A former Wai­pahu elementary school principal pleaded not guilty to rec­ord-tampering charges in Ewa District Court on Monday.

Florentina Smith, 69, waived her first appearance in court. Her attorney, Della Au Belatti, entered the pleas on her behalf.

District Judge Russel Nagata approved a request for a jury trial, and the case will head to trial Sept. 23 in Circuit Court.

The state attorney general’s office has charged Smith with two counts of tampering with a government rec­ord, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine. She was charged via summons and not arrested.

The state alleges the crimes were committed Nov. 12, 2011, and the following week on Nov. 19, while Smith was serving as principal of August Ahrens Elementary.

The complaint alleges Smith "knowingly and falsely made, completed or altered, or knowingly made a false entry in, a written (government rec­­ord)." It does not include any details of the alleged crimes.

Belatti, also a legislator in the state House, declined further comment after Monday’s hearing, as did state Deputy Attorney General Christopher Young.

Smith had been placed on administrative leave in January 2012 as the state investigated allegations against her. Sources told the Star-Advertiser at the time that she was investigated for allegedly directing a teacher to file a per diem reimbursement claim for training that did not occur.

Smith’s employment with the Department of Education ended in September 2012, a department spokes­man said. She had been with the DOE since 1971.

Smith could not be reached for comment.