"I am so relieved it's all over. It's been a terrible 10 months," Sharman Dykes (54) said outside the Dunedin District Court yesterday after her sentencing.
In June, Mrs Dykes, now a farmer, from Winton, pleaded guilty to three dishonesty charges relating to her overstating Balclutha School's roll by between 12 and 15 pupils on three occasions from 2003 to 2005.
The offending resulted in the school receiving $16,700 in Crown funding to which it was not entitled.
Yesterday, she was convicted on the three counts and discharged.
Judge Stephen O'Driscoll said he recognised Mrs Dykes' offending was motivated by the "best of intentions" and that, in all other respects, she had an impeccable character, but her sentence must act as a deterrent to others in positions of trust, who must act in a honourable and truthful way.
Outside the courthouse Mrs Dykes said she was grateful for the judge's comments.
"I am not proud of this and would not suggest it to anyone else tempted to break the law in this way, because it is terrible."
It had affected not only her life, but that of her family and friends, she said.
She had fudged the numbers so the school could afford to pay for extra support for pupils with behavioural and learning needs, Mrs Dykes said.
"That was what was behind my reasoning."
She hoped some positive changes could come from her case.
"If we can stop having this sort of ambulance at the bottom of the cliff way of doing things, we can help children before these [behavioural] problems manifest themselves."
New Zealand Principals Federation president and Balclutha School principal Paddy Ford said the judge's decision was sensible.
