Meehan was joined in the morning news conference by Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L. Castor Jr., state Auditor General Robert P. Casey Jr., and a sampling of the antique swords and other artifacts that are now in police custody.
The 16-month investigation by detectives and state auditors included a detailed analysis of invoices and interviews with vendors and experts from California, New York and Japan.
Kowalski, who resigned from his $144,692 post at Wallingford-Swarthmore in January 1999, is accused of misusing $169,839 of that district's money between 1996 and 1998. Money was taken from the district's rainy day fund as well as accounts to fund special education, a music program for disadvantaged children, and a computer program for older adults, Meehan said.
An investigation showed that the same pattern had occurred while Kowalski was superintendent of the Wissahickon School District in Montgomery County, according to an affidavit filed in the case. The theft from Wissahickon School District from 1992 to 1996 totaled $97,888, authorities said.
Joseph M. Fioravanti, Kowalski's attorney, yesterday referred to his client as "one of the world's leading experts in Japanese history and antiquity," who had the permission of both school districts to purchase and exhibit Japanese objects of art. He said Kowalski denies any wrongdoing.
Kowalski was arraigned yesterday and released when he posted $35,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday.
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District launched its own probe in 1998, after the district had to issue $2.4 million in bonds to cover a significant budget deficit. Kowalski overspent his superintendent's account by thousands of dollars, Meehan said.
In September 1998, Kowalski had spoken enthusiastically about his vision for a district-wide project in Wallingford-Swarthmore that would allow all children to view artifacts of samurai culture.
