Tom DeLapp (Submitted by Association of California School Administrators)

In an effort to get a handle on messaging during the fallout of a sex abuse scandal at St. Helens High School, the school district chose to lean on a seasoned communications adviser once referred to as the “Godfather of School PR”.

But his time spent in the district was cut short when it was discovered that he had been arrested in February on suspicion of embezzling from an education nonprofit.

The charges

Thomas DeLapp was charged Feb. 23 with fraudulent intent to appropriate property valued at more than $950 — a felony charge — from the Rocklin Education Excellence Foundation in Placer County, California. DeLapp stated on his LinkedIn profile that he was the chair of the organization.

According to court documents, the crime was committed between Sept. 9, 2017, and March 14, 2020, but was not discovered until Feb. 17.

He pleaded no contest to the charges and was sentenced to two years of probation in lieu of a 270-day jail sentence in July. He was also ordered to pay $56,000 in victim restitution — amounting to the value of property stolen, according to court documents.

Contract with Northwest Regional Education Service District

DeLapp was contracted by the Northwest Regional Education Service District, which offers support to school districts depending on their needs. As the St. Helens School District continues to navigate its ongoing sexual abuse investigation following the arrests of two teachers last month, the ESD has provided communications support to help the district handle an influx of inquiries and public records requests.

“The ESD contracted with DeLapp while St. Helens was navigating their leadership void; he is a highly sought crisis consultant who came recommended to us through several Oregon school districts who have worked with him,” Northwest Regional Education Service District spokesperson Kelsey Soltysiak said.

The leadership void was left after Superintendent Scot Stockwell and St. Helens High School Principal Katy Wagner were placed on administrative leave. Wagner now faces felony charges for her handling of sexual abuse reports, and Steve Webb has been named acting superintendent.

DeLapp came with a high price: $225 per hour of services rendered, with total payment not to exceed $9,995, according to his contract. In the case of termination, the ESD would only pay DeLapp for the amount of hours he worked, not the full $9,995.

When working with contractors and consultants, the ESD does not run background checks unless the person is working directly with children, Soltysiak said. However, all full employees of the ESD are given background checks.

DeLapp withdraws

As word began to spread in community social media groups about DeLapp’s prior arrest, he sent an email Dec. 9 withdrawing from his contract to Soltysiak, Webb, St. Helens spokesperson Stacey Mendoza and Northwest Regional Education Service District Superintendent Dan Goldman.

“My personal indiscretion involving financial mismanagement in our local school foundation dating back to 2019-2021 has become an unfortunate distraction. I am resolving this issue with full restitution planned by March 2025,” DeLapp wrote. “My continued presence will draw too much negative publicity and undercut the credibility of your efforts to improve the reputation of and trust in the school district.”

What’s next?

The ESD does not intend to replace DeLapp’s contract, Stolysiak said, so it’s now on the school district to bring in more communications support, if it chooses.

DeLapp said he didn’t have additional comments beyond what he said in his resignation email, and said he didn’t disclose his past because he didn’t feel it was “germane” as he hadn’t intended to be a public face.

The St. Helens School District did not respond immediately to requests for comment.