One of Palermo's best-known
anti-mafia figures, the head teacher of the Giovanni Falcone
comprehensive school in the economically deprived Zen district,
was arrested on Friday on charges of embezzlement and corruption
as part of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's
Office.
Daniela Lo Verde is suspected of stealing canteen food,
computers, tablets and iphones intended for pupils at the school
and purchased with European funding.
In all 12 people including the deputy head teacher Daniele
Agosta are under investigation in the probe.
Lo Verde and Agosta were placed under house arrest.
Prosecutors launched the investigation after a former teacher at
the school reported "despotic management of public goods by the
suspect", investigative sources said.
In 2020 Lo Verde received the title of Knight of the Order of
Merit of the Italian Republic from President of the Republic
Sergio Mattarella for her activism during the start Covid-19
lockdown in support of families and students in difficulty.
Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara ordered Lo Verde's
"immediate suspension" and said that "psycho-pedagogical
councillors will be sent to support the entire school community
in processing what happened today".
Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla expressed his "dismay" at the news
of Lo Verde's arrest.
"During my tenure as regional councillor for education, I got to
know (her) as a particularly dedicated school leader," he said.
"In light of today's events, it is incumbent on the
investigations to take their course and I trust that they can
unequivocally clarify the facts, for the good of the student
community and the school, which has always been an important
civil and social reference point in the difficult Zen 2
neighborhood."
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