ALBANY - A former school superintendent has admitted forging a letter from the district's business administrator so he could inflate his pension.
Mark DeSanctis pleaded guilty in Colonie Town Court on Wednesday to third-degree forgery and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing. DeSanctis was sentenced to a conditional discharge and agreed to pay approximately $40,000 in restitution.
In addition to his guilty plea, DeSanctis agreed to surrender his teaching certificate to the state Department of Education.
DeSanctis served as the superintendent of the Westhill School District from July 1, 1992, to June 30, 2002.
When he retired, the state teachers retirement system was trying to figure out DeSanctis' pension, when they discovered his pay jumped 20.8 percent in the 1999-2000 school year.
An investigation found that DeSanctis forged the district's business manager's signature on a letter. The letter stated that the district's board had met with the district's business manager, and that they concluded that DeSanctis' 20.8 percent salary increase was a reward.
In addition to his guilty plea, DeSanctis agreed to surrender his teaching certificate to the state Department of Education.
DeSanctis served as the superintendent of the Westhill School District from July 1, 1992, to June 30, 2002.
When he retired, the state teachers retirement system was trying to figure out DeSanctis' pension, when they discovered his pay jumped 20.8 percent in the 1999-2000 school year.
An investigation found that DeSanctis forged the district's business manager's signature on a letter. The letter stated that the district's board had met with the district's business manager, and that they concluded that DeSanctis' 20.8 percent salary increase was a reward.