The former principal of Lahainaluna High School on Maui has pleaded not guilty to felony theft, fraud, and official misconduct charges, a blow for a school community still recovering from the Lahaina wildfire.

• Jerry Dean, who ran the school from 2021 until leaving the Department of Education three years later, is accused of taking unauthorized control of DOE money.
• The state Attorney General's office says she also submitted false information while acting as a public servant.
• She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
• The case adds to scrutiny of how public school funds are handled in Hawaii.

Outlook: The trial is set for January 8, so the case will stay in the news into the new year.