Weird one. Should I be narked at this lady for swiping a collection at school and using for another purpose?

[iJoan]

Can I preface the post (NC so as not to get me in too much hot water) by saying I have had a pretty shit couple of months so may be a bit whiney and sensitive

A friend of my DD's at school got the devastating news that she was DX with a life threatening illness. She's been off school for the last couple of weeks. The family are very sweet and do a lot for others (including me)in the school. I thought it would be a nice gesture to do a collection so we could buy the girl some specific things to keep her occupied in hospital- The budget was £80 and the amount was reached very quickly and folks were very generous.

Unbeknownst to me another girl in another class had to have a routine operation last week which would require her being off school for a couple of weeks.

A lady who is senior in the PTA (who I do not know well) asked for the collection money which was being held in the school office. She told the admin staff that since the second girl was in the hospital the collection had changed (er no it hadn't)and she was going to organise a gift for her.

She spent all the money on the second girl. Leaving me looking like an idiot.

I approached her about it and got a gob full about treating the girls differently

I already spent the money on a gift for the original child which was very much appreciated. I am now £80 down and look a bit shady and am finding it very hard to bite my lip whilst the PTA lady is thanked for such a lovely idea!

RANT OVER!

Nice one, OP! What does your husband think now of his 'lesson learned and keep your mouth shut' 'advice'?

I hope PTA woman got read the riot act.

And so concludes the story of the PTA bossy cah and the nobody.

Noooo. Can't conclude there! Need some gossip on queen bee PTA lady!

Well that update raises more questions than it solves.

Is she still in the PTA?

Well done.

Interesting

Nice one OP, obviously some wrong doing there for it to be dealt with so quickly. Don't suppose we'll ever get to know about PTA thief will we? Unless you keep your ear to the ground and hope she talks to some other member of staff and you get to hear on the grapevine. Then of course please let us know so the story concludes.

Please tell us you went to PTA lady with a tilted head and a big smile and thanked her for returning the money?

Much as our curiosity is getting the better of us I think the best thing now is for Ijoan to keep her dignity, accept the money back & say nothing else & just let or a lady & the head get in with it.

By her own crazy logic she at least owes you £40 (treating both girls equally) but the truth is she has stolen the £80 donated by other people in good faith etc. Sorry, what a hassle from such an initially nice idea.

Does PTA have a relationship with/fondness for Girl 2's family? It's just such an odd thing to do.

I'm glad you got the money back op. I still can't believe the gall of her tho! I would say the Pta need to know what kind of woman they have in their midst!

Ah sorry, I commented on this without reading your triumphant follow up post. Good for you.

Well done op! Lets us know if anything happens though

I really hope she has been dismissed from the PTA. But as good as you getting the money back seems, it rather seems that the office staff have been the ones getting reprimanded and potentially nothing said to the PTA thief.

Great news iJoan!

But you must let us know if PTA madam got her comeuppance!

Glad you got the money back & can now buy what was intended.

PTA woman & admin staff have probably just been told to be more careful in future!

Well done but I would delete this thread now as if Head gets wind via another parent it won't reflect well on you. As you stand now you are in the right as it was a shocking thing to do. However you wouldn't want her to gloat if you were hauled in about lack of discretion.

Me guess is that the head sorted out the cash and no one said a single word to the PTA woman even though they know she stole it. School will just want it kept quiet.

Should've been kicked out of PTA at the very least.

you're not a nobody

good result OP

You can't leave it there!

Which staff member gave you the money back? The school office staff haven't taken the brunt of the blame for letting PTA bitch have the collection in the first place have they?

Please tell me that PTA bitch has suffered some sort of consequence of her theft/misappropriation of funds!

Basically the Head and other staff have covered this up, there is no come back on her and she wioll do it again.
I would not have any further inviolvement with money in that situation.

Agree Balletgirl

The likelihood is that no-one will find out what transpires. They will all close ranks for the good name of the school. PTA woman will probably get a private telling-off (if that) and will be told never to do it again, but her blocking will remain behind closed doors

*bollocking - not blocking!

Glad you are not out of pocket, iJoan

Excellent update, well done to the HT.

I hope PTA lady has had a severe talking to

I got every penny of my money back!
No request for receipts- nothing.
Just an apology the the staff handed the money over

Head has put in the money just to make this go away.

Oh, good :) Well done - on everything. You did a kindness, compensated for someone else's dishonesty, and have been reimbursed.

I suspect the head paid it but never mind. His PTA politics are his business.