A former elementary school teacher and union treasurer is accused of taking nearly $20,000 from the Grafton Teachers Association.
Kerrie M. Clarke, 45, of 6 Elizabeth St., North Grafton, was released on personal recognizance after a not-guilty plea was entered at her arraignment Thursday in Westboro District Court. She is scheduled to return for pretrial conferences June 1.
Ms. Clarke resigned Nov. 8, 2017, from her teaching position at Millbury Street Elementary School, according to Superintendent of Schools James Cummings. He said earlier that no public money was involved.
According to court documents, GTA co-presidents contacted the Grafton Police Department in October to report theft or fraudulent account activity by Ms. Clarke, who served as treasurer between January 2016 and October 2017.
GTA officials told police that a forensic audit of the GTA account was conducted by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which found that numerous transactions, including unauthorized payments, withdrawals and purchases, had been made by Ms. Clarke from the GTA bank account held at Homefield Credit Union during the time she was treasurer.
Also, according to the application for criminal complaint, numerous checks from the GTA account were written by Ms. Clarke to herself and deposited into her personal bank account.
The total amount of losses and unauthorized transactions reported by the GTA and the Massachusetts Teachers Association was $19,819.97.
A summons was mailed to Ms. Clarke on March 22 after a probable cause hearing was held. She is charged with larceny over $250 by a single scheme and association officer embezzlement of more than $250.
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