So, a PTO mom steals from the PTO money and we are supposed to feel bad for her?

[Disney1fan2002]

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO15053/

This woman is a PTO mom at my kid's school. She stole over $2000 from the PTO, when she went to "purchase" items to sell for the Santa's Secret Workshop, and the PTO discovered there was no merchandise.

She was on the news last night saying she did it becuase she was going through a divorce and was going to lose her house.

They actually inteviewed some parents outside the school, and at least one said she can't help but feel bad for her.

Where is the outrage? I can find better things to do with my money than to give it to the PTO in the countless fundraisers. But I do because I know my kids get some great services and merchandise for their school with the money.

She has admitted to taking the money, but pleaded not guilty in court. What is her defense going to be? That she was going through a hard time? Whaa whaa whaa...don't we all? WE DON'T STEAL.

 

[mickeyboat]

I feel bad for her because she must have felt pretty desperate to do something like that.

I would feel outraged if I had worked hard to raise funds to benefit my child's school just to have them be stolen.

As far as pleading not guilty, almost everyone pleads not guilty at a preliminary hearing. It gives them time to talk to the DA and find out what their options are. Just because she pleads not guilty now, doesn't mean that she won't plead guilty later, or that she is saying she didn't do it or that she should be excused.

Denae

 

[Tigger_Magic]

I would be outraged and would demand she pay back the money she stole. I hope she is found guilty. The person who felt sorry for her is part of society today that no longer believes in personal responsibility/accountability.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

This happened at a local elem. school 2 years ago. It was also around $2000. It was kept very hush, hush. I am amazed the local news didn't hear about it. One of the PTO board officers is a local morning newscaster. The police weren't brought in and the woman was allowed to repay the money over a period of time. The parents weren't informed and it was NEVER brought up at any PTO meeting. I believe the PTO felt that it would hurt future fundraising efforts. I agree that it is stealing.

Our PTO now has safeguards in place. Any check written has to be approved by 2 people. Fundraiser money is now handled by 3 people not 1. Lots of checks and balances.

Lori

 

[barbeml]

Wow, I don't feel sorry for her. She's a crook.

I don't have kids, but I have attended and dropped a bundle at my nephew's school fundraisers. But no more. At the last one, they had a silent auction for a couple of dozen gorgeous gift baskets filled with really nice stuff donated by local merchants and parents. It was part of an art auction night (big flop). They did not draw the gift basket winners publicly. As we were leaving, guess who the big winners were? Hmm, all the members of the event committee.

Sadly, this kind of stealing seems all too common. Whether it is the PTO or the soccer team's equipment fund, I see stories about thieving parents all the time.

 

[nliedel]

feel bad? Certainly. It's a reason, however it's not an excuse and she should be prosecuted.

 

[Southern4sure]

This happened at a local elem. school 2 years ago. It was also around $2000. It was kept very hush, hush. I am amazed the local news didn't hear about it. One of the PTO board officers is a local morning newscaster. The police weren't brought in and the woman was allowed to repay the money over a period of time. The parents weren't informed and it was NEVER brought up at any PTO meeting. I believe the PTO felt that it would hurt future fundraising efforts. I agree that it is stealing.

Our PTO now has safeguards in place. Any check written has to be approved by 2 people. Fundraiser money is now handled by 3 people not 1. Lots of checks and balances.

Lori

This is what we do also.

 

[Serena]

We had the two singnature checks too. I was the treasurer but I didn't anything to be questioned.

She stole it. She stole it from kids and their parents. It's wrong.

 

[Nancy]

I don't feel sorry for her, there were other choices she could have made and she chose to STEAL money and got caught.

My In laws church had a Priest that stole money from the church, he was never prosecuted because the church forgave him. He was transferred to another parish and then they all got letters asking for X amount of dollars from each parish family to replace the money he stole. Don't know if my inlaws ever gave or not.

