School boss’ owe-T
A Bronx principal who earns $140,000 allegedly padded her hefty salary with thousands of dollars in unearned overtime, investigators charged yesterday.
PS/MS 31 Principal Liza Cruz Diaz raked in at least $4,800 over several years by having the school secretary punch her time card hours after she had departed the Melrose school, according to surveillance and video footage reviewed by city investigators.
They said additional evidence they have yet to sift through may ultimately show that Diaz’s deception netted nearly 10 times that amount.
“If we could prove the whole 900 hours that she worked since 2008, that would be a total of $40,000 [in unearned pay],” said Special Commissioner of Investigation Richard Condon. “We still may be able to prove that.”
Investigators watched Diaz leave the school at 3:54 p.m. and go to her New Jersey home on a day that her punch-out time read 6:21 p.m., and exit at 3:30 p.m. on another day when her checkout time read 5:38 p.m.
School secretary Melissa Carey admitted that she and Diaz powwowed regularly to figure out how many hours of overtime Diaz was eligible to file for each pay period.
Diaz also allegedly billed the school for a paltry $92 in trinkets — dozens of sunglasses and beaded necklaces — for her daughter’s Sweet 16 in late 2010.
Reached by phone, Diaz’s daughter said her mom wasn’t home. Other family members also declined comment.
Diaz, 45, told investigators she didn’t ask Carey to punch her time card, but admitted that she was aware of it and didn’t ask her to stop.
She said she signed her own time sheets but didn’t necessarily review them.
She offered investigators a confidential excuse for why she left earlier than her time records show, but Condon declined to disclose the explanation.
School employees said Diaz is currently on medical leave.
Department of Education officials said they’ve placed Diaz on administrative duty and that they’re seeking to boot her.
They also said they’ll discipline Carey for her involvement.
Condon turned his findings over to the Bronx district attorney.
Additional reporting by Julia Marsh
