Dallas School District Money Trail Uncovered
By: Joe Holden
Updated: October 26, 2010
DALLAS TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY -- The Superintendent of the Dallas School District is defending himself against allegations he knew about a case of theft. Frank Galicki is accused of turning a blind eye to the illegal activities of a former guidance counselor and athletics director.
It seems disgraced Dallas High Athletic Director and guidance counselor Jack Wolensky skirted the full story when he pleaded guilty to theft last year.
According to a chunky report released Monday by state auditors, Wolensky dug deep into Dallas school accounts, financing a trip to Florida and other personal ventures to the tune of some $60,000. But his restitution amounted to only $24,000.
In Dallas, where a new high school is being built, money is tight. School taxes continually rise. And coach Wolensky was only hooked for a small slither of pie, according to these findings.
What's worse, state auditors claim Superintendent Frank Galicki, then high school principal, knew of the situation, but failed to act. Candie Stritzinger says, I think whoever was doing, whatever it was they were doing, I think they should all be punished.”
Galicki told the I-Team’s Joe Holden he first noticed irregularities with an account in 2005. He said that's when he called in the D.A'.s office and the state Auditor General's office. He says he had nothing to hide.
The Dallas school board accepted the state auditors' findings and apparently punished Galicki, canceling his raise for this school year. But taxed-out parents had little sympathy for the situation. “Like we're paying and he only had to pay 24,000 back. Like that's not fair to us who pay our taxes and do the right thing and go to work everyday,” says Stritzinger.
