ATTENTION AND CONCERNS OF PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS IN THE DISTRICT. SHE DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT CHARGES SHE’S FACING. FORMER RANKIN BOROUGH MANAGER CURRENTLY, THE WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT TERRY LAWSON TURNING HERSELF IN ON FELONY THEFT BY DECEPTION CHARGES. SHE’S ACCUSED OF MAKING NEARLY $10,000 WORTH OF PERSONAL PURCHASES ON A BOROUGH ISSUED CARD, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT, WAS INTENDED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES ONLY, AND SHE’S ACCUSED OF ONLY PAYING ABOUT HALF OF IT BACK. THE QUESTION IS, WAS THERE ANYTHING STOLEN? NO, THERE WAS NOT. THERE WAS NOTHING STOLEN. AND THERE’S NO UNPAID MONIES THAT ARE OUT THERE. AND THAT WILL BE PROVEN. THOSE ALLEGATIONS, SEPARATE FROM LAWSON’S ROLE AS WOODLAND HILLS SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT. HOWEVER, A PARENT QUESTIONING HER ABOUT HER TERMINATION FROM RANKIN BOROUGH AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING JUST ONE DAY BEFORE THOSE CHARGES WERE FILED, PRESIDENT TERRY LAWSON, IS IT TRUE THAT YOU WERE FIRED FROM YOUR POSITION AS RANKIN BOROUGH MANAGER DUE TO MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS? AND ARE YOU CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE RANKIN SOLICITOR? LAWSON RESPONDING NO. THIS RECENT DEVELOPMENT, THE CHARGING OF MISS LAWSON DOES NOT NECESSARILY INDICATE THAT THERE WAS WRONGDOING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, BUT IT’S ANOTHER THING THAT IS CAUSING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO QUESTION THE FINANCES OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. JUST THIS WEEK, STATE REP ABIGAIL SALISBURY, REPRESENTING PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS, ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR AN AUDIT OF THE DISTRICT BASED ON CONCERNS OF MISMANAGED FUNDS. THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION CONFIRMING TONIGHT IT IS TAKING STEPS TO REVIEW THE MATTER. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RESPOND TO THE OUTCRY IN THE COMMUNITY, SAYING THAT THE REPORTS OF FRAUD, WASTE AND ABUSE MUST BE INVESTIGATED. WHISTLEBLOWER STATEMENTS MUST BE INVESTIGATED. ALL OF THIS UNFOLDING AS THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, DOCTOR JOE, REMAINS ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE SINCE NOVEMBER FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. SOURCES TELL US HE IS CURRENTLY AT FORT KNOX ON MILITARY SERVICE AND IS UNABLE TO RESPOND TO OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ABSENCE, NOR THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST BOARD PRESIDENT LAWSON, THE DISTRICT SOLICITOR, TELLING ME LAWSON’S CHARGES DO NOT LEGALLY IMPACT HER ABILITY TO SERVE ON THE BOARD. I’VE REVIEWED LANGUAGE IN SCHOOL POLICY THAT APPEAR TO CONTRADICT THAT. I REACHED OUT TO THE SOLICITOR TO TRY TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT, BUT HAVE NOT YET HEARD BACK.
