A former northern Kentucky superintendent faces up to two years in prison, after pleading guilty in federal court this week to embezzling nearly $200,000 from his school district.
William “Gary” Rye actually embezzled over $500,000 over several years of leading Dayton Independent Schools, according to Kentucky State Auditor Adam Edelen.A large majority of the roughly 1,000 students served by Dayton Independent are low-income status. Rye will pay that money back in a settlement reached last month.Edelen has made education his top priority he says to prevent these instances from happening school districts need better communication between district leaders and the school board.“What we find in almost every area that there are problems is an inadequate balance between the executives who run organizations and the boards who are supposed to oversee them," he says.Edelen says when Rye is sentenced next April he hopes it sends a strong message to school administrators across the state that his office is watching. Edelen’s office is also conducting a general audit of Jefferson County Public Schools. He says that should be completed by early next year.(Image via Shutterstock)
