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Another guilty plea in Floyd schools mess

BY ALFONSO A. CASTILLO AND KARLA SCHUSTER | Newsday Staff Writers

August 3, 2006

The top business official for William Floyd schools pleaded guilty yesterday to official misconduct for misspending federal grant money and faking credentials to help a colleague's relative get a job - the fourth district administrator to admit to malfeasance as part of a wide-ranging corruption probe.

Dennis Fidotta, 56, the man credited by the district with reforming its business practices after two former officials were charged with stealing in 2004, will serve 280 hours of community service and pay $2,000 in fines as part of his plea deal. He pleaded guilty to two counts of official misconduct in Suffolk County Court.

He also surrendered his school administrator's license and resigned his post as assistant superintendent for business, a job he had held since July 2004. Before that, he was Superintendent Richard Hawkins' assistant.

Fidotta was charged in two separate indictments as part of a continuing investigation of corruption in William Floyd that so far has led to the arrest of five school officials, four of whom have pleaded guilty.

While Fidotta, unlike the other officials charged, was not accused of stealing money or personally benefitting from his actions, prosecutors say his conduct fits a troubling pattern in William Floyd.

"He was part of the culture at William Floyd, whereby they play by their own rules," said Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Kevin Ward, "regardless of the law or what was in the best interest of the district."

Fidotta declined to make a statement before being sentenced.

But under questioning by Ward yesterday, Fidotta admitted he solicited a fake reference letter in July 2003 to help retired personnel director Michael Schildkraut's daughter get a job as a school accountant. He also acknowledged that he knowingly providing false information to the state about how the district spent federal grant money in 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Authorities say he charged items not allowed under the federal grant, such as billing a groundskeeper to a literacy program, so the district would not have to return any of the money.

His attorney, Robert LaRusso of Garden City, said Fidotta made "a tragic mistake" by trying to do "a favor" for Schildkraut, and that he never intended to misappropriate grant money but simply made some errors in the report he filed with the state.

"He didn't plead guilty to stealing money," LaRusso said. "He pled guilty to being overworked."

Hawkins, who has not been charged, declined to comment yesterday, but in a prepared statement, the school district lauded Fidotta's service.

"The Board fully supported and encouraged Mr. Fidotta to prove his innocence through a trial, however we understand the emotional and financial toll this situation has taken on him and his family ... " the district said in a statement. "The Board has regrettably accepted his resignation after 18 years of loyal and dedicated service to the William Floyd School District."

The Floyd scandals

DENNIS FIDOTTA

Job: Assistant superintendent for business.

Charges: Pleaded guilty to two counts of official misconduct for misspending federal grant money, faking credentials to help colleague's relative get a job. Plea deal: Will serve 280 hours community service and pay $2,000 fine.

The probe into the William Floyd schools has implicated several other officials:

DANIEL CIFONELLI, former assistant superintendent for business. Pleaded guilty in January to money laundering and grand larceny for stealing more than $687,000 from the district. Pleaded guilty in April to federal tax evasion. Free on $100,000 bail and awaiting sentencing.

JAMES WRIGHT, former treasurer. Pleaded guilty in January to grand larceny and filing a false instrument for stealing over $700,000. Awaiting sentencing.

ROCCO DINAPOLI, former assistant superintendent for secondary instruction. Charged in June 2005 with second-degree grand larceny for illegally keeping his ex-wife on his district health insurance coverage. Free without bail. Case pending.

MICHAEL SCHILDKRAUT, former assistant superintendent for personnel. Pleaded guilty in July to one count of filing a false instrument in connection to getting fake credentials for daughter to be hired as a school accountant. Sentenced to 280 hours of community service and a $1,000 fine.