Speaking by phone from Washington D.C. yesterday, PBH Executive Director Greg A. Johnson said he endorsed Smith's letter to McCavana.

"I'm sure that he didn't get any joy out of it," Johnson said.

McCavana and Dean of the College L. Fred Jewett '57 declined to comment on the letter.

Nero, however, said she was justified in driving the van without permission. She said she even made sure to leave Smith a note informing him of her decision to drive and pick up the "emergency" first-aid kits on July 16.

"I was not required by the circumstance or by getting caught to tell Ken," Nero wrote in her letter to the PBHA board, "Simply put, I believed honesty dictated it. Given the results of this decision, including probable administrative board action, it is unfortunate that I now regret my action."

"Part of PBH vehicles policy is that there's supposed to be a first aid kit in every van," she added.

A copy of the PBHA vehicles policy obtained by The Crimson makes no mention of a first aid kit.

Unauthorized Drivers

In his memo to Tran, Smith said he visited the Academy Homes program and "spotted Tonya M. Osborne '95 sitting in the driver's seat of a parked van with students on board."

But in the August meeting of the PBHA board--for which minutes are unavailable because Nero, as the accused, could not serve as secretary--Nero denied authorizing uncertified counselors, including Osborne, to drive the young children.

This week, Nero changed her story. She now says she told Osborne to drive but did not know the counselor had failed the PBHA driving test.

"The person in question, Tonya Osborne, took the test and did not pass it but never told me that she did not pass it," Nero said.

Nero said she did not ask Osborne if she had passed the test because she had never heard of anyone failing it. The test requires drivers to parallel park, back up in a straight line, drive in traffic and drive in a residential area.

"She is the only person in the last year and a half to fail the test, so I assumed that she had passed," Nero said.

Smith said yesterday that whether or not Nero knew of Osborne's failure on the test, it was the secretary's duty as program director to be familiar with her staff's driving records.