point, the school "didn't have textbooks for students to take home, so I personally drove over to Central [High School] to get some of their extra books," Simmons said.

Germantown High has an illustrious list of alumni, including: Judith Jamison, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; Kevin Eubanks, bandleader on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno"; state Rep. Dwight Evans; City Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller; and Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham. *