A former Fern Elementary School secretary admitted today to stealing nearly $15,000 from the school, including writing checks from the Kalihi school’s account to pay for her rent in public housing.

Williamina Muranaka pleaded guilty to 12 counts of theft, one of attempted theft and one of bribery this morning in state court.

The attempted theft count is the result of one of the rent checks bouncing. The bribery charge is for accepting gift cards worth more than $2,000 and candy from a school vendor for ordering overpriced printer/toner cartridges.

Muranaka, 44, faces up to 10 years in prison when she is sentenced in July. However, according to the terms of her plea agreement, if she pays back the $14,818 she stole, the state attorney general promises to seek a one-year jail term and probation.