Money being taken or lost by members of the school PTO seems to be a growing trend and I agree 1000% with everyone who says you have to stand up for what is right . We also had the same trouble at our school last year
On our end of the year fiels trip the PTO President lost 1000.00 cash money . She tols us she had put it in her back pocket went to the rest room came out and it was gone. Yet she to acted like it was no big deal.
If anyone of the pto members ,officers ,teacher ,principal ,or myself would have demanded to do things right in the first place this may not have happened . Last year was my first year on the pto as VP and even though I was new I was pretty sure things were being done wrong. The pto president kept the books at her house and she took care of all the money . When I ask why she was doing it she said that the treasurer worked night shif and it was easier to do it that way (even though we had 2 co treasurers ). Then I was ask if I would let my name be put on the school check book ,my reply was no due to the fact of I didn't know everyone well enough to sign off on checks for them ,I didn't feel we needed 4 people on the checking account and that the check book was not kept locked up at the school .
Later in the year one of the co treasures ask for her name to be remove and I was ask agian and said no do the principal was put on it . I knew if the girl wanted off the checking account something must be wrong . So I asked and was told it was a person issue . Come to fined out later the president was signing the other girls names to the checks but not the principal or co treasurer let the rest of the pto know . Then once the 1000 was lost on the field trip them it came out that the president had taken cash money outside at the school carnival stated it was school money to her husband and had him put it in his pocket yet all the rest of the money was at the school ( the money she took outside was from the booth her sister in law was running ). She was seen taking rafle money and trashing tickets. Yet no one was stepping up and telling about it at the time .
When the money was lost on the trip I went to the school the next day talked to the principal demanded the board of ed be called and all money, bank books and records be removed from the president at once . Not because I thought she had stole anything I never seen her take any money with my own two eyes but yes was told of it later and let me add so no one thinks she is a theif or that I am calling her one I still only consider what people said as hear say and gossip and will till their is proof beyond the shadow of a doubt that a person a theif. But I wanted everything turned over for her sake and that of the school . She handed the books and stuff over with no hard feelings . I see it as if you have done no wrong then you wont have any trouble with having things looked at . Our books were given to the board of ed , all the propper reporsts filed .
I just wanted to say good for you and shame on those who said to just leave it be.
In November of 2008 our PTA Pres and VP were arrested after it was discovered that they were embezzling funds. It was blasted in the papers and notes were sent home to every family in the district. In February of 2009 (after previous PTA was disbanded) a group of us stepped in and formed the new executive board. We recently discovered that the prosecutor thus far has traced over $65,000 in missing monies.
How could this have gone on for so long and no one known? The principal was in on it too and has since been forced to resign. It has been extremely difficult regaining the trust back from the parents, staff, and the community even though we are an all new board, but we were able to do it.
You hang tough and stick through it. Good for you for doing what was right. I hope you guys had insurance so there's a possibility you may be able to recoup some of that money.
To Mom21, I'm rather new at this, but, I feel that I must add in my support as well for standing up for what's right. My motto is, 'Stand your ground and don't back down' and at least you can look yourself in the mirror, which is more than what I can say for anyone else involved in the theft. IN MY BOOK, SHE WAS STEALING FROM THE KIDS AND THAT IS THE LOWEST OF THE LOWS!!!! PLEASE KEEP ME POSTED ON UPDATES AS I DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS, AND AS FAR AS HER SUEING YOU, YOU CAN SUE HER FOR SLANDER AS WELL FOR BAD MOUTHING YOU. YOU'RE IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.
For the most part things have settled down. The 'treasurer' (former!) has been using her position on the school board to really bad mouth myself and the caterer but I think people in the community are getting past the whole thing, getting on with their lives and waiting for the legal process to work itself out. She still has a very few strong supporters who refuse to step back and look at the situation objectively, and they try to make things difficult when they can, but we're moving forward despite them. As for us, we are keeping our yaps shut, choosing rather to tell our truth on the witness stand and also protect ourselves from slander charges. She is telling all over town that she is going to sue us when this is over. Whatever ...
I recieved a letter yesterday from the prosecutor's office and the arraignment in circuit court is scheduled for 7/20. I expect they will set a trial date then, although it will probably be delay, delay, delay for that. But we'll see!
Thanks for asking ... and thanks so much everyone for the support!
