Ex-teacher charged in Maumee thefts

3/14/2003

A 29-year-old Maumee man has been charged with felony theft for stealing at least $1,350 in fund-raising money last month from Gateway Middle and Maumee High schools, police said.

Jeffrey Kern, of 1223 Hugo St., who was a mathematics teacher at Gateway when the money disappeared, has been summoned to appear Tuesday in Maumee Municipal Court.

If convicted, the maximum penalty for the fifth-degree felony is a year in prison and a $2,500 fine, police said.

The Maumee Board of Education accepted Mr. Kern's resignation March 3 after he was suspended for two days with pay. “Mr. Kern no longer works for the Maumee School District,” Superintendent Gregory Smith said.

Mr. Kern, who taught sixth grade, was hired in June, 2001. He was paid $37,297.

On Feb. 5, about $900 for the wrestling team was taken from a duffel bag in a locker room at the high school, Maumee police Detective Sgt. Gayle Lohrbach said.

On Feb. 20, about $450 for field trips was taken from an envelope in a cabinet in a classroom at the middle school, the sergeant said. Several teachers also had money taken from their desks, the sergeant said.