Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District employee charged in $200,000 theft www.privateofficer.com
VALERA, Texas Nov 30 2011 – A former Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District employee has been arrested for theft.
According to the Coleman County Sheriff’s Office, Lori Sparks allegedly stole more than $200,000 from the school district.
Sparks was the business manager at the district. District administrators said Sparks worked for Panther Creek for five years.
In a statement, Superintendent Dwin Nanny said:
“Panther Creek ISD has learned that a former district employee may have engaged in financial criminal wrong-doing. That employee is no longer with the district, and the matter was turned over to law enforcement. The district has learned that this former employee was recently indicted by a grand jury. Because this is an ongoing criminal matter, the district will allow the judicial process to take its course and will not further comment on the matter. While Panther Creek ISD is fully cooperating with law enforcement, we will continue to keep as our priority providing the best possible educational programs and services to our students. As always, we thank the community for its support.”
Nanny later told KTXS on camera that they were notified by auditors of some possible criminal financial wrong-doing, so they turned the issue over to authorities.
This news has left many Panther Creek parents shocked. One lady, who did not want to be identified, said “it is a shame that it happened in such a small district.”
Jennifer Short has taught at the high school for four years.
“It’s a real unfortunate incident. I hate that it’s happened in the district. It really makes me sad for the tax payers and especially the students,” Short told KTXS.
She said it is hard hearing the news since she is not only a teacher, but also a parent and a tax payer.
“It just really makes me sad that it happened,” Short said.
The superintendent also told KTXS they are still recovering from losing $90,000 in state funding and now the loss of $200,000 will hurt the district even more.
“We’ve really been hit hard with all the cuts in the legislature already and to think about this happening it’s been hard,” Short explained.
Sparks was arrested on school grounds on November 18th. She is currently out of jail on a $15,000 bond.
Source:KTXS.com
