Former Royal Oak High School Principal Gets 2-Year Probation
"I am obviously remorseful," said Michael Greening, a 15-year veteran of the Royal Oak School District.
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Michael Greening, 46, of Royal Oak, was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation for taking funds from a Royal Oak High School student activities account.
Greening pleaded guilty in December to a charge of felony embezzlement of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000, which carries a maximum five-year penalty and/or fines.
Defense attorney Paul Stablein told Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar that Greening received many letters of support "from people who have known him for decades."
Greening, a graduate of Kimball High School, is a long-time resident of Royal Oak and has two daughters that presently attend Royal Oak High School.
"Mr. Greening is extremely remorseful to the school district, to Royal Oak High School and to the community," Stablein said, stating his client's long silence on the charges against him were the result of acting on his attorney's advice.
Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy told the judge Greening's low-key actions reflected poorly on the school district, specifically mentioning a student walkout that he believed put the school board in "a bad light."
Speaking on behalf of Royal Oak Schools, Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin told Kumar that Greening violated the trust of students, colleagues and the entire community and that he was hoping Greening's sentencing would allow the district to have closure and regain focus on student learning in a positive way.
"He clearly did something that was wrong," Lewis-Lakin said, adding he hoped students learned when a wrong is committed, justice is served.
Lewis-Lakin also told the court the school district is seeking restitution for investigation and legal costs it incurred as a result of the former principal's crime.
Greening kept his courtroom remarks brief.
"I am obviously remorseful," he said. "I know exactly why I am here. I am not mystified. I made a series of mistakes and I am ready to get my life back together."
Kumar ordered Greening to pay $25,880 in restitution. Costs for legal and accounting fees are still subject to determination at a future hearing. She also ordered Greening not to enter Royal Oak High School unless it was to attend an event that had to do directly with his daughters.
Lewis-Lakin provided this statement after today's sentencing:
Mr. Greening entered into an agreement with the prosecutor's office that allowed him to plead guilty to a single felony. As a part of that plea, Mr. Greening stipulated to a restitution amount of over $25,000, an admission that he converted at least this amount of student activity funds to his personal use in a pattern of behavior that continued for over three years.
The district has requested that the prosecutor's office pursue additional restitution for the accounting and legal fees incurred as a direct result of Mr. Greening's criminal activities. A final total restitution amount will be determined at a future hearing.
Since last January, Royal Oak High School has been under the leadership of Mr. Jim Moll, our interim principal. Initiatives to advance teaching and learning are moving forward. Indicators of student success are positive and improving. This weekend, I had the privilege of observing our nationally recognized ROHS Model United Nations team as they participated in a conference in Ann Arbor. In less than a month, three bus loads of ROHS students will spend their February recess in service to victims of disaster. The process to hire a new long-term ROHS principal is underway. Our school, our students, are moving forward.
bill bows
4:19 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
What a great lesson for students, Steal what you want,Hurt who you want, Get a slap on the wrist.
Ryan Banwarth
4:59 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Slap on the wrist!!! What a joke steal from the kids get caught 20,000 stole from PTA!! 2 year probation..... Unreal sentence! Should did a year plus!
Randy Wade
5:17 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
"Oakland County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Novy told the judge Greening's low-key actions reflected poorly on the school district, specifically mentioning a student walkout that he believed put the school board in "a bad light.""
This portion seems to imply that Greening's low-key actions were the inspiration for the student walkout, that his actions were what caused it. That is not the case and I think that this sentence should be rephrased to more accurately depict what happened, a group of students performing a walkout as a statement of support for Greening.
Also, Bill Bows, I'm guessing you would be saying that if he were to have been sentenced to anything less than the maximum penalty. Your complaint is with the prosecutor's office, whom you obviously support.
Ronald Wolf
5:44 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
That remark sounds rather arrogant, almost sociopathic, All the more reason for a pyschiatric evaluation though after that remark that smacks of self serving anger. I now feel in his own way he has coped with any depression he has. The legal process too often overlooks mental illness, or possible drug additction as possible motives both which requrire professional treatment before he further hurts himself, or others.
Randy Wade
5:59 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Ronald wolf-which remark are you referring to?
Randy Wade
6:01 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Also, how did you come to the conclusion that is was "arrogant" and "almost sociopathic"
Mark Itall
2:17 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Because Mr. Wolf is a complete genius about everything, even if he doesn't know a darn thing. Just ask him. Be prepared for 5 or 6 posts in a row from him.
