Royal Oak

Investigation of student activities fund continues at ROHS

By Heidi Roman
C & G Staff Writer

ROYAL OAK — Nearly two months after placing its high school principal on paid administrative leave, Royal Oak Neighborhood Schools continues to investigate possible financial irregularities in the student activities fund and is still employing an interim principal.

Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin notified parents and students in the district Dec. 29, over holiday break, that Principal Michael Greening was being placed on leave for an undetermined amount of time.

Neither the district nor the Royal Oak Police Department, which is handling the investigation, are able to provide a timeline as to how long the investigation could continue.

“The investigation is ongoing and unfortunately we do not have any updates to give out,” said Lt. Tom Goad.

Lewis-Lakin said all personnel in the district have been instructed to cooperate fully with the investigation.

“We are committed to ensuring that the investigation is complete, thorough and fair,” he said in an email. “While we want to see this situation resolved as soon as possible, we do not want to rush the investigation so as to compromise the integrity of its findings.”

While Greening remains on paid leave, Interim Principal Jim Moll is being employed as a day-to-day substitute paid a per diem rate. He retired last June after 38 years in the Birmingham Public Schools district.

“(Moll) continues to serve as our interim principal,” Lewis-Lakin said in an email. “He is providing experienced, stable, student-focused leadership during what is a difficult situation for the Royal Oak High School community.”

The district has not provided any details regarding the investigation, or what the possible financial irregularities in the student activities fund may be. The fund is internal to the high school and holds revenues for various student groups.

Lewis-Lakin has said in the past that the district “became aware of concerns,” and decided to involve outside agencies in the investigation. Paid administrative leave is a neutral, non-disciplinary status, but “not a state anybody wants to be in.” The district did not take the decision to put Greening on leave lightly, he said.