Mastic Beach, NEW YORK

Financial abuse might be widespread in some Long Island school districts, officials said yesterday.


June 24, 2007 - James Wright, the former treasurer of the William financial abuse might be widespread in some Long Island school districts, officials said yesterday.pleaded guilty to federal income tax evasion. He admitted he failed to pay taxes on more than $500,000 he had stolen from the blue-collar district.

Wright was the fifth William Floyd district official to plead guilty in federal or state court to charges growing out of a continuing county and federal investigation into misconduct in that and other districts. All five have pleaded guilty to state charges.

Daniel Cifonelli, a former assistant superintendent for business, pleaded guilty in federal court in 2006 to federal income tax evasion on several hundred thousand dollars he siphoned from the district. TT - entry

Three other district officials have been sentenced to community service after pleading guilty to various misdemeanors. They were Rocco Dinapoli, a former assistant superintendent for secondary instruction; Dennis Fidotta, another former assistant superintendent for business; and Michael Schildkraut, a former assistant superintendent for personnel.
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TT - Not connected to the corruption in the district, John Monetti, 38, principal of William Floyd Elementary School, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison (with no parole) for traveling to Nebraska to have sex with a 14-year-old girl. TT - entry

In 2006, State Comptroller auditors identified $6.4 million in inappropriate and unapproved spending at the William Floyd school district. Copy of the audit report and several other documents at the news story.

The William Floyd School District serves 8057 students in 8 schools. The district rates a 5 at GreatSchools.net The district spends $15,374 total per pupil expenditures, slightly less than the statewide average of $15,815.