[Mom21]

I trust the state police more. Our local authorities are somewhat of a joke, sad to say. I actually had a detective call this morning. The officer handling the investigation will be calling me in a day or so I was told. So we'll see. His word will be the final word.

I reread what I wrote originally and I need to clarify that we did count the money before she left with it. Normally the caterer also adds all the receipt copies in the book and verifies that with the money total for the night to be sure they correspond but the treasurer would not wait for that ... but the money itself was counted. The receipts weren't added that night but have since been added and correspond with our total we added the night of the fundraiser. There are definitely missing funds, the only issue is where they are.

Will keep you posted. Thanks everyone!

[LovinDisney4]

I know this may rub you the wrong way Mom21, but, I think you are overstepping your bounds. No one in town needs to know ANYTHING about the issue at hand, you are single handedly ruining the next fundraiser for your school. Why would you continue to let this snowball through town, parents and now the local and state police? I wonder what your motive is? What in your background gives you the authority to do this?

I like what the the last post said.... Actually, playing devil's advocate for a moment, I can side with the principal; not defending the 'thief', but in wanting it swept under the rug so to speak. To me, it's hard to say what the right thing actually is in this situation. How many students are going to suffer once this story gets out? How is this person's child going to get treated? How is the entire school going to look to the community? Are people still going to be willing to participate in fund raisers? It may be more of a detriment to the kids to inhibit future fund raising then to get justice on some crazy mom..... I know you're seeking to do the right thing, but if your school is at all like ours, you need PTO and those fundraisers badly. Why would you want to let this woman jeopardize that for everyone? I feel for you; I hope that you can find a way to get her to step down without making a commotion. Best of luck to you.

On the flip side, the PTO has a fudiciary responsibility regarding financial discrepancies. The board has given the woman numerous opportunities to come clean quietly, but those chances were flat-out rejected. Information like this WILL get out and the PTO better be able to show "clean hands" and a record of having followed through on their duty to the school and the parents lest they be viewed as complicit in the theft.

[dlf]

ditto to Jewel. I would have a terrible time supporting an organization that I knew would allow 1300 dollars to walk out the door and do nothing about it. If everyone is so concerned about the "image" of the school, let those folks come together and make up the theft through a donation.

The only benefit this type of incident holds is for those of us who follow these boards, make sure your fiscal policies are as tight as you possibly can. At least something good can come of this.
d

Can an outside arbitrator be used?

[LeadingtheWay]

I think it's pretty clear myself.

You, as president allowed her to take money without signing for it, giving you a receipt or following proper money handling procedures.

I was treasurer for two year and I'd have never left with money that two people didn't count and sign for and I'd never leave with it without counting it myself and giving them a receipt.

If she didn't count and sign, acknowledging receipt, there's no evidence that she was given any amount of money and you have to accept whatever she now says she has.

If anyone's at fault here, it's the people who let her leave without counting in front of another officer and giving you a receipt.

I'd chaulk it up to lesson learned.

Next time someone wants to leave without a proper count, you say, "Ok, but we're saying there is $17,000 there. If you want to give me a receipt for it without counting, you'll be responsible if it's not all there."

[Rockne]

Originally Posted by LeadingtheWay

I think it's pretty clear myself.

You, as president allowed her to take money without signing for it, giving you a receipt or following proper money handling procedures.

I was treasurer for two year and I'd have never left with money that two people didn't count and sign for and I'd never leave with it without counting it myself and giving them a receipt.

If she didn't count and sign, acknowledging receipt, there's no evidence that she was given any amount of money and you have to accept whatever she now says she has.

If anyone's at fault here, it's the people who let her leave without counting in front of another officer and giving you a receipt.

I'd chaulk it up to lesson learned.

Next time someone wants to leave without a proper count, you say, "Ok, but we're saying there is $17,000 there. If you want to give me a receipt for it without counting, you'll be responsible if it's not all there."

I'd say that's overly simplistic and overly harsh.

The ultimate responsibility -- if there was a theft -- is with the thief. Let's not look past that.

Might the leaders' misuse of or lack of controls have contributed or made the theft easier? Yes. But that's a big difference. If I leave my front door unlocked and my house gets robbed, I certainly consider the thief one thousand times more responsible than me.

For the record, I believe following up on a theft -- even to authorities -- is the right way to go. But I also believe that can be done responsibly and professionally and with thought towards your school community. In my experience, brushing it under the rug leads to the worst results in the long run.

[LeadingtheWay]

There's no proof of a theft.

Without the treasurer counting and signing for the money all that's there is what some people say is there.

[EduCate18]

In a recession, anything is possible!