Reynolds Superintendent Dr. Charles M. Cagno was suspended for five days without pay as punishment for misusing school vehicles and property.

Reynolds school directors suspended Cagno after a two-hour, closed-door session at a special board meeting Thursday.

Director James Sunderlin, chairman of the personnel committee, read aloud a letter to Cagno composed by Ralph E. Jones, board president, regarding results of an audit conducted by the Office of Special Investigations of the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor-General.

Cagno was hired March 17, 1999 at an annual salary of $78,000. He began working on July 6, 1999. Cagno now earns $82,915 a year.

The board voted 7-2 in favor of suspending Cagno, with board members Thomas J. Limber Jr. and Maddox B. Stokes, Cagno's predecessor, voting no.

"I have some problems with the letter ... we could have just given him a reprimand by letter. I don't think they should have reprimanded him publicly," Limber said, adding that the public reprimand is causing citizens to distrust Cagno.

"There were some specific details in it that were against some philosophical thoughts that I had," Stokes said. "I didn't feel it was appropriate ... not that I didn't agree with a punishment equal or greater. I don't want to come across as being against the discipline of a superintendent."

The five days may not be taken consecutively or in conjunction with weekends or holidays, and Cagno has the option to forfeit one day of accrued paid vacation for each day of suspension.

Over 80 residents flocked to the large group instruction room at Reynolds Junior/Senior High School to hear the announcement based on findings of a special investigation by the state Auditor General's Office.

According to the letter:

• In August 1999 Cagno took two aluminum bleacher planks from school grounds and delivered them to his mother's home without the board's permission.

• On two occasions that same month, Cagno used a district dump truck to deliver gravel, purchased from an independent supplier, to his mother's home.

• On Aug. 22, Cagno used a district van to drive to Pittsburgh to help his daughter move. District policy states the board prohibits personal use of materials, tools, supplies and equipment, along with the use of district vehicles. Cagno returned the bleacher planks and paid the district $48.43 to cover the cost of fuel for the van, the letter said.

• Cagno, owner of an antique firearm assembling business called Dr. Charlie's Emporium, failed to reflect the business on his annual statement of financial interests for 1999, which may be a violation of the Pennsylvania Public Official and Employee Ethics Act of 1998.

  The business never has had any dealings with Reynolds or any other school district, and the district has no power to investigate or enforce the Ethics Act. When the oversight was brought to Cagno's attention in August, he immediately filed an amended statement, the letter said.

• Cagno maintained a district employee's attendance and payroll records in an inaccurate manner by marking the employee present while he was attending a conference and graduate courses. Cagno also agreed to let a suspended employee forfeit an accrued paid vacation day and work as usual.

Because the matter is the subject of a pending lawsuit brought against Cagno and the district by two administrators, the board could not reach conclusions on it.

Sharon attorney John Reed is to investigate the allegations related to the audit because Joseph Valentino, the district's solicitor, is Cagno's cousin. The board made its decision based on Reed's recommendations.

Several residents said Cagno received just a "slap on the wrist." One woman drew applause from the crowd when she pointed out Cagno's actions would be cause for firing in other jobs.

Another said if a student took something from the school, he or she would have been criminally charged and would have been suspended or expelled. She worried about the example the board was setting for the students.

Limber pointed out that Cagno had not been charged with theft and the board had no proof that Cagno had stolen the planks. Limber said when he worked for the district maintenance department the staff often threw items away. He said it was undetermined that the boards had been thrown away, but Cagno returned the planks and he did not know what became of them.

Cagno said he accepted the board's letter and that he did not plan to contest it, which is an option open to him.

"It's always been my belief to stand up and be counted for your actions. I did that," he said. "I need to get on with the business of education."