A former bookkeeper who eight months ago agreed to serve two to 10 years in prison for embezzling more than $400,000 from the Concord School District's lunch program wants to serve the rest of her sentence at home.

Edith Kelley of Loudon and the state Department of Corrections have asked the Merrimack County Superior Court to release Kelley on administrative home confinement more than a year before she is eligible for parole.

In a letter to the court, Kelley said her goal is to return to her Loudon home and resume her role as wife and mother. She said she would also like to work to pay off her $419,000 restitution bill and possibly further her education.

Wayne Coull of the Merrimack County Attorney's Office has filed an objection to the request and asked the court to schedule a hearing. Kelley "has served just over eight months for stealing nearly a half a million dollars," Coull wrote in his objection. "Releasing the defendant so soon for such a crime makes a mockery of the sentence intended by the court."

Prison officials could not be reached for comment on their request yesterday evening. Concord school Superintendent Chris Rath, who supported the sentence Kelley received in January, declined comment on Kelley's request yesterday.

Kelley was sentenced in January to three to 10 years in state prison with the understanding that one year of the minimum sentence would be suspended. Judge Carol Ann Conboy accepted that plea deal after rejecting an earlier agreement that would have incarcerated Kelley for 18 months.

She began working on her request for administrative home confinement as early as July, six months into her sentence, according to court records.

Kelley stole between $300 and $400 a day from the lunch program for seven years, according to the police. At the time, she was responsible for counting the $5,000 a day students spent in the district's cafeterias, and investigators said she alone handled the deposit slips.

Kelley's financial records showed that Kelley and her husband, Michael, were struggling to pay their bills and nearly lost their Loudon home to foreclosure.

With her request for early release on administrative home confinement, Kelley included certificates showing that she has spent her eight months in prison taking courses on mythology, anger management, self-esteem, pet fostering and the effect crime has on victims.

She has had no disciplinary problems in prison, according to the paperwork filed with the court. In her request to the court, Kelley also included the apology letter she wrote to the school district.

"While incarcerated . . . I have reflected upon my past actions," the undated letter begins. "I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am truly sorry. Not only have I disappointed the people I worked for, I have also caused a huge financial (and) embarrassing as well as emotional burden to my family.

"I realize there is nothing I can say or do to change the past," the letter continues. "I can, however, tell you I truly regret the trust and respect that has been lost.

"I am taking every step possible to insure that my past mistakes are not repeated and to work towards a positive and productive future. I am thankful that I have had this opportunity to apologize."

The court has not yet ruled on Kelley's request or scheduled a hearing date.