The Sentinel-News from Shelby County reports that Shelby County schools Director of Finance Greg Murphy has stepped down from his position in the latest development following the discovery of the embezzlement of nearly $600,000 from the school district’s substitute teacher funds.

The newspaper also reports that the person charged in this case, Benita Anglin, appeared in court for the first time recently, as well. Murphy is reported as Anglin’s immediate supervisor.

An audit released last month by Kentucky Auditor of Public Accounts Adam Edelen says Anglin had too much access and inadequate oversight. Edelen’s office charges this is “‘one of the biggest security lapses’ of payroll best practices.”

Murphy holds a Masters in Business Administration and is a licensed CPA, but that apparently was not enough to help him spot the massive disappearance of funds.

This case adds to earlier ones from Dayton Independent Schools and Mason County Schools where supposed fiscal safeguards in the existing public school finance system have proved seriously inadequate.

The combined price tag for these thefts approaches a million dollars. That’s a lot of money taxpayers intended to go for education that got swiped, instead.