A veteran kindergarten teacher in the Union-Endicott school district was charged Tuesday with grand larceny, a felony, accused of stealing school items and selling them on eBay.

JoAnn Peters, a kindergarten teacher with nearly 30 years of experience, was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, according to state police at Endwell. She was released on an appearance ticket for Town of Union Court.

State police said Peters, of 235 Ridgefield Road in the town of Owego, is employed at Linnaeus W. West Primary School at 1201 Union Center-Maine Highway in West Corners.

School district Superintendent James P. Coon said, under the district’s normal procedure, Peters would remain on the payroll but would not be teaching.

“We are trying to ascertain the extent of what has evolved and will not take any further action until we get all of the information involved in this case,” Coon said Tuesday night.

State police conducted an investigation into the theft of schoolbooks, tapes and instructional materials from Linnaeus West after receiving a complaint from the Union-Endicott school district.

The charge against Peters came after state police executed a search warrant at her residence Tuesday, state police said. Investigators said a large quantity of stolen property consisting of instructional materials, a computer and camera were recovered. The instructional materials from the school were being sold on eBay, according to police.

Posted: 03|28|07 at 10:27 am. Filed under: US News.