kepdawg
03-30-2007, 12:48 AM
Carroll cheer dads want penalty for party
Mom repaid funds used for banquet that didn't include whole squad
09:45 PM CDT on Thursday, March 29, 2007
By LAURIE FOX / The Dallas Morning News
lfox@dallasnews.com
SOUTHLAKE – Two Carroll ISD fathers want the school district to punish a fellow cheerleading parent over money from a fundraiser spent on a banquet that didn't include all of the cheerleaders.
On Thursday, the cheerleading mother who organized the Feb. 24 end-of-year party at Southlake's Timarron Country Club repaid $886 to the district and provided receipts from the event.
Julie Thannum, the district's spokeswoman, said Thursday that based on the advice of its attorneys, the district would not pursue the matter further.
"Our main goal was to account for the money and get repayment," she said.
Attorneys for the school district sought the money this week after two parents hired a forensic accountant to prove that the mother spent some of the squad's fundraising money without permission. Officials said the woman kept the cash from a fall fundraiser in her home safe until it was spent.
District policy states that fundraising money must be deposited into the group's activities account with the district.
The woman, who is not being identified because she has not been charged with a crime, did not return messages for comment.
She told the district she held the party for only some of the cheerleaders because she thought ongoing acrimony within the squad would prevent a party involving all the girls. Some varsity cheerleaders and their parents have been at odds with other squad members and parents for more than a year over flawed tryouts last season.
Parents Mark Mattlage and John Morrow, who commissioned the audit, said they wanted the district to pursue criminal charges against the mother. Not doing so "sends a message about leadership and ethics, or lack thereof," Mr. Mattlage said.
"If you stole a car and gave it back without punishment, there would be no car thieves in jail," he said. "Paying back the money doesn't make her any less guilty."
Mr. Mattlage said he and Mr. Morrow pursued the issue because the squad members were required to take part in the September effort to raise money specifically for a spring cheerleader banquet. But only 11 of the 21 girls – plus their dates and parents – were invited to the banquet.
Officials said that $750 from the fundraiser was deposited into the group's account but that $886 in cash was not. The cash was used for the banquet, officials said.
"I wouldn't have cared if they'd had their own private party, but they used district funds," Mr. Mattlage said. "It's just plain meanness."
Mr. Morrow said the issue isn't about money.
"It's about what we're teaching our kids," he said. "We can't tolerate this kind of behavior."
Mom repaid funds used for banquet that didn't include whole squad
09:45 PM CDT on Thursday, March 29, 2007
By LAURIE FOX / The Dallas Morning News
lfox@dallasnews.com
SOUTHLAKE – Two Carroll ISD fathers want the school district to punish a fellow cheerleading parent over money from a fundraiser spent on a banquet that didn't include all of the cheerleaders.
On Thursday, the cheerleading mother who organized the Feb. 24 end-of-year party at Southlake's Timarron Country Club repaid $886 to the district and provided receipts from the event.
Julie Thannum, the district's spokeswoman, said Thursday that based on the advice of its attorneys, the district would not pursue the matter further.
"Our main goal was to account for the money and get repayment," she said.
Attorneys for the school district sought the money this week after two parents hired a forensic accountant to prove that the mother spent some of the squad's fundraising money without permission. Officials said the woman kept the cash from a fall fundraiser in her home safe until it was spent.
District policy states that fundraising money must be deposited into the group's activities account with the district.
The woman, who is not being identified because she has not been charged with a crime, did not return messages for comment.
She told the district she held the party for only some of the cheerleaders because she thought ongoing acrimony within the squad would prevent a party involving all the girls. Some varsity cheerleaders and their parents have been at odds with other squad members and parents for more than a year over flawed tryouts last season.
Parents Mark Mattlage and John Morrow, who commissioned the audit, said they wanted the district to pursue criminal charges against the mother. Not doing so "sends a message about leadership and ethics, or lack thereof," Mr. Mattlage said.
"If you stole a car and gave it back without punishment, there would be no car thieves in jail," he said. "Paying back the money doesn't make her any less guilty."
Mr. Mattlage said he and Mr. Morrow pursued the issue because the squad members were required to take part in the September effort to raise money specifically for a spring cheerleader banquet. But only 11 of the 21 girls – plus their dates and parents – were invited to the banquet.
Officials said that $750 from the fundraiser was deposited into the group's account but that $886 in cash was not. The cash was used for the banquet, officials said.
"I wouldn't have cared if they'd had their own private party, but they used district funds," Mr. Mattlage said. "It's just plain meanness."
Mr. Morrow said the issue isn't about money.
"It's about what we're teaching our kids," he said. "We can't tolerate this kind of behavior."