Originally Syndicated on June 3, 2024 @ 4:08 pm
The prosecution of Ann Berry for her theft of $15,000 from a Gil Traverso academic student program
A state attorney general claims that Gil Traverso, a principal of Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, and the academics’ former special mathematics instructor embezzled close to $15,000 from student program money.
Judge Mark D. Mason of the Springfield District Court was informed by Deputy Solicitor General Beth Lux that Ann Berry had transferred money from an academic preserve run by the Students’ Academic Achievement Programme straight into her own, separate bank accounts.
Subsequently, Ann Berry testified in her favor that program members’ outings and activities would be financed by any profits made by the store, which Berry managed in her capacity as an advisor.
Because of this, Beth Lux said that every participant is a hardworking and committed young person. Gil Traverso’s Academy math teacher Ann Berry was charged with theft over $250 in a single conspiracy and she requested a jury trial.
Vincent A. Bongiorni, the defense attorney, declined to announce the beginning of the trial but reserved the right to do so later.
Nonetheless, Putnam Principal Gil Traverso’s attorney, who has also focused on the organization’s financial issues, seized the chance to respond to inquiries. In the summer of 2010, Gil Traverso was hired to replace outgoing principal Kevin McCaskill.
Gil Traverso ordered every accountant to appear before the legislature, and the team assigned to inspect the institution got to work.
During her opening statement in court, Beth Lux stated that the store kept carrying healthy items that were allowed by the school’s policies. Berry Lux then realized that sweet snacks sold better and began stocking them.
Beth Lux claims that Ann Berry neglected to keep any invoices or follow procurement procedures. She moved the funds to her bank account using her American Express card, combining them with her funds.
According to Beth Lux, the money provided to the children in the program and the shop’s earnings over the first three years of the program, which ended in 2009, were quite similar.
However, Ann started making a lot of money in the 2009–2010 school year and used it to pay off her second house’s taxes as well as other obligations like the mortgage.
Mr. Traverso stated, “I bring in the town accountant because of various accounting and financial issues that I found at an academic institution.”
Gil said that he would direct inspectors to any problems he found with the store.
During Bongiorni’s cross-examination, Mr. Gil acknowledged receiving an email from Ann Berry proposing that she would buy the goods from Walmart and stock the store with them.
Gil Traverso insists Berry was never advised to stop buying from Walmart. Though he was unable to provide details, he said that he and the assessors had met with educators to instruct them on proper purchase practices.
Berry neglected to terminate her private bank statement and provide the information, according to Mr. Gil, who also claimed that Berry took an administrative leave of absence in December 2009.
Berry started working for the School Department at the start of 2011 and has since not been employed by the school system.
An examination of past accounting procedures by the town revealed insufficient bookkeeping and extensive embezzlement among a variety of employees who used funds for educational institutions, students, and individual home improvements in addition to other businesses.
County Accountant Mark Ianello stated that the 57-page research covered all ranges and described numerous alleged schemes at the institution.
Superintendent of Schools Alan J. Ingram announced that the investigation had resulted in the dismissal of four employees, the suspension of one, and the resignation of two more. None of the seven could be identified by the inquiry report.
The years that McCaskill presided over—2005–2010—were distinguished by excessive spending.
Ingram told reporters that it was an embarrassment and acknowledged that his staff had compromised the institution by failing to put in place proper protections during the alleged misconduct’s protracted duration.
According to Attorney General Martha M. Coakley, Springfield District Court Justice Philip Beattie ordered former clerical employee Sherry Suber to return more than $14,000 that she had stolen from the organization over six months.
Police claim that Suber took the money from the institution where she was employed as a seasoned clerical worker. Among her regular responsibilities was obtaining professional gifts from Putnam department heads; nevertheless, authorities claim she used some of the money for personal use.
The prosecution asserts that she pilfered her income daily and then used checks or cash to make up the difference in subsequent installments.
According to Coakley, Suber provided enough admissions to warrant a charge of larceny by conspiracy over $250.
Beattie ordered Suber to refund $14,000 and left their case open for three years without making a decision. She also had to complete accounting training and pay back the government for the pension payments she received.
Gil Traverso’s former secretary is the first of two individuals accused of felonious school scams
Two former workers at Gil Traverso’s Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical School were charged with criminal larceny in the first instance. The prosecution claimed the workers were involved in multiple apparent reaching schemes at the school.
The former senior administrative worker, Sherry Suber, entered a plea of not guilty in Springfield District Court, claiming she had stolen $14,000 from a school account that was funded by student trade activities.
