Head Start chief on leave while agency is audited
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
The director of Oahu Head Start, which provides preschool services to low-income families, has been placed on leave while independent auditors investigate allegations of a misuse of federal money for the program.
Roland Gella, Head Start director for 30 years, was put on leave after three letters alleging "fiscal and managerial improprieties" were sent to the lieutenant governor's office, said Robert Piper, deputy chief of staff and general counsel to the lieutenant governor.
Piper also is chairman-elect for the Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP), which administers Oahu Head Start.
The third letter was signed and prompted the lieutenant governor's office to start the process of an inquiry, he said.
Discussions involved officials at HCAP as well as the regional branch of Head Start in San Francisco, he said; all agreed Gella should be placed on paid leave during an audit.
"The HCAP director decided we need to get to the truth and find out what happened," Piper said. "No judgment has been made about Mr. Gella."
Gella, who said he began leave on Monday and is temporarily replaced by assistant director Toni Farm, said the accusations stem from "internal politics" and result from "people trying to take over my position."
He also objected to the fact that the name was omitted from the copy of the signed letter sent to him.
Piper said the signed letter arrived in August. He would not discuss the allegations beyond characterizing them as "fiscal and managerial improprieties."
Ruby Hargrave, executive director of HCAP, was unavailable for comment this morning. However, HCAP spokesman Bob Hoffman said "the agency is doing the right thing" by arranging for an independent audit.
He added that various auditing companies are being considered for the inquiry and that two will be selected to perform separate managerial and fiscal audits.
The letters also were addressed to the state attorney general, the local office of the FBI and other agencies.
"We hope that everything is cleared, that Head Start is cleared of all accusations," Hoffman said.
