Superintendent of Schools Philip Thornton had a question the day former director of buildings and grounds David LaPlante was charged with misappropriating more than $70,000 in school materials and equipment.

“If there’s one, are there more?” Thornton asked.

The superintendent intends to get that question answered with a forensic audit of the department’s purchases.

“I want them to look back and see if I’m missing anything,” Thornton said.

The volume of what LaPlante allegedly took from the school department still amazes Thornton. The situation came to light earlier this month while LaPlante was on vacation and out of the country. In an effort to reconcile purchase orders, department personnel were unable to locate equipment bought from one of several vendors.

Thornton notified police, and their investigation reportedly unveiled cases in which LaPlante picked up materials for delivery to various school jobs. Allegedly, the materials never made it to the schools. In other situations, according to Anthony Ferrucci, the district’s chief budget officer, LaPlante would create orders for jobs that didn’t exist and pick up the materials ordered from vendors.

In order to tighten procedures, Thornton said he wants “another set of eyes” reviewing all purchase orders going forward. As for the LaPlante matter, he said the department hasn’t completed its examination.

“I haven’t stopped looking,” he said.

LaPlante, who started work for the department 10 years ago as the director of energy – a position that no longer exists – was paid $100,913. When irregularities with purchases came to light, the School Committee fired LaPlante on Dec. 9.

Police exercised two warrants to retrieve items from the LaPlante home at 100 Fairway Lane, not far from the school administration building. According to Thornton, more than four truckloads of items, including a dishwasher, were removed from the house. Much of those items have been returned to the department, according to a release issued by police.

According to police, “the transactions were all associated with one employee, LaPlante.”

Police put the value of items recovered at $72,662.67. While the department has scores of vendors, Ferrucci said in an interview for the Dec. 15 Beacon that misappropriations occurred with several vendors. Police cited five vendors, but did not name them.

LaPlante, 48, was charged with five felony counts of wrongful conversion by a municipal employee. He was arraigned Dec. 23 at the Kent County Court House and released on $50,000 surety bail. A screening conference is scheduled with the Department of Attorney General on Feb. 8.