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Independence, MO —
Mary A. Ward has been charged with felony theft/stealing of at least $500 from the Blue Hills Elementary School PTA account.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced the charges Wednesday against Ward, 31.
Ward left the position of treasurer of the Blue Hills PTA last summer, and the new treasurer reported to the PTA president that there was approximately a $22,000 discrepancy in the account.
According to the Jackson County investigator’s report, Ward kept her own spreadsheet of the PTA finances, which she reported to the PTA board. However, the board members did not have access to the actual Bank of America statements. Ward was responsible for financial transactions for the PTA.
One item that the investigator noted was money for a fourth grade class trip, for which the PTA collected $1,250 from parents to pay for a bus. The treasurer’s report showed that income, but there was no corresponding deposit on the bank statement.
During the investigation, it was discovered that there was a check/debit card for the PTA account that had Ward’s name on it. The executive board members were unaware of the card’s existence, and they said the card was unauthorized.
Last August, Blue Hills PTA president Chris Ford told The Examiner that the PTA unit had built up the bank account through several fundraisers and had planned to implement a four-year plan to purchase an iPad cart for Fire Prairie Middle School.
Prosecutors have requested a bond of $22,000.
Mary A. Ward has been charged with felony theft/stealing of at least $500 from the Blue Hills Elementary School PTA account.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced the charges Wednesday against Ward, 31.
Ward left the position of treasurer of the Blue Hills PTA last summer, and the new treasurer reported to the PTA president that there was approximately a $22,000 discrepancy in the account.
According to the Jackson County investigator’s report, Ward kept her own spreadsheet of the PTA finances, which she reported to the PTA board. However, the board members did not have access to the actual Bank of America statements. Ward was responsible for financial transactions for the PTA.
One item that the investigator noted was money for a fourth grade class trip, for which the PTA collected $1,250 from parents to pay for a bus. The treasurer’s report showed that income, but there was no corresponding deposit on the bank statement.
During the investigation, it was discovered that there was a check/debit card for the PTA account that had Ward’s name on it. The executive board members were unaware of the card’s existence, and they said the card was unauthorized.
Last August, Blue Hills PTA president Chris Ford told The Examiner that the PTA unit had built up the bank account through several fundraisers and had planned to implement a four-year plan to purchase an iPad cart for Fire Prairie Middle School.
Prosecutors have requested a bond of $22,000.
