RUMFORD – The school board Monday discussed having the former athletic director, who was convicted of embezzling funds last month, serve his court-ordered community service by tutoring students.

SAD 43 Mexico board member Betty Barrett suggested that Tim McInnis serve some of his community service as a math tutor for SAD 43 students.

“He’s good at math and a whiz with kids,” she said.

Superintendent Jim Hodgkin agreed that if the district has any control over how McInnis completes his community service, he would be a good tutor.

McInnis was found guilty last month of embezzling the funds from the athletic and student activities account from 2000 through 2003. He resigned about a year ago.

He was sentenced last week to making restitution to the district of nearly $87,000. Also included in the sentencing was a requirement to serve 20 hours a week of community work.

Hodgkin said he will check on the possibility of McInnis tutoring and bring the information back to the board at a later meeting.

The superintendent updated the board on the sentencing, saying he believed he, Mountain Valley High School Principal Bruce Lindberg and current Athletic Director John Bernard could put together a plan for how the funds could be spent.

However, Barrett said the money should go into the district’s general fund.

“This money is not a gift,” she said. “We can only spend what we approve.”

If the restitution cannot be used for projects to be named by the superintendent, principal and athletic director and approved by the board, then Hodgkin said the funds would be treated as revenue for the 2005-06 budget.

He said he would check with the district’s lawyer on how to use the money.