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Uploaded: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 2:03 PM
Hanretty restitution hearing postponed
Court hearing reset for Dec. 11 to determine how much former school official owes Woodside school district
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by Renee Batti
Almanac Staff
A court hearing to discuss what former school official Tim Hanretty should be required to pay in restitution to the Woodside Elementary School District for misappropriating the district's funds was postponed this morning to Dec. 11.
The hearing, a status conference before Judge Mark Forcum, was set for 9 a.m. today (Nov. 15) in San Mateo County Superior Court, but by the time Mr. Hanretty's case actually came up before the judge, the hour was late, according to Deputy District Attorney Kimberly Perrotti.
Because Judge Forcum's schedule was tight for the rest of the morning, all parties agreed to the postponement rather than rush what is likely to be a complicated discussion, she said.
Mr. Hanretty is serving a two-year sentence in state prison after pleading no contest to embezzlement and other crimes involving the Woodside and the Portola Valley school districts.
At his Oct. 22 sentencing, he was ordered to pay restitution of more than $180,000 to the Portola Valley district, where he was serving as superintendent when he embezzled $100,926.
By the time of his sentencing, he had already repaid the Portola Valley district $120,926, and had paid the Woodside district $20,000.
The Portola Valley restitution matter was fairly clear-cut, but that's not the case with the Woodside district. In that case, Mr. Hanretty, who was serving as the district's business official at the time, was authorized by the school board in 2007 to take out a loan not to exceed $632,000, but instead he forged papers to obtain a $2.6 million loan.
Although investigators have concluded that all the funds were spent on school construction projects, the unauthorized loan left the Woodside district with an unexpectedly large debt.
The district is asking for restitution of about $1.56 million in loan interest, about $1.97 million in loan principal, and more than $100,000 for attorney and accountant costs.
Mr. Hanretty, through his attorney Michael Markowitz, is challenging that restitution request.
Ms. Perrotti, the deputy DA, said when the parties meet for the Dec. 11 conference, it will be to try to come to an agreement on how much Mr. Hanretty should pay the Woodside district. But if that doesn't happen, a full restitution hearing will be scheduled.
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Posted by susan smith, a member of the Woodside School community, on Nov 16, 2012 at 6:43 am Curious to know what fiscal accountability the School Board and County, who certify and approve the fianacials, have in all this. Clearly this system of checks and balances does NOT work. Accountability should go much deeper in this matter, should it not? Where are the stories in the Almanac about these fiscal trails and their short comings? Mr Hanretty breached public trust but didn't the county and the elected Board do the same by not being qualified or awake enough to do their jobs?
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Posted by Some Guy, a resident of the Menlo Park: Downtown neighborhood, on Nov 16, 2012 at 8:13 am The problem isn't that the system doesn't work, the problem is that the board undermined the system by allowing the same person to be Superintendent and CBO.
The boards feet should also be held to the fire for allowing this. A change in school leadership at this level does not happen without the boards stamp of approval.
You are 100% correct about the board being responsible for this mess as well as Hanretty.
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Posted by No Public Input, a resident of the Portola Valley: other neighborhood, on Nov 16, 2012 at 10:30 am Mr Hanretty's appointment as PVSD Superintendent was endorsed by Anne Campbell, then-current PVSD Superintendent, before she left for her current role as County Superintendent of Schools. There was no search process or public interview process. Mr Hanretty was basically anointed by Ms Campbell and appointed by the Board as Superintendent and CBO.
When the crimes of Mr Hanretty were identified and addressed, the PVSD Board decided in closed session to promote Carol Piraino, acting Superintendent, to Superintendent, with no search process or consideration of other candidates. They stated this was their right, and allowed several minutes of public comment at a single Board Meeting before unanimously promoting Ms. Piraino.
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Posted by WS Resident, a resident of the Woodside: Emerald Hills neighborhood, on Nov 18, 2012 at 5:07 pm What ever happened to the builder and the architect? The builder was paid with school funds, did he have to return the money? Also, was the architect required to return the money? I also read that the school system was paying the architect to pay bills on behalf of Mr. Hanretty & the school. I don't understand why the school could not write its own checks. I hope this was investigated.
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