Surprise! The two racist Coatesville School officials were corrupt too

[JPZenger]

Previously, the Coatesville School Superintendent and Athletic Director resigned their jobs when it was discovered they were sending racist messages back and forth to each other. Now, they are charged with felony corruption. The Inquirer editorial below is worth reading to the end.

http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/inquirer/20141223_Scandalously_mismanaged.html

"The incompetence of the Coatesville school board rivaled that of those it empowered to run Chester County's poorest school district.

A grand jury report suggests that the board allowed former Superintendent Richard Como to run the district as a petty dictatorship, bullying employees who would dare question him as he allegedly stole public funds and hired unqualified relatives, friends, and felons to work with children. Several of Como's hires had a record of drug, weapons, assault, and child endangerment offenses.

Chester County District Attorney Thomas Hogan last week also announced numerous counts of theft and other offenses against Como's familiar, former Athletic Director Jim Donato, who is accused of using district cash to buy himself a Range Rover and cover his gambling debts. Como, meanwhile, allegedly submitted fake expense reports, created a slush fund, and squandered sparse district funds on football rings and iPads."

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http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2014/12/24/region/doc5491b11ca581e224477484.txt?viewmode=fullstory

"The arrest of two former Coatesville Area School District administrators on Monday added a new chapter to the texting scandal that engulfed the district last year, but the grand jury report that led to the arrests also indicated one of the investigation’s main targets remains uncharged.

The report accused James Ellison, who served as the school district’s solicitor until October, of a wide range of improper conduct that included fraudulent billing practices and leading the district’s school board in an attempt to conceal the exchanges from the public.

Former superintendent Richard Como and former athletic director Jim Donato were both arrested on felony theft charges Monday, but no charges were filed against Ellison. However prosecutors were clear that the former solicitor remained a target for investigators."