The case of a lacking $25 Amazon reward card at an elite Hampton’s college has became a whodunnit with the principal on the middle of all of it.
Maria Ann Dorr, a longtime principal at The Amagansett Elementary Faculty has been accused of stealing one other co-workers Christmas reward and has since been suspended.
Dorr vehemently denied the allegations however was faraway from the district, recognized in New York State training regulation as a 3020a-inquiry for circumstances involving tenured lecturers, and was positioned on paid administrative go away in January 2024.
She informed The East Hampton Star months after the ordeal that she ‘was in shock,’ that safety and lecturers regarded via digicam footage ‘noticed me with a purple card.’
The outlandish case prompted a disciplinary trial of 1,400 pages of testimony from greater than a dozen witnesses to determine the cardboard caper, and an arbitrator, whose charges have accrued to greater than $25,000 – 1,000 instances the worth of the lacking card, as per The Wall Street Journal.
The ordeal had grow to be so nonsensical that the giftee requested the native police to cease investigating.
Arthur Schneuermann, the lawyer representing Principal Dorr informed DailyMail.com on Friday that they’re ‘ready for a call’ and it might be ‘imminently,’ however was unable to supply extra particulars in regards to the case.
The Amagansett Union Free Faculty situated on Fundamental Avenue is situated within the city of East Hampton and is the hamlet’s largest employer with an $11 million price range.
The varsity begins at prekindergarten via sixth grade and has 110 college students within the enclave the place home costs common round $3million.
Maria Ann Dorr, is the principal of the Amagansett Elementary Faculty, who was accused of stealing a $25 Amazon card and was positioned on paid administrative go away in January 2024
The Amagansett Elementary Faculty is situated on Fundamental Avenue
The incident first came about December 15, 2023 the final day earlier than college would break for winter recess and the Christmas vacation.
One of many mother and father handed longtime college receptionist, Cassie Butts two purple envelopes containing reward playing cards. One was given to Butts, and the opposite to the college’s therapist, Chrissy McElroy.
Butts claimed throughout testimony that she positioned McElroy’s card into her mailbox. Later that day when McElroy when to test her mailbox there was no purple envelope in sight.
When Butts informed the principal in regards to the lacking envelope, Butt stated in her testimony that she was informed by Dorr to maintain quiet, as to forestall the police or any attorneys from getting concerned, as per the WSJ.
It wasn’t till December 19, 2023 – 4 days after the items have been obtained – when Dorr first discovered of in regards to the allegations towards her by college clerk Sandra Nuzzi, who testified throughout the November 2024 trial.
Dorr requested to have a public trial.
Steven Goodstadt, a lawyer representing the college district offered timestamped digicam footage that confirmed the exterior of the mailroom.
At 8.24.17am, Butts is seen coming into the mailroom with a purple envelope and leaving seven seconds later along with her fingers empty.
At 8:37am, Dorr emerges and leaves with a stack of papers, together with a purple envelope.
‘It’s apparent that Maria Dorr hoped this could die down as a result of she knew that her sticky fingers would have been caught,’ Goodstadt stated, partially.
As a part of proof, he additionally confirmed a photograph of the cubbies within the mailroom inside the college.
Through the testimony, she additional denied taking the envelope when she was requested by a second college official.
On Tuesday, Richard Loeschner, Amagansett’s interim superintendent, reviewed the video footage and started his inquiry talking to lecturers.
Throughout his testimony, he claimed that he ‘did the investigation,’ and stated, ‘there is no such thing as a different rationalization as to the place that reward card went.’
In her protection, Dorr stated she was gifted a $50 reward card from an area gasoline station that was positioned in a purple envelope in her mailbox. She believed the recipient was the identical household that had given her the identical reward months prior.
When Butts informed her there was a card lacking, Dorr believed the cardboard would flip up and suggested her colleague to not sound the alarms.
She testified, ‘it’s a faculty. Issues go lacking on a regular basis.’
When Loeschner informed Dorr that most of the lecturers didn’t belief her, Dorr felt as if she was being focused.
She believed Butts was spreading rumors about her even confronted her in regards to the gasoline card that she later present in Butts recycling bin.
When she confirmed it to Loeschner, he dismissed it for the reason that envelope wasn’t signed and than was pressuring her to resign.
Lawyer Steven Goodstad he didn’t reply to DailyMail.com request for remark.
