Job Termination Sought—

Teacher Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To Eight Pending Criminal Charges

By Andrew Gorosko

During a brief appearance before a judge in Danbury Superior Court on May 19, a Newtown High School teacher pleaded “not guilty” to eight criminal charges pending against her for allegedly fraudulently obtaining several thousand dollars of funds, goods, and services from the public school system.

Sabrina Post, 47, of 18 Split Rock Road, Newtown pleaded “not guilty” to one count of first degree larceny, two counts of second degree larceny, four counts of second degree forgery, and one count of  criminal attempt to commit fifth degree larceny. Seven of the eight charges are felonies.

As Ms Post’s criminal case moves through the court system, school officials simultaneously are pursuing a course to terminate her employment. Ms Post has opted to have a hearing before an arbitration panel in seeking to thwart the school district’s job termination effort.  

In court on May 19, Judge John Downey presided. State’s Attorney Walter Flanagan was the prosecutor.

Attorney Robert Lacobelle of Trumbull, representing Ms Post, sought and received a continuance in the case. Ms Post is next scheduled to appear in court on June 15. She is free on a written promise to appear.

Police say their criminal investigation into Ms Post’s activities is continuing.  

Mr Lacobelle told Judge Downey that he needs time to study the allegations made by police in the arrest warrant that police served against Ms Post on April 27, when she was charged with two counts of second degree larceny and two counts of second degree forgery.

According to that warrant, Ms Post allegedly submitted bogus reimbursement forms to the school system to obtain $1,735 in funds to attend two drama association workshops in New York City in January 2003 and February 2004, which police say never took place.

Ms Post is the high school’s choral director, a senior class advisor, a Drama Club advisor, and had been the director of the NHS Drama Club’s production of Show Boat.

On February 8, school officials placed Ms Post on administrative leave with pay and benefits, but then declined to comment on why Ms Post was removed from her duties as a teacher. School officials then lodged a complaint with police, triggering the criminal investigation.

Ms Post started working at Newtown High School in September 2001. Ms Post’s base salary for the current school year is $73,339. That sum does not include the stipends that she is paid for the additional school duties, which add $12,000 to her salary.

In her initial arrest on April 11, police charged Ms Post with one count of first-degree larceny, two counts of second-degree forgery, and one count of criminal attempt to commit fifth degree larceny.

Those four charges stem from Ms Post allegedly fraudulently obtaining or seeking to obtain reimbursements from the school system for various goods and services, including, generally, bus transportation, music equipment purchases, electronic equipment purchases, and private music lessons. The aggregate amount of those offenses was somewhat greater than $2,000, based on the first-degree larceny charge.

When she was arraigned in court on April 22 on those initial four charges, Ms Post did not enter pleas to those charges. At that time, Mr Lacobelle had requested a court continuance to May 19 for time to study the allegations made by police in the initial warrant.

Thus, on May 19, Ms Post entered pleas of “not guilty” to all eight charges that are pending against her. She also chose to have her case placed on the court’s jury trial list.

Mr Lacobelle is expected to discuss the case against Ms Post with the prosecutor.

Following her brief May 19 court appearance, Mr Lacobelle and Ms Post spent about 30 minutes in a closed conference room in the courthouse. On leaving that room, Mr Lacobelle declined comment on the criminal allegations that police have made against Ms Post.

Ms Post has referred all public comments on the case to Mr Lacobelle.

Job Termination

In view of the criminal charges pending against Ms Post, school officials have opted to terminate her employment, according to School Superintendent Evan Pitkoff.

“I have initiated the process for the termination of her teaching services,” Dr Pitkoff said May 23.

“She’s still on administrative leave,” he said. Such administrative leave would continue until Ms Post is terminated or resigns her position, Dr Pitkoff said.

In opposing the termination effort, Ms Post has decided to have a hearing on the matter, Dr Pitkoff said. The teacher has chosen to have that hearing conducted by a three-member arbitration panel, Dr Pitkoff  said.

In such a format, Ms Post selects one arbitrator, the school board selects one arbitrator, and both parties agree on a neutral arbitrator, all three of whom will hear the termination proceeding.

It is unclear whether the evidentiary portion of such a proceeding would be held in public, Dr Pitkoff said. Unless Ms Post wants the proceeding to be held in open session, it would be held in closed session, he said.

The three-member arbitration panel will meet in early June to schedule a date for the termination hearing, which may occur this summer, Dr Pitkoff said.

It is unclear how long it would take to reach an arbitrated decision on the job termination proceeding, but the process could last up to six months, the school superintendent said.