It's clear from the post you made that you know the right thing to do. The money needs to be accounted for. Either all those who want to "save the reputation" of the school pony up and cover the loss, or the treasurer covers the loss (or perhaps the board has a bite in this too since protocal wasn't followed), then report the loss. You can't take a "vote" to allow someone to steal from you.
I'd suggest that those involved cover the loss in a certain amount of time, or I'd proceed to the authorities and if you can no longer continue in your post so be it. At least you'll be able to look in the mirror.
I'm new to posting here but I enjoy reading and learning from everyone else. I surely hope you can help me with some insight.
I'm in my second year as president of the parents' group at my son's school. We recently held our annual fundraiser and raised over $17,000 in that one night! Amazing to say the least! However, our joy was short-lived as the treasurer has lost $1300. We are not insured and she is not bonded. I tried to get this taken care of last year but everyone said we are a small town ('family') so no need. Well ... here we are. And this is a community-supported fundraiser so if/when word gets into the community that the money is missing this fundraiser is ruined going forward. The cateter is a businesswoman from town and she helps check guests out and helps tally the totals at the end of the night. We have two-year term limits so the caterer and her daughter have been constants at this fundraiser for 15+ years. So she has it down to a science. Well, the treasurer was very rude with all of us the day of and rude to the caterer and was in a hurry to leave that night. She didn't want us to even count or verify anything. However, we did insist on counting mostly because everyone wants to know the total at the end of the night and also the caterer has her protocol she follows. The treasurer gave the caterer a hard time and left with the money before the protocol had been completed. I was cleaning up some things and did not know the treasurer left without following protocol. She left the funds in her home for 4 days and then called to tell me funds are missing. Problem is she is also on the school board so the principal and superintendent are in her corner 10000% to protect that ... and they intimidated my members against calling the authorities to investigate saying it will ruin our school's reputation, etc, despite the fact that police to not release information to the newspapers unless/until there is an arrest. So my group voted for me to not call. Well, 1/2 of them voted; the other half said nothing. Parents in the group want her held accountable but when we get to the meeting and no one supports me it is discouraging. And I feel she should resign ... but all I'm getting from administration is to sweep it under the rug and move along. I'm very discouraged, can't sleep and am working on an ulcer I'm sure. I think the most concerning thing is that the treasurer has not shown any panic. She has not commented at all that she doesn't know what she'll do or how she'll replace the money. It has been only finger-pointing at this and that and how other people messed the totals up and she has the right amount of money. She has been caught in numerous lies in the situation and has changed her story too many times for me to count. I'm concerned to say the least. Can I call the police on my own if I am concened even though I didn't get a vote from the group? The caterer wants it turned over to the police but her mother passed away in the middle of this so she is a bit sidetracked to say the least. I'm certain the caterer will call ... but I do feel that, as president, it is my responsibility. Let me also say that I am not pointing fingers that my treasurer used the money for her own purposes. But we are confident in the amount of money she took despite the fact that she didn't allow the protocol to be finished. The only thing missing was adding the auction receipts and that has since been done and corresponds with the cash totals we have on our tally sheets that we each counted. Don't we have a fiduciary responsibility both to the group and to the community who donated all these items for auction and come and spend every year that the money is accounted for? Even if the police come back and say they cannot find evidence of a crime, isn't that something we need to maintain our reputation and credibility? And I'm concerned about my personal credibility as well.
