Parents react to Putnam report

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Parents in Springfield are reacting to a new report by the Office of Internal Audit that shows misuse of school funds by employees at Putnam Vocational Technical High School.

Mother Marya Woodgett, is appalled by new revelations that several employees there inappropriately used school funds. "I feel really bad for the students. There's a lot of kids over there who need the education, need the books, need the computers and for them to misuse the funds is really sad," said Woodgett, who went to Putnam High School.

Another woman, who did not want to be identified, said she believes the city should release the names of the employees who were involved in the discrepancies.

"We need to know who it is, we need to know. The public needs to know."

According to Superintendent Dr. Alan Ingram, the report found that employees used funds to buy cameras and computers for personal use, double billed the city for reimbursement of a trip that was taken by students and staff, and did all of this using a separate checking account that kept few records of the transactions.

There used to be a computerized record keeping process that was in use until 2002.

The time in question where funds were misused runs from 2005 to 2010.

Four employees were fired, one was suspended and demoted, and two resigned as a result of the 13-month long investigation.

Dr. Ingram says the findings have been sent to the Attorney General's office for review, but does not know whether criminal charges will be filed.

The complete report is available on the city's website at springfieldcityhall.com.