Police investigate PTA

Police are investigating an allegation that $35,000 was embezzled

from Kettler Elementary School’s PTA fund.

Members of the Kettler PTA reported the money missing in June,

Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Dave Bunetta said. A parent serving on

the PTA board has resigned, though PTA officials would not confirm

that parent’s name or offer any comment on the alleged theft.

No arrest has been made and no criminal complaint has been filed,

Bunetta said. Police are working with the district attorney’s office

to decide if any charges will be filed.

Kettler Principal Olivia Gaddini would not discuss the allegation.

“We can’t make any other comment than we’re cooperating fully with

the police,” said Catherine McGough, president of the Huntington

Beach City School District board.

Police have not determined how much money is missing, though

investigations suggest money was used without the PTA’s permission.

“It is apparent that there is some money that should be there that

isn’t there,” Bunetta said.

Many parents did not want to talk about the case, but others were

shocked to learn that such a large sum of money may have been stolen.

“If [someone has] done it, fry him, I guess,” parent Emily Foley

said. “That’s pretty bad, taking from kids, taking from the school.”