McCaskill said the results of the audit is news to him, but he took responsibility anyway
Former Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School Principal Kevin McCaskill, seen here in this 2007 file photo, shares a laugh with some students in front of the State Street high school.SPRINGFIELD – The former principal at Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School maintains he was never aware of financial problems at the school, but accepts responsibility if any financial abuses occurred during his tenure.
One day after the city disclosed that an ongoing audit at Putnam has triggered staff resignations and terminations, Kevin McCaskill said he has not been questioned by Springfield school or law enforcement officials, and does not know any specifics of the ongoing probe.
“It’s news to me,” said McCaskill, who took over the school in 2004 and left in June for a high administrative post in the Hartford public schools. “But if anything happened, it happened on my watch. It’s unfortunate.”
The school – with 1,600 students and 230 staff – was routinely audited and never had serious problems, according to McCaskill, who was popular with students and served on Mayor Domenic J. Sarno’s transition team.
The school’s finances began drawing scrutiny in July when new principal Gilbert E. Traverso requested an audit, a common practice for top administrators taking over a new school.
Eight months later, the audit is not finished, but an undisclosed number of Putnam staffers have been suspended, terminated or have resigned, city solicitor Edward M. Pikula announced Thursday.
Pikula did not comment on the scope of the probe, nor indicate how much money was involved. A report is expected to be made public in the next month.
City Councilor Timothy Rooke said he is concerned not only about possible financial abuses at the school, but also the lack of information being made public about the investigation.
“Whenever taxpayers’ money is used in questionable practices, the public has a right to know what kind of corrective actions are being taken,” said Rooke who, as chairman of the council’s audit committee, has pushed for more public disclosure.
By last fall, rumors of questionable financial practices and staff transfers were circulating, but Superintendent Alan J. Ingram would not comment beyond confirming that an audit was under way.
At Rooke’s request, Pikula appeared before the audit committee meeting Thursday, and confirmed for the first time that the audit had led to a staff shakeup at Putnam.
Following Pikula’s statement, the committee held a closed-door meeting to discuss potential criminal actions or disciplinary matters arising from the investigation.
Rooke said he had no idea when the audit would be completed, and expressed frustration at the lack of solid information.
“I have no idea how much, or how little, progress has been made,” he said. “Eight months seems like a very lengthy time; I hope the final report isn’t watered down or politically correct,” he added.