Board member begins payback

By Pat Litowitz
New Castle News

The threat of civil litigation prompted a New Castle Area School Board member to return approximately $1,700 to the district.

Peter J. Yerage, 63, of 929 Warren Ave. reimbursed the school system $150 last week, according to business manager Joseph Ambrosini. The retired Lawrence County educator also agreed to make monthly $50 payments. At that rate, full restitution would take place in February 2010.

Attempts to contact Yerage for comment were unsuccessful.

Yerage received $1,377.06 in cash advances to attend conferences in 2005 and 2006. He did not provide the district receipts showing how those funds were used. The district also claims Yerage had $307.05 in unallowable purchases during seminars in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

“It’s disturbing to me to say the least,” board President Fred Mozzocio said. “I don’t think you should go on a conference if you don’t have the financial (means) to support everything that goes along with that trip.

“I don’t believe any board member should rely on the district to front them the money to make these types of trips.”

The state Auditor General’s office has regularly criticized the district over travel expenses involving board members.

New Castle received its greatest criticism over a 2002 conference trip to New Orleans involving retired assistant superintendent Nick DeRosa and three school board members. The state noted that the board members and DeRosa failed to register or pay registration fees. Their attendance at conference programs and events could not be verified.

In its December 2006 audit covering the 2003-04 school years, the state found 10 violations among the 19 travel expenses reviewed.

Calling the recurring findings an embarrassment, Superintendent George Gabriel on Dec. 16, 2006, banned conference and seminar travel for administrators. The board followed Gabriel’s example and prohibited its members from district-reimbursed travel.

“Our goal is to be ‘finding free’ in our next audit,” Gabriel said. “(Yerage) is supposed to be held to a higher standard.”

After attending two sessions addressing the district’s and state’s travel policies, administrators regained travel privileges on Feb. 20, 2007. The board has maintained its moratorium.

“I didn’t know about the report’s findings,” Yerage said in December 2006. “That was an oversight. I will pay the district back.”

Until last week, he hadn’t.Ambrosini said the district made several efforts to recoup the funds. When Yerage repeatedly failed to respond, Ambrosini and Gabriel sent a certified letter to him stating he had 20 days to make restitution or face collection efforts through the district judge’s office.

“You have failed and refused to provide receipts evidencing use of these funds for travel and conference attendance on behalf of the district,” the letter said. “Please be advised the State Auditors are aware of the circumstances and are requesting this matter be addressed without delay.”

Board member Philip Conti said Yerage’s travel troubles are somewhat of a surprise. Conti served as business manager at the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center during Yerage’s tenure there.

“When he was at the vo-tech, he did a lot of traveling,” Conti said. “As far as my memory serves me, there was never a problem.

“Obviously, he’s taken a different position since he became a board member.”

Mozzocio said Yerage’s actions tarnish the school system.

“Myself and many other of the board members have done our very best to restore the reputation of the New Castle Area School Board and the district. When things like this come out, it puts a shadow on us.

“It makes that black cloud linger, which we have fought very hard to get rid of.”

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