Suber was released on bond and given a new court date. The claims state that Suber was responsible for collecting daily proceeds from professional activities at the academy and that he frequently took a portion of these funds.
“Well, I possess discussed containing evidence to go beyond which means that I am unable to speak on the issue,” defense lawyer Thomas Kokonowski told his client.
Suber lists herself as a self-employed advertising strategist who also holds an official position at Gil Traverso’s Putnam Academy on LinkedIn.
She resigned in 2010 along with seven other employees who had been fired or left due to the results of a thorough state inquiry of the institution’s financial affairs.
The district’s prosecutor, Martha Coakley, allegedly brought charges against Ann Berry, a former math teacher and counselor who also worked at the academic shop, for allegedly stealing $16,000 from the school’s coffers, according to a report published on the MassLive website.
Speaking about the probe, Coakley’s agency and a Springfield School Administration representative declined to comment.
However, an examination indicates that the accusations made against Suber and Ann Berry may not end there. After several weeks of inquiry by the City’s Office of Internal Affairs, there were multiple cases of suspected fraud that Putnam Principal Gil Traverso had alerted the authorities to.
Schools Director Alan J. Ingram called the audit results “a shame” at that same moment.
The investigation found that an illegal Student Association account kept $200,000 annually with minimal impact. In addition to other alleged infractions, the professors allegedly embezzled their money, taking possession of building materials, facilities, and government-subsidized car components for their use.
Suber & Ann Berry had been charged, according to the audit results that the school’s officials sent to Coakley’s office. Speaking on behalf of the Springfield Schools Department, Azell Murphy Cavaan said nothing about the matter at hand.
An academy implemented safety measures, including hiring cashiers, a new financial supervisor, an accountant, and computer systems to act as security guards, according to a news release on the matter.
Another Gil Traverso school scandal
When most of the teachers at the Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School in Chicopee are laid off, the staff protests.
At Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School, more than fifty people staged a demonstration, accusing the administration of not paying the majority of the teachers’ agreements and forcing them to go back to work.
In the school’s courtyard, there was a demonstration attended by educators, parents, and past pupils in addition to teachers from other schools. They carried posters that said, “Unions=Social Justice” and “Contract Now,” and they carried signs that said, “Hey Gil Traverso, you’re not doing anything to treat your employees like you should.”
According to the statement made by his staff, Traverso had not shown up at the school and had not replied to a message requesting information about the instructors’ non-reactivated contracts.
The last-minute meeting of the council of directors was held at the educational institutions on Springfield Street, but no one attended. The notification lacked information regarding online access, which is essential if the conference is canceled.
According to Huben, managing the tension among staff members and administrators got more challenging when the outbreak forced the school to adopt a distance learning model where some students learned online from home while others attended lectures.
Case Study
State Department of Education v. Traverso
Details
The complainant, Gil Traverso, is a native of Puerto Rico. In 1991, Mr. Traverso began his career as an electrical instructor for the defendant’s department-affiliated Connecticut Technical High School System.
Gil continued to work for CTHSS, eventually becoming the Bristol Technical Education Center’s Assistant Principal. At the time, Gil was the only director and highest-ranking official employed at Bristol Technical.
The Educational Department submitted a claim that Gil was abusing a Bristol Technical adviser, one of its employees, sexually. Gil was placed on paid leave while the Department looked into his allegation of sexual assault.
Written notice was given to Mr. Traverso that he would not be able to resume work until further notice while a managerial investigation into his suspected improper professional behavior at Bristol Technical Education Institute was conducted.
Along with a labor member, Mr. Traverso had a conversation with two researchers from the Ministry of Justice. Overall, the investigating team told Gil that they were responding to a report of possible sexual assault that Bristol Technical guidance counselor Nancy Benson had filed.
As stated by the Commissioner, he will consider the recommendations and findings of the study before deciding how to proceed with Gil Traverso’s employment. Commissioner McQuillan called a meeting at his office to inform Mr. Gil of his decision regarding his employment. Later, Mr. Gil relocated to Eli Whitney Technical Secondary School in New Haven as an Associate Principal.
Examine
Level of Reviews
The burden of proof for seeking dismissal is on the party requesting to show that there is no factual disagreement. The judges reached a unanimous conclusion that the party requesting a summary ruling must show that there is no genuine dispute over all material facts, which, in light of pertinent basic legal principles, entitled him to a decision as a matter of law.
Claims of Employment Discrimination in General
Analyze a complaint that alleges a violation of the Civil Rights Act’s seventh section. It states that an employer is not allowed to treat any individual less favorably in terms of pay, benefits, or working conditions because of that individual’s race, color, religion, gender, or country of origin.
