Hillsborough: Schools program treasurer arrested

Hillsborough

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Schools program treasurer arrested

By REBECCA CATALANELLO AND LETITIA STEIN
Published January 10, 2007

TAMPA - A former elementary assistant principal charged with embezzlement has been accused of stealing more than $42,000 from a school math grant program.

Janet Kay White, 36, of West Tampa's MacFarlane Park Elementary wrote herself personal checks and paid off a family loan from funds she accessed as treasurer of the Hillsborough County Elementary Mathematics Council, according to a Tampa police arrest report.

White, who lives at 1311 W Bogie Drive, worked at West Tampa's MacFarlane Park Elementary for 14 years before she resigned Nov. 14 amid a school district investigation into her activities, a school spokesman said.

For six years, White served as treasurer of the elementary math council, a dues-based group that provides minigrants for teachers and hosts competitions for kids.

School officials noticed that something might be wrong when, in late 2006, one of the council's checks bounced for insufficient funds.

"There was no reason for that," school district spokesman Stephen Hegarty said. "It appeared there was a problem."

Shortly after the district confronted her, White resigned for personal reasons and the school district turned the case over to the Tampa police, Hegarty said.

Attempts by the Times to reach White or her attorney by phone late Tuesday were unsuccessful. Police released White on a $7,500 bond Monday shortly after her arrest on charges of grand theft.

Though an arrest report from Tampa police states the embezzlement involved a total of $42,000, Hegarty said the school district was aware of only $16,000 being misappropriated.

A former teacher, White has been employed with Hillsborough County schools since 1991 and had worked at MacFarlane since 1992.

Hegarty said there were no red flags or warnings in any of her evaluations over the years: "She was clearly in a position of trust and authority."

[Last modified January 10, 2007, 06:15:11]

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