Rosary tightens existing protocols after business manager charged with theft
By Kalyn Belsha and Dan Campana Sun-Times Media March 7, 2013 6:56PM
Kevin Carew is charged with stealing thousands of dollars from Rosary High School in Aurora.
Updated: April 11, 2013 6:42AM
AURORA — Rosary High School is tightening financial protocols after its former business manager was charged with stealing at least $45,000 from the all-girls Catholic school.
“Anytime someone goes through this you try to figure out what else you can do to make the system better,” Michelle Salerno, Rosary’s assistant principal said Friday, adding the school already had protocols in place that helped staff catch the theft. “We’re moving forward very successfully.”
Kevin Carew, 35, of the 2500 block of Dickens Drive in Aurora, surrendered to police last week after prosecutors charged him with theft greater than $10,000 and theft by deception. He posted the 10 percent of his $40,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on March 14.
According to Kane County Court records and Aurora police, Carew wrote checks to “cash” and made other withdrawals from Rosary’s accounts totaling at least $45,000 between June and August 2012. He later used that money to gamble, court records show.
Salerno said the school realized the finances were off on Aug. 31, 2012 — right before Labor Day weekend — and Carew was fired as soon as he returned to work on Sept. 4, 2012. Carew had been working for the school for six years, Salerno said, and hadn’t had any prior incidents.
Rosary officials reported the incident to the police shortly after discovering the “financial improprieties,” according to court records.
“We’re confident that it was caught quickly,” Salerno said. “Compared to other horror stories that you hear, I think we were very fortunate.”
Rosary has a new business manager and was reimbursed by its insurance company for the funds that were stolen.
Salerno said the Rosary community is saddened by the breach of trust, but is trying to focus on positive events — the school is celebrating its 50th anniversary and was hosting a carnival Saturday to celebrate the milestone.
“It’s sad whenever anything like this happens,” Salerno said. “We still have the greatest student body in the universe, and that’s what this school is all about.”
