Dec 13, 2007 - Investigators think it might be an inside job.
The former computer network chief for the Los Gatos Union School District will have to explain $55,000 in checks from a local computer parts company. And the Superintendent of the district will have to explain why it took 13 months to notify police after she was notified of the missing computer parts in mid-2005.
The district's chief financial officer, Cynthia Shieh, said she told [Superintendent Suzanne] Boxer-Gassman about $100,000 in missing computer equipment in August 2005 after conducting a year-end audit.An inventory by an outside firm and a report by state investigators found that over several years the district had lost computers and other high-tech equipment. The state review also found irregularities in personnel and contracting.
Then in April 2006, Shieh noticed that the district appeared to be declaring brand-new Mac G5 computers as surplus. Again, she said, she notified Boxer-Gassman.
Several months later, Shieh's next inventory report reported $200,000 worth of missing equipment, mostly Cisco 2950 series switches - purchased between August 2004 and June 2005 - and 4000 series routers, according to the warrant.
The Superintendent is retiring in June and proposes hiring an assistant superintendent for business. The district will seek a parcel tax in June in order to supplement its budget with local taxes.
The District Attorney's office is investigating.
