Authorities believe a former Parent-Teacher Association officer may have stolen as much as $25,000 from Springhead Elementary School’s PTA bank account this year.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Lakeland Police Department officials, the money was removed from the account through cashing multiple checks, beginning in February. The checks were processed at a bank in Lakeland. However, because the investigation is ongoing, officials declined to give specific details regarding the case.
“The detective is still waiting for some information in this case,” said Ann Dinges, public information officer for Lakeland Police. “She cannot give me a time frame for the completion, because she has to wait for information to be provided from outside sources. Until all of the information is received, this case remains ongoing.”
Bridgitte Kramer, president of the Hillsborough County Council PTA/PTSA, said Springhead’s PTA did not follow procedure regarding its bank accounts, she said. The monthly bank statements, which are required to be opened by someone other than a person authorized to sign checks on the account, weren’t distributed properly. Furthermore, an audit was not done at the end of the school year.
“They did not follow procedure,” Kramer said. “If they did, this would have been caught immediately.”
Instead, it wasn’t caught until July, when the new officers for Springhead PTA discovered the problem while attending the Florida PTA Leadership Convention in Innisbrook.
“They could tell something was really wrong, and unfortunately, it was what everyone thought,” Kramer said.
For our complete story, pick up a copy of the Aug. 23 edition of the Plant City Observer.