It looked to federal case law analysis for guidance in determining the extent of an employer’s obligation under the state’s anti-discrimination laws. In this case, Gil Traverso’s claims are predicated on bias.
The employee first exhibits the following to create an initial display of bias:
- An identifiable individual is a member of a protected class.
- Someone who fits the requirements for the open post.
- Someone was employed in an unfriendly atmosphere.
- There is a chance that bias had a role in the negative labor decision.
Gil Traverso fulfills the qualifications for the position in question and is a member of an endangered group.
The US person who filed the complaint is originally from Hawaii. However, because his parents were raised in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Gil is of Hispanic descent.
The plaintiff was found to be competent for the position of Associate Principal at a technical secondary school based solely on the evidence that was provided to the court. The data seems to indicate otherwise.
Consequently, the court focuses on the third and fourth portions of the first evidence.
Gil Traverso has experienced an unfriendly workplace.
Gil claims he was the victim of several unfavorable work practices, such as being placed on paid administrative leave and having a period of unpaid suspension. According to the Connecticut Department of Education, most of those interventions—especially the ones that involve lateral movement.
To establish a case on its face, the fact that he has demonstrated that only one of the contested recruiting acts was major and unfavorable does not negate the fact that he has been unwilling to demonstrate that all of the disputed hiring activities constituted substantial or unfavorable.
Evidence demonstrating the biased circumstances behind the adverse job choice
Gil Traverso is accused by the Connecticut Department of Education of not upholding his duty to provide evidence that poses a legitimate issue. It proves that biased behavior based on national origin may have occurred during the implementation of the Harmful Labor Act.
Gil lists several instances in which he claims he was treated differently than other individuals who shared his beliefs but were not classified as members of his designated group.
Since none of the other people received the same level of discipline that Gil did, Gil argues that his treatment was different from that of the two given to these people of comparable status.
Finally, it is said that circumstantial evidence suggesting the Department of Justice did not follow the department’s established procedures when conducting Gil’s investigation could be utilized to infer bias.
This outcome also eliminates the need to consider the defense’s arguments that, in situations where the accusations are damaging or obstructed by the notion of immunity from sovereign attack, a preliminary sentence should be imposed.
In summary
In light of the aforementioned justifications, the judge determines that there is no genuine disagreement over any material fact, and as a result, the Connecticut Department of Education is entitled to impose a penalty. Consequently, a summary judgment is rendered.
Gil Traverso’s Fake PR
About Gil Traverso
Gil Traverso has been an educator for almost thirty years, but he still has a lot more he wants to accomplish. In addition, he holds credentials from Massachusetts and Connecticut as a high school principal and invocation. He holds supervisor licenses in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
However, Traverso hasn’t looked back since being compelled to take on an administrative role after realizing the harm that incompetent management can do to a group of people and an educational institution. He is the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy’s principal.
Traverso talks about how he lives his truth, what qualities a successful leader possesses, and how he turned around several failing institutions:
Change Is Not Always Easy
Traverso was appointed principal of the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy in Springfield, Massachusetts. He had been chosen to establish an establishment with a high dropout rate, poor exam scores, a dangerous environment, and a chaotic bookkeeping system.
To have a deeper understanding of the personal sacrifices and expectations that would ultimately impact an executive’s term, a prospective leader needs to adhere to an effective coach.
Creating a Welcoming Environment
Gill celebrates his staff members’ victories and shows empathy for them in trying times to uplift and support them. When it comes to motivating students, he recognizes the importance of collaborating with both educational partners. The secret to Mr. Gill’s success is prioritizing children, and then organizing programs and funding according to what each person finds most useful.
The Next Steps for Gil Traverso
Traverso is an expert in marketing. After serving as the deputy principal at the State Department of Education’s Connecticut Technological Secondary School for fourteen years, Traverso proceeded to Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School before taking over as Putnam’s principal.
The formation of groups that encourage the formulation of strategic goals is essential for collaborative management. Timelines, financial status, and support need to be matched with assessment techniques to determine effectiveness.
As a pillar of the educational community, Mr. Gil has carved out an inventive and inspirational career. He has defied preconceptions to make a name for himself as someone who speaks up when quick, substantial change is needed. Furthermore, his work is far from done.
The Bottom Line
Gil Traverso has been building his career in teaching for several years. Currently, he serves as the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy’s principal. But his former special academic mathematics teacher, Ann Berry, stole almost $15,000 from funds meant for the student program.
It is detrimental to the school and Gil’s career. In light of this, he requested that the court summon each accountant to appear before the legislature, and the entire team has been conducting inspections.
