Following the firing of David LaPlante from his position as director of buildings and grounds for Warwick Public Schools and his subsequent arrest for allegedly embezzling $72,662.67 from the school department, the school administration has taken a number of steps to ensure that never happens again, one of which was an attempt to purchase a fleet maintenance management system with the capability of GPS tracking on maintenance vehicles. But by a 3-2 vote the School Committee rejected the system at its special meeting on Feb. 24.

LaPlante is alleged to have paid for home improvements made to his house at 100 Fairway Lane using school funds. He is also alleged to have converted materials and equipment bought at Lowe’s Home Improvement, Cap City, F.W. Webb and other vendors used by the school department for his own personal use.

LaPlante was placed on unpaid leave last November while Warwick Police investigated the matter, in which it was alleged LaPlante personally delivered tools and materials to worksites, and while most made it to their intended destination, that wasn’t always the case. The School Committee terminated LaPlante on Dec. 8 and he was arrested on Dec. 23 on felony charges for stealing more than $70,000 worth of school equipment.

At the Feb. 24 meeting, Chief Budget Officer Anthony Ferrucci put forth a request to award a contract for a fleet maintenance management system to Verizon Networkfleet Solutions in the amount of $8,470.

Newly appointed director of buildings and grounds Steven Gothberg was present at the meeting and spoke in favor of the system, saying it has GPS tracking, it can tell what the vehicle is being used for, how long it sits, fuel usage, vehicle diagnostics, and can also provide roadside assistance and locksmith services, among others. Gothberg said he would manage the system, along with Construction Coordinator Robert Corrente and Area Maintenance and Custodian Supervisor Kevin Oliver.

School Committee member Karen Bachus felt the system was not only unnecessary, but would send the wrong message to school maintenance staff.

“This is not a good message for our employees,” she said, adding, “It’s a waste of money.”

Superintendent Philip Thornton disagreed.

“Given where we came from, anything we can do to restore confidence we should do,” he said. “If no one is doing anything wrong, I don’t see the problem.”

School Committee Vice Chairman Eugene Nadeau echoed Thornton.

“We need to bring back the school department so people trust us,” he said. “If people are acting fairly, they should have nothing to fear.”

School Committee Chairwoman Beth Furtado said she had a problem spending the money on 20-year-old maintenance vehicles and expressed her concern regarding a $65 installation cost per vehicle.

Furtado said, in Middletown, the schools and the city have worked together on a similar system that is used by both parties.

“That’s something we could look into,” she said.

Nadeau and Jennifer Ahearn voted in support of approving the contract award.