Putnam audit names won't be released

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A 13-month audit of Putnam Vocational Technical High School found out thousands of dollars of the school's money may have benefited employees not students.

The audit found missing receipts, unreconciled bank statements, unchecked cash advances and school funds being used to purchase equipment for personal use.

But one thing the audit didn't outline is who was responsible.

Samantha Diaz, the high school’s senior class president, said, “I want answers but everybody is so quiet and everything."

Well, Mayor Domenic Sarno says it’s Massachusetts law chapter 4, section 7’s fault.

It defines public record and also defines what is exempt and the following exemption means they can't release the names.

It states, “Personnel and medical files or information; also any other materials or data relating to a specifically named individual, the disclosure of which may constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy”

"I don't write the laws and legally and you can speak to our city solicitor, legally they cannot release the names," said Sarno.

But City councilor Tim Rooke isn't buying it, he told 22News names have been released in other cases and these employees actions went far about normal personnel matters.

"It appears that there are two interpretations of the law because in the past we have released names and now we're choosing not to," said Rooke.

Mayor Sarno told 22News he's not going to put the city in legal jeopardy by releasing the names.

He said if the Attorney General's office determines criminal charges should be filed, then the names can be released.

22News tried to find out the names ourselves but were not able to confirm whether employees who have quit or been fired in the last year or so were in fact connected to the audit.

22News also reached out to former principal Kevin McCaskill who declined comment for our story.