Elizabeth Egan wanted to send an emphatic message to parents after news broke about a PTA volunteer who allegedly embezzled large sums of money from school fundraisers.
‘We’re going to move ahead,? said Egan, PTA Council president for Clarkston Community Schools. ‘There are always lessons learned when something like this happens, but if anything, I’m proud of our organization’we found it and we stopped it from happening again, maybe someplace else.?
Superintendent Al Roberts sent a letter last week to inform parents across the district last week about ‘financial mismanagement? found in Pine Knob Elementary and Sashabaw Middle School PTAs.
‘Our PTAs have strong policies and procedures in place to safeguard funds donated by families and community members,? Roberts wrote, noting no district funds were involved. ‘In fact, it was these policies and practices that led the PTA to uncover the missing funds.?
The information, he wrote, was turned over to police investigators and former PKE and SMS treasurer Diane Weller was arraigned May 13 before 52-2 District Court Judge Kelley Kostin. She’s charged with two felony counts of embezzlement of more than than $1,000 but less than $20,000.
Weller first became treasurer of the PTA at PKE in 2001. She served as president during the 2002-2003 school year. The books appear ‘clean? during that year, said PTA representatives.
Weller served again as treasurer in 2003-2004, and while she was not involved with the PTA during 2005, she again became treasurer, this time at SMS, during the two school years spanning 2006-2008.
Andrea Schroeder, current PTA treasurer at SMS, told police she uncovered discrepancies in PTA financial books that led her to eventually discover more than $20,000 was missing.
Schroeder and others who worked to reconcile the books told investigators they discovered, for example, that during a 2001 Entertainment Book fundraiser, 24 books’which sell for $35’were reported as lost.
The fundraising company said Clarkston schools average about four books missing during each sale, Schroeder told police.
According to a police report, Diane Weller was interviewed by investigators and admitted to taking money from Entertainment Book, cookie dough and book fair fundraisers during her tenure with the PTA.
Other issues’checks written during the summer when books should be closed, voided checks and bounced checks written to the PTA from Weller’s personal account’also raised suspicions.
According to reports, Weller admitted adjusting the books to cover money she took over the years and also submitted fictitious audits.
Independent audits are required annually in order for any school to remain in good standing with the Michigan PTSA.
She also told police she found other ways around safeguards’for example, since checks require two signatures, she had then-PKE PTA president, Mary Hubble, sign two or three checks at a time.
‘You have to remember, this is someone who really had a lot of public trust,? said Egan. ‘She ran for school board twice, she was an active volunteer. We trusted her.?
Weller ran for school board in 2003 and 2004.
Noting her family’s home ‘almost went to foreclosure? about five years ago. Weller told police she stole money ‘just to pay bills.?
She also said she was depressed after the death of a family member and needed money to help pay for the funeral, and that she wrote a $3,000 check to Boy Scout troop 377 from the SMS PTA account in 2007 because she ‘needed to pay for her two sons? Philmont High Adventures Camp over the summer.?
Weller’s husband is the leader for troop 377. Weller told police her husband knew nothing of the check, and that she was not involved in the books for the boy scouts.
Police later discovered, however, that she served as treasurer during the past six years and was solely responsible for the troop’s books. Although ‘shocked? by the alleged embezzlement discovery, Egan said the PTA has very careful cash handling practices in place.
‘This is just one person who maliciously, intentionally abused our processes,? she said. ‘But there is a certain amount of trust we put in our volunteers to do the right thing, and we’re still going to trust our volunteers; there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. We have a good nominating process, we have a good training process and I want the community to continue to feel confident in the wonderful things we do.?
The shame, she said, are all the missed opportunities for students.
‘That’s what hurts the most,? she said. ‘Our kids suffer because this money is gone.?
Diane Weller is scheduled for preliminary exam before Judge Kostin May 29 at 8:30 a.m.