Police are investigating after a bank account belonging to a Surrey parent advisory council was apparently drained of thousands of dollars sometime over the summer.
Parents at École K.B. Woodward Elementary in Whalley were alerted to the missing funds and the police investigation in a letter sent out Tuesday to families.
According to the letter, which is signed by the “PAC Executive,” the empty account was discovered last week as the PAC was starting up again for the 2016/17 school year.
“Part of this work involves getting and opening PAC mail that had arrived at the school. One of the letters we received was from the bank where our PAC keeps its funds,” it reads. “The statement seemed wrong and after calls to the bank, it was confirmed our PAC account was empty. There were no funds in the account.”
Surrey School Board spokesman Doug Strachan noted that the exact amount of money missing is still to be confirmed, but it is believed to be in the neighbourhood of $20,000 to $30,000. The money was being raised for a new playground.
Following the discovery, members of the PAC obtained extensive banking records and contacted Surrey RCMP. PAC executives met with investigators last Friday and an investigation was launched to see what occurred and whether there was any illegal activity.
“While we await an update and further information from the RCMP, it is important that we not speculate, start rumours or disclose details that may harm the police investigation,” the letter continues.
It goes on to say the K.B. Woodward PAC is planning a fundraiser “to start regenerating funds as quickly as possible,” and that more details about the event would be released shortly.
“We hope the police investigation will result in a better understanding of what has occurred and perhaps even provide the possibility of recovering some or all of the missing funds,” the letter concludes. “However, recovery may be unlikely and we believe we need to continue our work in the meantime.”
Surrey RCMP have not released any information. Postmedia has reached out to investigators for more details.
John Bird, president of the B.C. Confederation of PACs, said he was notified of the investigation by a concerned Woodward parent, and said the BCCPAC was awaiting further details.
“We’re standing by, ready to help,” said Bird. “Once we learn more, we’ll be able to offer advice on things going forward and we’ll try and help them rebuild in any way we can.”
Bird said it was important for the Woodward PAC and the school community not to be discouraged or lose confidence in their fundraising efforts, no matter what the income of the investigation may be.
PACs are independently operated and not governed by schools or a school board. Each PAC must abide by its constitution and bylaws, and the School Act. PACs work to advise the school board and staff administration on matters relating to its school and student population.
