Embezzled PTA Funds Cancels Field Trips; Back-to-School Parties
Students at Imperial Beach (CA) Charter School missed out on field trips last year because a former member of the Parent Teacher’s Association allegedly embezzled as much as $40,000 meant for children, according to current PTA leadership and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.
Amber Vissuet and Elizabeth McKay, the current president and treasurer of the Imperial Beach Charter School's PTA said during an 18-month period the organization's former president allegedly lied about the group's finances, emptied out its bank account, collected money from members for bills but failed to pay invoices, and spent the PTA's money on personal items and on family trips.
McKay became aware of some discord in the PTA at the very first meeting she attended as a member. At that March meeting, people were asking the PTA president some very pointed questions about the group’s lack of funds ...“She was saying things like ‘I kept the money in bags in my closet,” McKay said. “Okay, well, do we need to go over to your house and get the bags of money out of your closet then?”
McKay wants justice for the children and to see the former PTA president held accountable for her actions, something she thinks may be unlikely to happen. “It’s frustrating because I get [the authorities are] used to dealing with crimes of embezzlement of $100,000 to millions of dollars, and I understand that it’s not the crime of the century to them, but to us, it is,” she said.
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Alleged-Embezzlement-of-PTA-Funds-Cancels-Field-Trips-Back-to-School-Parties-491622401.html
