Former Pembina Hills school division Supt. Richard Harvey pleaded guilty today, Jan. 22, in a Newfoundland courtroom to fraud over $5,000. Harvey received a one-year conditional sentence, which includes 12 months of house arrest, and has also been ordered to repay $29,061.71 to the school division. The story began in September 2010 when a Pembina Hills employee noticed irregularities in Harvey's expense claims. Harvey, who began his tenure with Pembina Hills in August 2006, was fired Oct. 23, 2010 — mere weeks before his retirement. The employee advised the board chair and another senior staff member and the school division launched an internal investigation, which included a forensic audit. In November 2010, the school board shared its findings with the Barrhead RCMP. On Oct. 16, 2012, Harvey was charged with fraud over $5,000 and breach of trust related to inappropriate expense claims. “We are responsible for the public’s money,” said Pembina Hills’ board chair Kim Webster in a release. “When this situation came to light, we launched a review and based on what we learned, we changed our processes and procedures to introduce more checks and balances in this area.” The school board’s insurance company compensated Pembina Hills a total of $41,250. This amount included some recognition of the legal and other costs the school division incurred as it prepared its claim. For more on the story see the Jan. 27 edition of the Westlock News. To view the Pembina Hills news release visit: http://www.phrd.ab.ca/
