Thursday, January 20, 2005

Educational Finance Scandals On Long Island, New York

Daniel Cifonelli, aged 70, a retired assistant superintendent has been arrested for allegedly stealing more than $687,000 from the William Floyd School District. This district is located in the city of Mastic Beach, on the coast of Long Island.

Cifonelli plead not guilty and has posted bail.

What he is accused of doing is collecting retirement benefits while still drawing an annual salary as a consultant for the district. Apparently, Cifonelli did not file any retirement papers, either.

I don't know if Mr. Cifonelli is innocent or guilty, but when I was studying for my Masters, one of my teachers (Who had been a well-respected district superintendent for many years before his retirement) half-jokingly told our cohort, "If your gonna steal, steal a lot."

I guess $687,000 wasn't enough.

Our good friend Tony Iovino, (
A Red Mind In A Blue State) who is a former member of governing board of trustees of the Roslyn School District, also on Long Island, has posted extensively on a multi-million dollar corruption scandal in his district that has resulted in a number of arrests, and most recently, a board member resigning in disgrace. This scandal, (well documented by Tony) has more twists and turns than a bad [or good] soap opera.

I guess several millions still wasn't enough.


Update: Tony reminded us that he served on the scandal free Oceanside Union Free School District Board. We offer our red-faced apologies for the error. Consider taking a look at his comment about the scandals.

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