AUSTINTOWN School treasurer charged in theft

The suspect helped determine how much a cafeteria aide stole last year.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- The Frank Ohl Middle School treasurer has resigned after becoming the second school employee to be arrested and charged with felony theft in office during the past 12 months.
Rosemary Hudak, 50, of Collingwood Place, submitted her letter of resignation Tuesday, district Superintendent Stan Watson said.
Police Detective Sgt. Ray Holmes said Hudak was arrested Monday morning and later released on her own recognizance. She is set to be arraigned Thursday in Mahoning County Court in Austintown.
Police and school officials have yet to determine the total amount of money missing in the case. Holmes noted, however, that he expected the figure to be at least $1,000.
He said Hudak confessed taking about $50 daily between December 2003 and Feb. 5 while working as the school treasurer and that she also admitted to taking some money collected at school athletic events.
After aide sentenced
The thefts began in December shortly after former Frank Ohl cafeteria aide Terri Wolfe was sentenced to two years' probation for stealing $25,000 in lunch money, Holmes said.
Watson noted that as Frank Ohl treasurer, Hudak worked with school officials to determine how much Wolfe had stolen. He said he did not know of any other connections between Wolfe and Hudak.
Wolfe stole money by taking $10 and $20 bills pupils used to pay for lunch and slipping them into a bag between September 2002 and March 2003, police said.
Watson said that school officials changed their policies in an effort to prevent future thefts after Wolfe was arrested.
When the policies were changed, officials noticed that Frank Ohl was collecting less revenue on days when Hudak was working, Watson said.
"The more investigating was done, the more it appeared there were serious concerns," he said, adding that he had a lot of "sleepless nights" as a result of the investigation.
The investigation continued until police had enough evidence to charge Hudak, Holmes said.
Long time in district
Watson said Hudak had worked in the district since 1988 and was "very much respected."
"Most fraud and deceitful acts are committed in an atmosphere of trust," he said. "If we have a failing, it's perhaps that we trust people too much."
Quoting former President Reagan, Watson said the district is working toward a policy of "trust, but verify."
Watson said the district will work to recoup any money stolen by Hudak, and it will re-examine its policies to determine how future thefts can be prevented. He added that school officials also are working to be reimbursed by Wolfe.
The school board cut about $1.5 million from its budget last school year to avoid a deficit. Treasurer Barbara Kliner has said that without additional revenue, the district could have a deficit of at least $3 million at the end of this year.
hill@vindy.com