Liverpool Central School District Board of Education members received letters last week advising them that the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office was convening a grand jury to investigate some of the district’s practices. The letters were received by board members Thursday and Friday of last week.

We don’t really know much, said Board of Education President J. Mark Lawson. All we know is that a grand jury has been convened to investigate certain business, financial and personnel practices in the district. I believe that was the exact wording of the letter.

The investigation comes shortly after Liverpool’s athletic director, George Mangicaro, brought allegations to the district attorney about improprieties on the part of Superintendent Jan Matousek. Mangicaro accused Matousek of perpetrating a pattern of deception and deceit over the last two and a half years. He first brought the allegations before the school board last May. When the board dismissed the claims, Mangicaro brought them to the district attorney. He was placed on administrative leave Sept. 25.

Lawson said that he isn’t sure if the grand jury investigation relates to Mangicaro’s claims or not.

Lawson also noted that the letters to board members were just letters advising them of a grand jury investigation. They’re not subpoenas, he said. The letter just asks us for our cooperation, which obviously we will be giving them.

Lawson expressed relief after receiving the letter. I hope this means we’re closer to a resolution of all of these issues so that we can move on to other things, he said.

The district attorney’s office could not be reached for comment.