LI NEWS BRIEFS

FLORAL PARK / Ex-school administrator arrested

A former assistant principal of Sewanhaka High School was arrested Friday on grand larceny and other charges for allegedly stealing $113,000 from a collective bargaining unit fund he was treasurer of - most of which has been repaid, his attorney said.

Gerald Waldman, 59, of Huntington, was arrested by investigators from the Nassau District Attorney's office and charged with second-degree grand larceny and five misdemeanor counts of official misconduct. He faces up to 15 years in prison.

He was released on his own recognizance after his arraignment in Nassau County Court and is due back in court March 2.

District Attorney Kathleen Rice said in a statement that Waldman's position as treasurer of the Sewanhaka School District Department Chairperson's Association gave him "unrestricted access" to the association's bank account, where members' dues were deposited.

"Waldman, however, used the account's funds to steal more than $113,000 by writing 136 checks to cash and one to himself," Rice's statement said. "Waldman used the cash to pay his credit card bills and personal expenses."

Jeffrey Waller, Waldman's Huntington attorney, said his client "would use the money and return it."

Waller said Waldman used the money to pay for college tuition for his children, then later reimburse the fund. Waller said Waldman had repaid all but about $1,000 he allegedly took over several years, "and that will be repaid shortly."

A spokesman for Rice declined to comment on the attorney's assertions.

Warren Meierdiercks, Sewanhaka superintendent, said, "It's my understanding that a small amount of money is still due and I believe it is less than $1,000."

Confronted by school officials after an audit found the fund was short by $11,000, Waller said Waldman resigned from the Floral Park school. He had worked for the district 30 years.

"He's mortified," Waller said of his client. "He had a wonderful career and he had to give it up. Never had any problems before."

Said Meierdiercks: "Our district has cooperated with the investigation conducted by the Nassau District attorney office. To our knowledge, there's been no theft of taxpayer money or student funds."

Waldman could not be reached for comments.

- OLIVIA WINSLOW

CENTERPORT / Interim museum leader named

Lance Reinheimer has been appointed interim director of the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum following the resignation of Carol Ghiorsi Hart.

Reinheimer formerly worked extensively with the museum in Centerport when he was assistant director of the Suffolk County Legislature's Budget Review Office. He retired last year.

The museum is conducting a national search for a director who has run a museum and holds a doctoral degree.

Reinheimer, of North Babylon, said his first priority will be to concentrate on the museum's finances and long-term sustainability.

"We need to develop new revenue streams through community and corporate support," he said. "We also need to reach out to community groups and to our Long Island neighbors, to educate them about this special place. We need to build family memberships and to expand our audiences."

- BILL BLEYER