Ut-Oh Essay, Research Paper

Ex-school official gets 9-23 months for theft, forgery

Did you ever see something just lying around your place of employment, and ask

yourself, “I wonder if anyone would notice that missing?” Have you ever listened to a co-

worker say, “that would look great in my living room?” Well we all come across temptation

everyday; but those of us who are able to reject it, are the better people. The workplace is

loaded with items and sometimes money that could very easily be stolen. Whether you

accidently misplace a company laptop computer in the trunk of your car, or simply just

pilfer a few sheets of paper for your printer at home, it’s still theft.

A man by the name of Bruce Kowalski, was sentenced yesterday to nine to twenty-

three months in prison for illegally using school funds to purchase Japanese artifacts for

his own private collection. Kowalski was a former superintendent of the Wallingford-

Swarthmore and Wissahickon School Districts, and had used a total of $275,000.00 for his

personal use. Athorities seized his entire personal collection, from the time he was a

young boy as well as items stolen from school in more recent years. These artifacts will be

auctioned off as part of Kowalski’s restitution. He has to pay to both school districts: $164,369

to Wallingford-Swarthmore, in Delaware County, and $110,716 to Wissahickon, in

Montgomery County. In addition, he will pay $21,239 for the cost of the prosecution. If the

money acquired from the auction does not satisfy the fine, then Kowalski must put a mortgage

on his home before starting his prison sentence on March 1st.