Former Rankin Borough manager facing felony theft charges
Updated: 8:03 PM EST Feb 13, 2026
Terri Lawson, the former Rankin borough manager and current Woodland Hills School Board president, is facing felony theft charges for allegedly using a borough-issued credit card for personal purchases totaling nearly $10,000.Lawson turned herself in Friday, accompanied by her attorney, Phil DiLucente, who responded to the allegations by saying, “The question is, was there anything stolen? No, there was not. There was nothing stolen, and there’s no unpaid moneys that are out there and that will be proven.”According to the criminal complaint, Lawson is accused of making personal purchases at various retailers, including restaurants, a dispensary, gas stations, and grocery stores, and buying gift cards with $600 from the borough’s sewer fund. The complaint states that Lawson made personal payments on the credit card over six months, but nearly $5,000 is still owed.“She did not steal any money whatsoever. And more importantly, we believe at this juncture that money is actually owed to her for things that she had purchased on behalf of the borough that have not been paid back,” DiLucente said.These charges are separate from Lawson’s role as Woodland Hills School Board president, but they come the same week as calls from state Rep. Abigail Salisbury for an audit of the district by the Pennsylvania Department of Education due to concerns of mismanaged funds.”This recent development, the charging of Ms. Lawson, does not necessarily indicate that there was wrongdoing in the school district, but it’s another thing that is causing people in the community to question the finances of the school district,” Salisbury said.Wednesday evening, one day before charges were brought against Lawson, she was questioned about her termination from Rankin at a school board meeting.Natalie Watson asked, “President Terri Lawson, is it true that you were fired from your position at Rankin Borough due to misappropriation of funds, and are you currently being investigated by the Rankin solicitor?”Lawson answered that she was not.Meanwhile, the district’s superintendent, Joe Maluchnik, has been on administrative leave since November for unknown reasons. Sources indicate Maluchnik is currently at Fort Knox on military service and unable to respond to questions about his absence or the allegations against Lawson.The Pennsylvania Department of Education confirmed it is aware of the calls for an audit and is taking steps to ensure the matter is properly reviewed, despite not conducting financial investigations.”I have no choice but to respond to the outcry in the community, saying that the reports of fraud, waste, and abuse must be investigated. Whistleblower statements must be investigated,” Salisbury said. The district’s solicitor, Matthew Racunas, stated that Lawson’s charges do not legally impact her ability to serve on the board, although district policy language appears to contradict this. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to Racunas seeking clarification, but has not yet heard back.
WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. —
Terri Lawson, the former Rankin borough manager and current Woodland Hills School Board president, is facing felony theft charges for allegedly using a borough-issued credit card for personal purchases totaling nearly $10,000.
Lawson turned herself in Friday, accompanied by her attorney, Phil DiLucente, who responded to the allegations by saying, “The question is, was there anything stolen? No, there was not. There was nothing stolen, and there’s no unpaid moneys that are out there and that will be proven.”
According to the criminal complaint, Lawson is accused of making personal purchases at various retailers, including restaurants, a dispensary, gas stations, and grocery stores, and buying gift cards with $600 from the borough’s sewer fund. The complaint states that Lawson made personal payments on the credit card over six months, but nearly $5,000 is still owed.
“She did not steal any money whatsoever. And more importantly, we believe at this juncture that money is actually owed to her for things that she had purchased on behalf of the borough that have not been paid back,” DiLucente said.
These charges are separate from Lawson’s role as Woodland Hills School Board president, but they come the same week as calls from state Rep. Abigail Salisbury for an audit of the district by the Pennsylvania Department of Education due to concerns of mismanaged funds.
“This recent development, the charging of Ms. Lawson, does not necessarily indicate that there was wrongdoing in the school district, but it’s another thing that is causing people in the community to question the finances of the school district,” Salisbury said.
Wednesday evening, one day before charges were brought against Lawson, she was questioned about her termination from Rankin at a school board meeting.
Natalie Watson asked, “President Terri Lawson, is it true that you were fired from your position at Rankin Borough due to misappropriation of funds, and are you currently being investigated by the Rankin solicitor?”
Lawson answered that she was not.
Meanwhile, the district’s superintendent, Joe Maluchnik, has been on administrative leave since November for unknown reasons. Sources indicate Maluchnik is currently at Fort Knox on military service and unable to respond to questions about his absence or the allegations against Lawson.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education confirmed it is aware of the calls for an audit and is taking steps to ensure the matter is properly reviewed, despite not conducting financial investigations.
“I have no choice but to respond to the outcry in the community, saying that the reports of fraud, waste, and abuse must be investigated. Whistleblower statements must be investigated,” Salisbury said.
The district’s solicitor, Matthew Racunas, stated that Lawson’s charges do not legally impact her ability to serve on the board, although district policy language appears to contradict this. Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 has reached out to Racunas seeking clarification, but has not yet heard back.