Carmella
6:47 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
definition of a sociopath "A person with a psychopathic personality whose behavior is antisocial, often criminal, and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience." Did he steal from the students? Was he lacking moral responsibility and social conscience? I understand why he still has a lot of supporters. He didn't steal from his friends or family. It it is easy to forgive. and look pass his behavior when he didn't steal from you.
Maureen Ditri
7:26 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Has it ever been publicized as to his reason for stealing this money? Was there a drug or gambling problem? I guess I could more understand his reasoning if that were the case. But to sit there and do this while in a position of power and leadership in a school where we as parents hope our children emulate the good behavior of the principal and have nothing to say but "Yeah I did it"! I wanted more from him, to set an example of full remorse and talk to the students about what NOT to do. Not make them feel that the system is flawed! I get so tired of people acting like it's no big deal! It was! Mr. Greening let a lot of people down and betrayed a lot of trust! So much for the trust building exercises at school!
Judy Davids
7:35 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Maureen read: http://patch.com/A-wTlf The prosecution offered an explanation.
Joseph
8:02 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
That's a partial explanation. He made over $100K/year as principal. That's twice the median household income for a Royal Oak resident. It doesn't explain why he had financial difficulties.
Sometimes people get themselves into a dire financial situation because they have a major health issue and don't have health insurance, but he had great medical benefits for his family with the MEA benefits.
Something was draining his beefy financial resources, but we will never know.
Joseph
8:03 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
btw.....thank you for posting that link.
TJO
8:00 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
I was a supporter of Greening at the begining, but this stinks. He was accused of taking up to $40,000. Pleads guilty and pays a little over 1/2 back and he's free? Not to mention how many months of paid vacation at taxpayers expense. I'm confused.
MRA
8:25 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Michael Greening has paid dearly, TJO. And a correction, you were a blind supporter.
Greening has lost his career and his main source of income. He has lost his standing and tarnished his reputation in the community he grew up in. He has embarassed and hurt his wife and children. And he has paid some restitution and is on probation for two years with a criminal record.
Many will tell you that Michael Greening is a good person who made some stupid and unfortunate decisions. I am one of those people. I've known him and his family for over 30 years. For every example he did wrong, I suspect, collectively, we could list 100 things he did right. Again, he is a good person, who did a bad thing.
I'm not defending what he did. Frankly, what he did is undefendable. But I cannot ignore the good person that I've known for decades.
Would you prefer we cut off his hand? It's time for him to rehabiltate. And it's time for the healing process to touch him, his family, and the community. The Greening's are still part of this community.
If the house next to mine went on the market, I would welcome him as my neighbor, without hesitatation.
Zach Johnson
9:59 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Hellloooooooooooo Newman.
Zach Johnson
10:00 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Serious people: look up the term "sentencing guidelines" and get back to me before you continue to speak your silliness regarding the penalty.
TJO
10:14 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
MRA, that’s where you and I disagree. I don’t think “good people” steal from other good people. I did not want to believe like many, the accusations when they came out. I supported him because I did not want to believe the man (I also knew) could do this. Please clarify what you mean by “blind support”. On the matter of restitution, tell it to the 100’s of parents and students who devote their time fundraising. How is it that a misdemeanor traffic violation and felony embezzlement receive the same 2 year probation? What about all the people that don’t make over $100,000 that only want their children to participate in a sport, or music program who are asked to pay more and more to make it happen. If he is such a smart and wonderful person, he is smart enough to know beforehand what he was doing. That is not “a mistake” that is an act done with forethought. $25,000 in restitution doesn’t even come close to restitution. He was said to have taken up to $40,000 and that doesn’t even take in account the months of salary he collected after the fact, administrative costs, legal fees that the taxpayers have occurred as a direct result of his actions. When that is addressed then we can talk about moving on. I know many people who are faced with financial difficulties making far less, that don’t resort to stealing, many of those people are the very ones that he stole from.
Jay Heff
10:46 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
He deserves to have his life ruined. He STOLE A LOT OF MONEY FROM INNOCENT PEOPLE!!! If he broke in to your house and stole $1,000, you'd want him behind bars. This is a joke, people. I'm sure he's a good person on the surface. But he's a liar, a cheat, and a thief. Sure, he deserves a second chance, but ONLY AFTER he pays his dues back to society and earns the trust again....
Carmella
6:48 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
One last thing why did he drag this out so long?