Investigates

11 Investigates: Penn Hills district finances under investigation by grand jury

PENN HILLS, Pa. — A grand jury investigation is underway to determine whether the mismanagement of finances in the Penn Hills School District was criminal.

“Part of me is not surprised because you don't lose that much money without someone doing something wrong,” said Bobbi Cass, a Penn Hills resident.

A source also told Channel 11’s Aaron Martin that school board member Donald Kuhn Jr. was taken into custody for not appearing before the grand jury, though at this point, no criminal charges have been filed.

Kuhn has been on the school board since 2007. Martin could not reach him for comment.

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An audit last spring by Pennsylvania Auditor Eugene DePasquale found $170 million in debt and $424,000 in misspent money.

“It is a district that made a lot of very bad decisions, and the taxpayers and the kids are going to be hurt in the long run because of it.” DePasquale said Friday.

DePasquale told Martin he turned the audit over to the attorney general and district attorney’s office. He said he’s not surprised the grand jury is investigating.

“We saw a huge amount of financial shenanigans going on that were either complete incompetence or corruption,” he said.

Penn Hills graduate Yolanda Mitchell believes someone needs to be held responsible.

“It was ran decently and everything, but I'm just kind of at a loss for words with what's been going on,” she said.

Martin made several attempts to reach the superintendent, school board members and the district spokesperson; however, calls and emails were not returned.

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