Two reports of money missing from Surrey elementary schools have the provincial body that oversees parent advisory councils looking at how they monitor their funding.
Thousands of dollars went missing from the coffers of the parent advisory councils (PACs) of Serpentine Heights and École K.B. Woodward elementary schools in the last few months.
The official dollar amounts have not been released, but an official with the Surrey School District estimated that between $15,000 and $20,000 is missing from Serpentine, and tens of thousands of dollars are missing from K.B. Woodward.
The district's communications manager, Doug Strachan, said the Serpentine Heights theft was reported at the end of last school year, while the one at K.B. Woodward was noticed this month.
The missing money left parents and students in disbelief. The funds from K.B. Woodward were slated to go toward a new playground for the children at that school.
"Throughout the whole school year you're donating money to the schools to help with everything... and you don't even know where it's going," parent Brittany Haubrich told CTV Vancouver. Haubrich doesn't have children at either school, but the incidents made her wonder about her own school's funding.
Another parent, Jonathan Torres, said he was shocked by the news.
"It's ridiculous. I can't believe anybody would take the money like that, that belongs to the school and the kids," Torres said.
Just like a business, PACs are urged to follow certain guidelines to protect against theft, including that two signatures are required for any withdrawals. Fraud and theft can happen anywhere, but the head of the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils said it's unusual to see so much missing, and at two schools at the same time.
"You're hard pressed to find a year where you would find two anywhere of this magnitude. This is very unusual to see them line up this way," Jon Bird said.
Police are investigating both cases, but officials said there is nothing to suggest the incidents are connected.
Bird said steps are being taken to ensure all PACs follow the same guidelines, and the best practices possible. He added that there are ways parents can help protect their schools' finances.
"Make sure that your PAC is reporting out the finances, that they're transparent, that when you want to go and see where something went, you get the information you need," he said.
The schools are trying to replace the losses, and an online fundraiser has been set up for those wishing to help replenish the funds taken from K.D. Woodward.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Michele Brunoro
