WHRHS construction woes prompt review

WARREN -- The Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education voted to allow a law firm to investigate and pursue legal actions against individuals, including the former superintendent, who may have mismanaged or withheld information about the school's construction project.An ongoing investigation has revealed that additional funds may be necessary to complete the construction. The board will discuss options to remedy the situation at its meeting on Monday.

Board President Barbara Vitarius was not able to elaborate on how much more money may be necessary to complete the project.

"On Nov. 7, the board voted to direct legal counsel to investigate and, where appropriate, pursue the action on the part of the superintendent, public officials and key individuals and/or entities involved in this project and their role in any potential mismanagement or overall lack of oversight of this important process," Vitarius said in a prepared statement.

The resolution authorizes the law firm Schenck, Price, Smith and King, LLP to investigate and pursue all available legal remedies against former Superintendent Gary Reece, Warren Township Building Inspector Jeffrey Heiss, EIC Inspection Agency, EIC's Fire Sub-Code Official Tony Apostolico, and any and all other individuals related to the district's construction project. These legal remedies may include, but are not limited to the filing of lawsuits in Superior Court, the resolution added.

The school district was unable to provide contact information for Reece.

Heiss and representatives from EIC failed to return phone calls seeking comments on the matter.

"Irregularities have come to light," said Vitarius, who confirmed that these irregularities may include project management and financial information being withheld from the board, but declined to comment further.

Warren Township Administrator said the township is aware of the investigation into one of its employees, but has not been asked for any assistance, nor have investigators reached out to the township or requested any documents.

"We know they're doing it, end of story," he said. "If any actions come up, since it is a potential litigation matter, we'll follow the guidance of legal advisors."

In May, the board voted not to renew Reece's contract and to immediately remove him from his post. When Frances Stromsland moved into the interim superintendent position she and the board hired and outside auditor to review the expenditures of Reece and other individuals involved with the project.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Stromsland declined to comment on the situation. Vitarius said that some board members had a "gut feeling" that Reece was not sharing pertinent information with them. "In order to get to that, we had to not renew his contract," she said. "It (that feeling) was an ongoing thing. We didn't have full board support when the suspicions came to light." The investigations have been ongoing for the past six months and are expected to continue for about two months, Vitarius said. "As president of the board, I will request that within the next two months this investigation be completed and, at that time, I will convene a public meeting to discuss the results," said Vitarius in her statement. The $41 million project includes the renovation of the school's existing classrooms -- which were mostly complete by the start of school -- and an expansion portion to include a theater, music wing and new science labs. "It's going fairly well," Vitarius said. "We're moving along so that hopefully by next September the new part will be done." The entire project was originally expected to be complete by September 2005.