Two parents allegedly embezzle $30,000 from PTA in Middleborough, Massachusetts

FROM ENTERPRISENEWS.COM -


Police are preparing embezzlement charges against two people whom they say fleeced an elementary PTA group of $30,000.


Police Chief Bruce D. Gates did not release the names of the suspects, but said it was a long-term scheme perpetuated by two PTA members who are no longer in the group.

On Sunday night the local school department sent out a phone message to parents of elementary-age students notifying them of a 6 p.m. “business meeting” on Monday that did not involve academics or the safety of students and staff.

School Superintendent Roseli S. Weiss confirmed today that she will discuss the embezzlement charges at tonight’s meeting.

Two Middleboro parents are facing charges they embezzled $30,000 from the PTA of a local school over a four-year period.

They will be summoned to court on larceny charges, police said at a meeting with parents Monday night.

School Superintendent Roseli S. Weiss said Monday that she broke the news to the school community because she wants to lead an era of transparency with parents. The news of the pending criminal charges, she said, was upsetting.

“It’s extremely sad and I feel badly for the individuals who either are ill or compelled to do this,” Weiss said.

At least 130 people attended the 6 p.m. meeting Monday at the Henry Burkland School, where Weiss gave limited details about the case.

Speaking to reporters afterward, Police Chief Bruce Gates and Weiss said the school district started questioning the missing funds in January when the Parent Teacher Association was being split into two groups. It serves the Mary K. Goode School and the Henry Burkland School.

Police were called in on April 2, and an investigation resulted in the decision to summon the two parents into Wareham District Court, where they will each face a charge of larceny over $250. Gates said the summons were issued in the last few days.

It was not known if the two parents are from the same household, or if they are men or women. Their names were not released.

Their arraignment is scheduled for May 21, Gates said. He added that the alleged embezzlement took place over four years.

Weiss said the allegations should not reflect on the volunteerism of the rest of the families in the school district.

“This is about two individuals who made a poor choice,” she said.

Weiss asked parents at the meeting not to speak to reporters.

“I please ask you to have faith in us and faith in our administration because I’m sharing this with you,” Weiss said during the meeting.

Weiss had issued a telephone alert to parents and guardians on Sunday evening informing them about the meeting.

Michelle Holden, the superintendent’s administrative assistant, said people unable to attend the meeting can check the schools’ website after the meeting.


Missing money. Undocumented transactions. Inappropriate use of accounts.
These were the red flags that finally set off an investigation of the Middleboro PTA that found two parents had allegedly embezzled $30,000 since 2008.
Sharon Ellis, former PTA president, and Douglas Russell, both parents of students in the Middleboro school system, are scheduled to be arraigned in Wareham District Court on May 22 on one count each of larceny over $250, according to the court’s clerk’s office.
“It’s very troubling because the money that is collected for students is not being used for students,” said School Superintendent Roseli Weiss. “We don’t want it to cast a cloud on our volunteerism or the PTA because they are very strong and positively engaged in the school district.”
Weiss said at this point school officials have no reason to believe the alleged wrongdoing went beyond the two accused parents. The two are not affiliated other than through PTA involvement, said Weiss.
“It’s about two people who made a mistake or had a lapse in judgment,” said Weiss.
Neither Ellis nor Russell are currently involved with the PTA, said Weiss.
School Committee members could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but Chairman Sara Cederholm provided a comment through email.
“The Middleboro School Committee supports the actions of our superintendent, our PTA, and our police department as they seek resolution and restitution in this matter,” said Cederholm.
Weiss held a meeting for parents on Monday to break the news to the school community. At least 130 people attended the 6 p.m. meeting at the Henry Burkland School, where Weiss gave limited details about the case.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Police Chief Bruce Gates and Weiss said the school district started investigating the missing funds in January when the Parent Teacher Association was being split into two groups. It serves the Mary K. Goode School and Henry Burkland School.
Police were called in on April 2, and an investigation resulted in the decision to summon the two parents to Wareham District Court.
Weiss said on Tuesday no parents had reached out to her following the meeting. Gates did not return requests for comment on Tuesday.
Embezzlement from school organizations is not uncommon. There have been two cases reported in Brockton.
In 2008, the treasurer of the Hancock School Parent Advisory Council, Christine Peterson, resigned after being accused of taking $15,000 from the organization, according to school officials. She was not prosecuted after she returned the money, school officials said.
The following year, an estimated $50,000 was discovered missing from the Brockton High School Athletics program. No one was ever charged in that case, but about $35,000 was returned.