Ex-Educator Accused of Stealing Funds

A Huntington man was arraigned Friday on charges of grand larceny and  official misconduct charges, accused of stealing $113,000 from an education collective bargaining fund.

Gerald Waldman, 59, a former assistant principal at , was arrested Friday morning by investigators with the office of Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice.  He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on all six counts. He was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court March 2.

Rice said Waldman served as treasurer of Sewanhaka School District Department Chairpersons Association, the collective bargaining unit for the chairpersons in the school district, between Nov. 12, 2004 and May 3, 2010.

Rice said Waldman’s position gave him unrestricted access to the organization's bank account, which is funded by contributions from its members, whose dues were deposited into the account by the Sewanhaka School District. These funds were then used to pay the School Administrators Association of New York State, which represented the Chairpersons Association in its dealings with the Sewanhaka School District. 

Waldman, however, stole more than $113,000 by writing 136 checks to cash and one to himself, Rice said, paying his credit card bills and personal expenses.

Waldman was promoted to assistant principal at Sewanhaka High School in July 2007 after serving as a business teacher at the school since 1981.

The loss was uncovered in June 2010 when Waldman started inexplicably bouncing checks.   Waldman resigned his position with the school district shortly thereafter.

Assistant District Attorney William Jorgensen of the Public Corruption Bureau is prosecuting the case for the DA’s Office.

Waldman is represented by Jeffrey Waller of Hauppauge, who said of Waldman, "He's been an exemplary guy all his life. He's a highly honored teacher and unfortunately certain things happened.  But the DA's press release isn't explaining it," adding that all but about $1,000 had been repaid.