WPRO News and The Associated Press
North Providence police have arrested the town’s former school superintendent for allegedly misusing a school-issued credit card.
The department said Tuesday that Bridget Morisseau is charged with embezzlement and fraudulent conversion, as well as obtaining money under false pretenses.
She was released on personal recognizance after being arraigned Tuesday on the felony charges. She didn’t enter a plea.
Morisseau resigned in July after being accused of misusing district funds. The school committee accepted her resignation and commissioned an audit.
Mayor Charles Lombardi said then that Morisseau may have spent up to $12,000 in district funds on “questionable” expenses.
Her attorney, Josh Macktaz, said outside court that Morisseau denies the charges, but he declined to comment on the credit card purchases or whether Morisseau has repaid the district.
Mayor Charlie Lombardi was on vacation, but his Chief of Staff, Dick Fossa spoke with reporters following Morisseau’s court appearance.
“He feels that the school committee may have dropped the ball in not doing their due diligence in their background (investigation of Morisseau,)” Fossa said.
Lombardi later called to say that while the town and schools operate separately, his office is paying closer attention to school spending.
“And I can tell you this, the lack of their accountability is most definitely disappearing,” Lombardi said.
“When this happened, my question is, how did this happen? Where was the accountability. So I can guarantee that this isn’t going to happen again,” Lombardi said.
