Allegations of Pilfering At Bronx High School Of Science Are Dismissed

In a report released yesterday, investigators dismissed accusations that administrators at the Bronx High School of Science misappropriated funds donated to expand a Korean language program.

The Special Commissioner of Investigation, Richard Condon, found that a group of Korean parents and others had raised $96,000 in funds. Some of the money was used to buy books, some was saved in an account for the program, and the principal returned the rest, $71,000, to a corporate donor, investigators said.

Under city regulations, donated money cannot be used to pay teachers.

The investigation began after a part-time Korean teacher organized parents in 2006 to protest at the school because the principal was not offering more Korean classes, according to investigators. The teacher was dismissed after the protest. Parents later claimed the principal had deceived them into raising money for the program, the report said.