Police in Gurnee, Ill., about 40 miles north of Chicago, say the ex-treasurer of Warren Township High School’s band booster organization turned herself in Wednesday in connection with more than $26,000 that’s missing from the nonprofit organization’s bank account, the Daily Herald reports.
Warren Township High School District 121 issued a very brief press release noting the investigation that had been ongoing for four months:
Warren Township High School District 121 has been aware of an investigation concerning the theft of Band Booster funds. These funds are not district funds and do not include tax dollars. The funds are managed by the Band Boosters and not by the district. The District fully supports the Band Boosters and is grateful for the work that they do on behalf of our students.
In an email to the Daily Herald, Warren Band Boosters President Mark Haynes said that when “significant balance discrepancies” between the organization’s bank statements and the regular treasurer’s reports presented at meetings were discovered, the organization launched an internal audit in full view of the police. That audit revealed withdrawals totaling $26,975 that the group’s leadership didn’t authorize.
Warren Band Boosters Inc has spent money on band uniforms, travel expenses for band members, and scholarships to promote music education in the district, according to IRS filings. The group also supplies parents to volunteer at football games, concerts, and other band-related activities.
According to the school’s website, the band program has jazz band concerts on Feb 20 and April 28 at the Black Box Theatre in the campus at 34090 Almond Road, as well as symphonic band concerts in the auditorium at 500 N O’Plaine Road on March 19 and 20 and on April 30 and May 1. The Almond Road Campus serves juniors and seniors, while the O’Plaine Campus serves freshmen and sophomores.
Voxitatis is not naming the woman arrested in this case, because the Daily Herald reported that she could not be reached for comment. However, the IRS forms that document the nonprofit’s expenditures bear her signature.
The Lake County News-Sun also reported the arrest, here.
