A former PTO president at Jasper Elementary School in Marion County, Tennessee, has been indicted on felony theft charges.
Amber Bailey was charged with theft over $2,500 in an indictment issued during the February grand jury session in Marion County, according to a news release from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury. An investigation began after school officials reported questionable transactions in the Jasper Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization's bank account.
Officials said Bailey stole at least $5,590 between May 2017 and February 2018, making purchases, writing and cashing checks on the PTO's bank accounts for her personal benefit. She also failed to deposit money collected during PTO fundraisers, comptroller's office officials said.
"She concealed her misappropriation by failing to turn over, or make available, PTO bank statements and other crucial financial information. This information should have been reviewed by other PTO officers," officials state in the release.
"PTO's are required by state law to establish procedures for accounting, controlling, and safeguarding funds," Comptroller Justin P. Wilson said in the release. "In this situation, the former president had too much individual control over financial matters, and even had a second person sign PTO checks when they were blank."