DATE: Thursday, November 6, 1997            TAG: 9711060470

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MATTHEW BOWERS and SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: SUFFOLK                           LENGTH:   59 lines

SUFFOLK SUSPENDS 3 SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

A lengthy investigation into the suspected theft of fuel, tires and batteries has led to suspensions of three school transportation department workers, including the department supervisor, police and school officials confirmed Wednesday.

No criminal charges have been filed, and officials released few details about the inquiry or alleged crimes that have caused rumors to fly around the city.

School Board Chairman Mark A. Croston said he even was asked about the investigation Tuesday at the polls when he voted.

He and Schools Superintendent Joyce H. Trump declined to provide many specifics.

Trump said that, after checking reported violations of School Board policy, she took ``appropriate disciplinary action'' against the three transportation employees. She declined to elaborate, calling the matter a personnel issue in which she needed to protect the confidentiality of her employees and how she disciplined them.

A member said the School Board member was informed of the investigation a ``couple of months'' ago after ``things were missing.''

A school official confirmed the three were suspended, including Transportation Supervisor Larry E. Garland, a 15-year school employee with a $44,000 annual salary.

One person familiar with the department's operation said two mechanics also were suspended.

A Transportation Department employee said Wednesday that Garland wasn't at work, that it wasn't known when he would return and that another school administrator was ``temporarily filling in.''

Bradshaw and Trump released this statement:

``After review of reported violations of School Board policy, the school administration has taken appropriate disciplinary action against three School Board employees from the transportation department.''

The city and school board share the fleet maintenance facility on Forest Glen Drive, with separate bays and offices for each.

``Standard practices'' in the department revealed a suspected problem, Trump said. She wouldn't say specifically what they were.

School Board Chairman Croston said that the system had worked to protect public funds.

``The reason that it was discovered, that this whole issue was discovered, was because we had some kind of oversight in place,'' he said.

Police were working with the commonwealth's attorney, he said.

``They've been taking their time, just trying to make sure that what was happening was not just speculation, that what we believed was happening was really happening,'' Croston said.

``We want to resolve the issue. Make sure we have effective controls in place. Review our control procedures to make sure we continue to have effective controls in place to make sure that such a situation is not duplicated. . . .

``In any large organization, I would assume you depend on the people, to a large extent, no matter what checks and balances you put in place.''

None of the suspended employees could be reached Wednesday. KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOLS THEFT SUSPENSION

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu