HONOLULU — A Moanalua Elementary School teacher violated the State Ethics Code by pocketing thousands of dollars from a school volunteer, according to an investigation by the state Ethics Commission. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to a report, Irene Bayudan admitted to accepting six cashier’s checks totaling $16,600 from an “elderly” school volunteer
  • The commission ruled that Bayudan be required to repay the $16,600 to the donor and pay an administrative penalty of $750
  • The donor told the commission that he felt teachers were underpaid and gave Bayudan the checks to help her
  • Bayudan is subject to the Ethics Code’s gifts law, which allows checks to be received only if they are to be used for a school purpose

 

According to a report made public on Thursday, Irene Bayudan admitted to accepting six cashier’s checks totaling $16,600 between Dec. 28, 2020 and July 21, 2021 from an “elderly” person who volunteered with the school.

The commission ruled that Bayudan be required to repay the $16,600 to the donor and pay an administrative penalty of $750. The commission is also referring the matter to the state Department of Education for possible disciplinary action. 

The donor told the commission that he felt teachers were underpaid and gave Bayudan the checks to help her. 

As a state worker, Bayudan is bound by the Fair Treatment law, contained in the State Ethics Code, which prohibits employees from accepting compensation for the performance of their official duties “except as provided by law.”

“Although Respondent Bayudan maintains that she had some personal relationship outside of her official employment hours with the elderly Donor, her relationship resulted from her state employment and continued to primarily involve the Donor’s voluntary work for Moanalua Elementary,” the report stated. “Thus, the $16,600 accepted by Respondent Bayudan from the Donor was an unwarranted benefit she gained from her state employment.”

Bayudan is also subject to the Ethics Code’s gifts law, which allows checks to be received only if they are to be used for a school purpose. Bayudan deposited the checks in her personal banking account and did not use the funds for school purposes, according to the commission. She also did not inform her principal of the checks.

The report noted that Bayudan and her colleagues received specific training on Ethics Code provisions during a Jan. 6, 2021 staff meeting.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.