 

[dg39]

I also agree with the poster who mentioned that she must of been extremely desperate to do something like that. She stole from the school, the parents and worst of all, she stole from the kids. I know many won't agree with me, but, I think that she should needs pay the money back and not be able to participate in anything that's involved with the school The humiliation alone is punishment. Can you imagine, walking anywhere in town, the store, the bank, post office and anywhere else with your head down in shame. I can't think of any amount of money that would justify me having to live with that shame. Walking with your head up high with dignity is a privilege and something to be proud of. She of course lost that. Not to mention the humiliation that she caused her children. Would I be outraged? You bet I would, but, I also would have empathy.

 

[mepperson]

In the last 6 months there have been TWO local PTA Treasurers in surrounding schools that were caught stealing - but more to the tune of $20,000 !!!! EACH!!!!

But funny part - I am the Treasurer for my elem. PTA and the board has a running joke now that they are paying for my Disney trips! I tell them I *HAVE* to be Treasurer again next year so we can go one more time. LOL.

~Mary

 

[Missy1961]

feel bad? Certainly. It's a reason, however it's not an excuse and she should be prosecuted.

I agree with this 100%.

 

[alabamaalan]

The parents weren't informed and it was NEVER brought up at any PTO meeting. I believe the PTO felt that it would hurt future fundraising efforts.

Unfortunately, that is probably correct. It would be far too easy for parents to refuse to take part in the fund raising hassles after that, even though better checks and balances were in place.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

wow think how desperate you would have to be to do this....

 

[grlpwrd]

That's just awful.

I can see the temptation, though. I am cookie mom this year for our Girl Scout troop and I have a lot of cash in my hands and up until I make our deposits I can see something like this happening to some and in fact people have been caught and prosecuted for this kind of thing.

How can people steal from families, especially kids? and a priest stealing from church? That's just so wrong.

 

[luvmy2sams]

We're going through this at DD's school right now, except it is allegedly the headmaster that took the funds (around $1200) from the school. The school board has a paper trail, but they can't prove who actually took the money. The headmaster has been accused and has resigned. It's a very sad situation all around. DD's school is a very small (85 kids PK-8th grade) Christian school, and the headmaster started the school, along with a few of the board members. It's literally tearing the school apart right now.

I can't imagine how desperate you'd have to be to take money from the kids like this. It's very sad...

 

[The Mystery Machine]

There are no excuses. If that were true we all could have them. Stealing is wrong.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I also agree with the poster who mentioned that she must of been extremely desperate to do something like that. She stole from the school, the parents and worst of all, she stole from the kids. I know many won't agree with me, but, I think that she should needs pay the money back and not be able to participate in anything that's involved with the school The humiliation alone is punishment. Can you imagine, walking anywhere in town, the store, the bank, post office and anywhere else with your head down in shame. I can't think of any amount of money that would justify me having to live with that shame. Walking with your head up high with dignity is a privilege and something to be proud of. She of course lost that. Not to mention the humiliation that she caused her children. Would I be outraged? You bet I would, but, I also would have empathy.

She says she fully intents to pay the money back. She actually went to her arraingment with the cash to pay it back, but the Judge refused. (strict Judge) He wants this to go the full gamett. If she is convicted, the amount of money she stole is a felony. So, she won't be volunteering at the school in the future if she has a felony conviction. Not to mention whatever else a felony conviction will prevent her from doing the rest of her life. She thought she was getting herself out of a desperate situation, when she was really putting herself in a MORE desperate situation. She has 7 kids, if she has to do prison time, look at what she is losing. Not worth the price of a house, I am sorry.

 

[minniecarousel]

Unfortunately, this has recently happened at the elementary school that my kids went to (although that was many years ago!) and a local middle school. Totally unrelated cases, but both women stole huge amounts of money. I'm sure that neither will spend any time behind bars - can't remember what the actual outcome was.

 

[debster812]

The humiliation alone is punishment. Can you imagine, walking anywhere in town, the store, the bank, post office and anywhere else with your head down in shame. I can't think of any amount of money that would justify me having to live with that shame. Walking with your head up high with dignity is a privilege and something to be proud of. She of course lost that. Not to mention the humiliation that she caused her children. Would I be outraged? You bet I would, but, I also would have empathy.

And, it's a pretty small town to begin with (I live in one of the next towns over), so chances are, everyone already knows her. Especially if she's got 7 kids in the school system.