KEARNY -- A bookkeeper for the town's Board of Education was charged on Monday with stealing nearly $200,000 from the district, officials

said.

Gina Neri, 50, of North Arlington, is charged with theft by deception for negotiating checks drawn from the Board of Education's account between 2011 and 2017, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced.

Neri allegedly used the $190,000 for her personal benefit, authorities said.

Superintendent Patricia Blood, in a statement, said the district noticed "misappropriation of funds" from the business office in late October and contacted the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

Neri was immediately suspended and has since resigned from her position in the district's payroll department.

All the money stolen is expected to be returned to the district. Blood could not comment further on the arrest because the investigation is ongoing.

Neri is expected to make her first court appearance on Feb. 6.

The cashing, endorsement, or deposit of a check are all ways checks can be negotiated.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota.