The school year is off to a troubling start for a Central Saanich parent advisory council after an executive board member allegedly drained a $40,000 fundraising account earmarked for a new playground.
Saanich school district superintendent Dr. Keven Elder confirmed the theft in a letter sent to parents at Ecole Keating Elementary School on Sept. 2.
“I am very sorry to inform you that that entire savings account has been compromised, in fact reduced to virtually zero,” Elder wrote.
The $40,000 was raised over two years by the Keating Home and School Association, a parent advisory council, and was separate from money provided by the provincial government.
The money was meant to go to a new playground after the old one fell into disrepair, as well as “other school enhancements.”
Elder said that Central Saanich police have been investigating the actions of a former KHASA member in connection with the disappearing money since June.
“It is important to note that no one else is under suspicious, and that the KHASA executive took swift action along with Keating administration when the loss of funds became evident at the end of last school year,” he wrote.
School officials are not identifying the person under investigation.
Elder told CTV News it’s a big blow to the “famously strong” fundraising community at Keating, but parents will regroup.
“It takes the energy out of the community but I think its momentarily, because this is a strong and resilient community that works so well together,” he said.
