Disney School Teacher Accused Of Stealing $100K
CHICAGO (WBBM/CBS) -- A teacher at Walt Disney Magnet School faces firing and likely prosecution after he allegedly stole about $100,000 from the school.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports, Mark Gruntzel, 43, allegedly told investigators he took the money because he was broke.
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The theft of $56,486 in $75-a-week tuition fees collected over a two-year period from parents at the lakefront Buena Park elementary school was uncovered in a report by Chicago Public Schools Inspector General James M. Sullivan.
The report also alleges Gruntzel stole $40,030 from the school's Parent Teacher Association account.
He has been suspended without pay and faces dismissal at a disciplinary hearing, CPS spokeswoman Monique Bond said, adding that Gruntzel has been a CPS teacher for 17 years.
Disney Magnet principal Kathleen Hagstrom referred the case for investigation last year and CPS is attempting to recover the stolen funds, Bond added.
The case also is being investigated by the Cook County State's Attorney, according to the Inspector General's report, but no charges have been filed, according to State's Attorney spokesman Andy Conklin.
The Inspector General's report, released last week, was also critical of the right of principals at magnet schools to handpick a handful of students.
Disney Magnet School is located at 4140 N. Marine Dr., on the eastern edge of the Uptown neighborhood.
The Chicago Sun-Times contributed to this report, via the Sun-Times Media Wire
