Investigation Begun to Locate Allegedly Missing Funds from College Area School

Parents at Harriet Tubman Village school are in a state of worry as a significant amount of money raised by student fundraisers seems to have gone missing. This small charter school with 400 students had managed to raise $7,689 since June through the efforts of its three-person parent-led fundraising team. Amber Kirkpatrick, the vice president of the Tiger Tubman Foundation (TTF) and a member of the parent advisory committee (PAC), shared that they were fundraising heavily every Friday, bringing in over $500 a week from the students. The funds were intended to support various aspects such as classroom programming, field trips, and transportation. However, when it came to planning for the field trips, parents started to have doubts. They couldn't get clear answers on the actual amount of money in the accounts. This led them to become suspicious and they decided to directly check with the finance office, only to find that only $1,043 had been deposited. As a result, they filed a police report. San Diego police stated that the school is choosing to conduct its own internal investigation and will involve the police if necessary. Kirkpatrick believes that this is just the beginning and there might be something bigger going on at the school, perhaps embezzlement. School principal Laura Vivar and school board chair Eric Sams responded to the concerns by stating that they are aware of the allegations and are currently conducting an investigation. At this time, no evidence suggests that unlawful conduct occurred and they have no further comment. The day after Kirkpatrick reported the missing funds, Vivar sent an email replacing the PAC. Kirkpatrick considers this a form of retaliation as she believes Vivar is upset about the funds being reported. NBC 7 has asked Vivar to respond to these allegations but has not received a reply yet. Kirkpatrick emphasized that TTK is the only source of fundraising for the school and they are now left with no money. She advises others in a similar position to be cautious and not assume the best intentions of others. She said, "Take pictures, videos, whatever you need to do, because you can't trust anyone at this point."

Parents' Trust Shattered as School Fundraiser Funds Go Missing

Background of the School

Harriet Tubman Village is a small but significant charter school with 400 students. It may be small in size, but its parent-led fundraising team has shown remarkable determination. Since June, they have managed to raise a considerable amount of $7,689. This shows the potential and dedication of the parents in supporting the school's activities.

However, this success was soon overshadowed by the mystery of the missing funds. The parents' efforts and the funds raised were meant to enhance the educational experience of the students through various means like classroom programming, field trips, and transportation.

The Fundraising Process

Amber Kirkpatrick, as the vice president of the Tiger Tubman Foundation (TTF) and a member of the parent advisory committee (PAC), played a crucial role in the fundraising efforts. Every Friday, they would faithfully bring in over $500 from the students. This regular and consistent fundraising was a source of hope for the school's development.

But the sudden realization that only $1,043 had been turned in after all the hard work raised questions and concerns. The parents were left wondering where the rest of the money had gone.

The Investigation and Reactions

The discovery of the missing funds led to an internal investigation by the school. San Diego police were informed and stated that they would be involved if needed. Principal Laura Vivar and the school board chair Eric Sams responded to the concerns, stating that they were conducting an investigation but had no evidence of unlawful conduct at present.

Kirkpatrick, however, believes that this is just the tip of the iceberg and there might be more serious issues at play, such as embezzlement. The replacement of the PAC by Vivar the day after the report added fuel to her suspicion of retaliation. NBC 7's attempt to get a response from Vivar regarding these allegations remains unanswered.

The Aftermath and Lessons Learned

After the incident, Kirkpatrick realizes the importance of keeping a closer eye on the funds. She advises others in similar situations to be vigilant and not assume the best intentions of others. Taking pictures and videos can serve as evidence in such cases.

The school now finds itself in a difficult situation with no funds for various activities. It is a lesson for the school community to be more cautious and transparent in handling financial matters.