Parents of South Carroll High School students expressed “shock and disappointment” about the arrest of a former financial secretary on charges of embezzling more than $200,000.
“You just don?t believe it,” said Mary Alexander, president of the school?s Parent Teacher Association.
“It?s someone you know and have talked to.”
Wendy Sue Bowers, 39, of Taneytown, was charged Tuesday with eight counts of felony theft for stealing about $206,564 raised through athletic events and fund raisers, according to charging documents.
Superintendent Charles Ecker said the money was not part of the school?s operating budget and would be replaced through insurance. He said school officials have spoken with the principal and the PTA president, and they would rely on the administration and staff to communicate the issue to the students.
“That?s a good way to teach the students financial responsibility,” Assistant State?s Attorney Melissa Hockenstock said Tuesday at a news conference.
The charges relate to money taken since 1999, but State?s Attorney Jerry Barnes said additional charges could be filed. Bowers has worked at South Carroll since 1994, and previously held a job at the central office.
Bowers doctored receipts, keeping two different records and pocketing the difference, according to charging documents. The discrepancies first were discovered during an audit in February.
Sam Stalnaker, volunteer coordinator for the parents, said parents and teachers will have to learn from the lessons from the case.
“We have an excellent group of parents,” Stalnaker said. “We look forward to building up morale and taking a step forward.”
Robin Szymanski, a former PTA vice president who has three children who graduated from South Carroll High, said she was shocked and angry. She said her son?s prom last year suffered from the lack of funds.
“They did not have the events that they probably would have had the money been properly accounted for,” she said.
Szymanski said her children and other students are wondering if Bowers will have to pay back what she stole.
“Of course for them, they will never get restitution,” she said. “They are already gone. They will never get back what waslost.”
