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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be the only person concerned that the PTA treasurer seems to have gone missing....

583 replies

PTAmissing · 16/05/2016 07:06

With all the PTA money?

She's been treasurer for years, no children at the school anymore.

She usually attends roughly 1 of every 4 meetings. She hasn't been to one for 6 months. She won't answer the phone or the door, doesn't reply to emails or texts. Chair went to her house and she didn't answer the door although it looked like she was in. We have no access to the money or accounts and the school is lending us money to get back off her at some indeterminate time in the future.

We have the school fate soon and she has all the info on stalls etc not to mention the money we need to buy things! She owes one of the parents about £50 for things they bought from their company for the PTA xmas fate.

Nobody else seems concerned! I really got angry about it at the last meeting and said this is ridiculous, we have no idea how much is in the account, we can't get hold of her, we have no working float. Apparently she has family drama at the moment and thats why she's unavailable but she still wants to be treasurer. I raised the possibility that there could be something dodgy going on and got shut down by the chair who said its not possible as there are two signatories on the account (because she couldn't just forge a signature???)

AIBU to think they should be taking this a bit more seriously given there is over £7000 (at the last count) of money that has been donated by the parents fgs, not to just sit in an account that nobody can get into?!

OP posts:
AnthonyPandy · 24/05/2016 22:21

If concerned mum is concerned, how come she didn't mention it was her who spoke to the treasurer?

AnotherPrickInTheWall · 24/05/2016 22:25

Our school PTA has been retired, disbanded ?? I don't know the correct term.
Is there a trend?
Our summer fete has been cancelled too.

cozietoesie · 24/05/2016 22:37

What has been the reaction in the school and community, Another?

chewingawasp · 24/05/2016 22:38

So the chair has now become 'very concerned' Hmm
There is no reason why the Treasurer couldn't have just handed over the paperwork and cheque book to another signatory so I can only think that she must have something to hide. She's apparently not speaking to the Chair but was going to turn up at the fete with her float anyway???

It all smells fishier than Billingsgate tbh

cozietoesie · 24/05/2016 22:44

It may all just be some almighty fankle but this sort of committee serves its community best when it's transparent and ........boring? Predictable and unadventurous can be very reassuring compared with this sort of alternative.

blimeyalldecentnamesaregone · 24/05/2016 23:09

Your chair is scared. She realises something is horribly wrong and is panicking. Depending on what you think of her, and whether you want to support her, you should maybe consider going to the meeting. She is trying to cover up and you need to decide if what she is trying to cover up is something dodgy or her poor management of the situation which has ended in this mess.

You are fortunate that you have been up front and made your point to everyone.

What a horrible situation for you to be in OP Flowers
I did a whistleblowing on a senior member of staff once and ended up getting made 'redundant', do be careful to protect yourself from a potentially sinking ship.

blimeyalldecentnamesaregone · 24/05/2016 23:11

Also should point out that when I was treasurer of a local organisation we needed two signatories for a cheque but I had sole access to Internet banking and could pay who I wanted on my own without any further authorisation so could have wiped the bank account. Be sure to check this out.

HopeClearwater · 24/05/2016 23:18

I have some experience of witnessing financial irregularities in a school (can say no more!) For goodness sake, do not retract your resignation. Stay resigned! You have done exactly the right thing so far. You need to let the others sort this out now. The Head must be bricking it. Either that or has head firmly in the Reception class sandpit.

CaffeineDeficitDisorder · 24/05/2016 23:31

sounds awful

cozietoesie · 24/05/2016 23:33

I would be guessing that this thread has helped more than a few readers. It's a cautionary tale.

Baconyum · 24/05/2016 23:35

Yes but if she doesn't attend then she could be implicated and she's not there to defend herself I so agree with this! I also think the money is long gone, I can see the head losing their job over this if not facing criminal charges. I've been discussing with my auditor friend and she reminded me 'ignorance is no defence' here in Scotland school 'lending' the pta funds and allowing all this to go on would be seen as colluding, misappropriation of school funds etc.

cozietoesie · 24/05/2016 23:45

The governance of a school and sources of funding are a bit different in Scotland, Bacon. I agree that the situation is not good though.

