The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission this week fined a former superintendent of the Belle Vernon Area School District $1,250 for numerous ethics violations.

The commission said John Wilkinson, who resigned in 2018, borrowed several pieces of district equipment for his personal use, including a generator, circular saw and cement mixer. This violated district policy.

Wilkinson kept some of the equipment for weeks before returning it, according to the commission.

The commission also investigated a 2017 incident in which Wilkinson had two district employees install a lift kit on his Dodge Charger, giving them each $50 and a “bottle of expensive liquor” for the work, the commission reported. The commission ruled this was not an ethics violation, because the financial benefit to Wilkinson was minimal.

Wilkinson also improperly filled out the financial disclosure paperwork required of public employees and elected officials, according to the ruling.

Wilkinson did not return requests for comment.

He became Belle Vernon Area School District’s superintendent in 2012.

District officials have never given an explanation for Wilkinson’s resignation, which followed a closed-door school board meeting in May 2018. Wilkinson received a year’s salary — $153,000 — upon his resignation.

Current Superintendent Michele Dowell was promoted from her position as principal of Marion Elementary School upon Wilkinson’s resignation.

District solicitor Ira Weiss said district officials did not know the ethics commission ruling was coming.

“The board wasn’t aware of this report. It’s been close to two years since he resigned,” Weiss said.

He said he could not discuss personnel issues, including whether the violations detailed in the ethics commission report were a factor in the resignation.

“The board had reviewed a number of issues with Dr. Wilkinson, and he made a decision to resign,” Weiss said.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)