An investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office has led to the indictment of Amanda McMilin, the former treasurer of the Richland Elementary School Parent Teachers Organization (PTO) in Giles County.
Investigators determined that McMilin stole at least $5,649 from the PTO by keeping cash that was collected during fundraisers. These activities included a fall festival, t-shirt, sweatshirt, and candy-gram sales; a bake sale; and concession operations.
McMilin failed to deposit the cash collected for many of these fundraisers into the PTO bank account. In fact, investigators discovered that McMilin did not deposit any cash into the PTO account from July 2015 through November 2015.
McMilin admitted to investigators that she took money from the PTO and used it to pay her personal expenses. She resigned her position as treasurer in January 2016 after she was confronted about the missing funds by PTO and school officials.
In April 2017, Amanda McMilin was indicted by the Giles County Grand Jury on one count of theft over $2,500.
“While it may be tempting to let a PTO treasurer handle all money matters, it greatly enhances the possibility of theft,” said Comptroller Justin P. Wilson. “PTO’s must ensure there is oversight. The simple act of reviewing bank statements could have stopped this theft in its tracks.”
State law requires school support organizations to follow a financial policy that provides basic checks and balances for safeguarding money and other property.
To view the investigative report online, go to: http://www.comptroller.tn.gov/ia/
Story courtesy of the Tennessee Comptrollers Office.
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First published at TennesseeWatchdog.org, reprinted with permission