Creasedupcrinkle · 25/05/2016 00:04

Wow! Don't retract your resignation and if I were you, wild horses couldn't drag me to that meeting.

However if you do decide to attend, still keep your resignation in place and INSIST an impartial third party is present, plus an independent minute taker. I've been through a similar process with a charity and we got our auditor to sit in and effectively witness. It kept mud slinging to a minimum.

cozietoesie · 25/05/2016 00:08

I wouldn't be totally surprised if none of the group's office holders actually turned up to this meeting.

BlueFolly · 25/05/2016 00:11

Definitely keep out of it. If you to retracted your resignation you'd be like Nigel Farage.

Mummyme1987 · 25/05/2016 00:27

Are the committee personally liable for the money if it turns out its gone? I know the pta I was on years ago, had clauses saying committee members were personally liable if anything happened like this if we had been seen to collude by not following the procedures. Was years ago so don't know if that still happens these days etc.

joangray38 · 25/05/2016 04:16

I would go in Friday - just to make sure they don't try and pin any of the bland on you . I would also make copies of all enails and texts - just in case they get deleted or lost. I would also check my personal liability for repayment of any missing money. Good luck on Friday Flowers

CuntingDMjournos · 25/05/2016 04:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rosa · 25/05/2016 04:48

I would go basically to help with the discussion as asked and she will probably say that you were right all along and wished she had listened / acted earler....

NightWanderer · 25/05/2016 05:07

I think the Chair is in over her head. She needs to tell the Head everything and the Head needs to go and see the Treasurer and demand everything is handed over immediately or the police will be involved.

unlucky83 · 25/05/2016 08:25

You should be insured for any missing money ...even from a fraudulent treasurer if proper procedures have been followed (cos we have internet banking and not dual signatories if I ran off with the money we wouldn't be - but I know I'm not going to run off with the money Smile so its fine)
Registered Charities in Scotland at least the Trustees (so the main committee members -usually the ones with a role) are personally liable for the charities money/debts ...
I agree with going on Friday to make sure you aren't implicated and so you are there to defend yourself -and I agree it seems like the Chair can't handle this (maybe they feel awkward because they considered the treasurer a friend) so the HT needs to step in.
If the account has been emptied at worse someone could lend the float money - after all they are guaranteed to get it back at the end of the fair. Expenses are more of a concern but you should have an idea of past takes and how much you could cover...I would recommend never taking cash expenses out of fair takes - bank all the money and then pay the expenses (with receipts) separately.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 25/05/2016 08:28

Have you still not contacted the Police OP? The second reply to this thread suggests that and a lot of us have advised it too. I do think the longer this goes on the more it looks like head and chair are also implicated. You've been on PTA 6 years you need to take responsibility for reporting this or you could be in trouble too. Call the Police today. If there is an innocent explanation the Treasurer can give it to Police.

Bolograph · 25/05/2016 08:39

You should be insured for any missing money ...even from a fraudulent treasurer if proper procedures have been followed

Insured by whom? Given the Treasurer has been treasurer for the past six years, fancy placing bets on whether the premium has been paid?

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 25/05/2016 08:46

DO NOT REVOKE YOUR RESIGNATION.

Seriously. So far you have done everything right.but if you go back now you will be sucked into a nightmare.

Now for self protection-

Set out for yourself a history of all that has happened, and send it to yourself by email, attaching copies of all communications sent/received.

Then, make sure the head is forwarded copies of the correspondence with the chair which shows she lied to you, and then suggest that he might want his financial staff to take a look given the 'loan'. Finally,contact the police on 101 to log your concerns and ask their advice.

mythbustinggov · 25/05/2016 08:50

If the School has made a loan to the PTA, the Governors should be involved as well (as they should be concerned about what is a probable mis-use of the school finances).

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