A former Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board program superintendent has been jailed for 18 months for stealing over $190,000 from the board.

The board fired Beverly Williams, 60, in May 2002 after it was discovered she was responsible for taking the money through questionable billing practices.

"We take no joy in this matter," said Bruce Campbell, media spokesperson for the board. "But this has taken five years to be resolved."

Mr. Campbell said Ms. Williams' case was the last to be finalized, as several employees of the board were charged at the time.

The fraud was uncovered after a 12-month investigation following a forensic audit that revealed accounting irregularities.

As a result, several people, including Ms. Williams, were charged, the group having defrauded the school board of nearly $800,000.

Ms. Williams was found guilty of redirecting funds for her personal use by submitting fraudulent claims and invoices, and even setting up a bank account under the name The Teachers Centre,

which was found to be Williams' personal bank account.

Mr. Campbell said the board has moved on since the charges were laid and in the aftermath had hired an internal auditor and formalized a code of ethics as a safeguard against it happening again.

"This was done by only a few employees out of 10,000. However, it is unacceptable and we have put corrective measures in place. But if people are bent on circumventing the rules they will find a way." Mr. Campbell said.