Hempfield Area Superintendent Mark Holtzman said the district will financially support Fort Allen Elementary School’s students and staff after Westmoreland County detectives accused a parent of taking $46,000 from the school’s parent-teacher organization.
Darshanna L. Truss, 35, of Hempfield, a treasurer of the PTO, was charged this week with two counts of theft. Westmoreland County detectives reviewed the PTO’s financial records and discovered that 48 checks had been issued to Truss since July 2023, totaling $28,400. An additional 30 checks, issued to “cash,” amounted to $17,600.
The checks issued to Truss were deposited into her personal bank accounts via mobile deposit, detectives said. Truss regularly supplemented her personal account with PTO checks when it was depleted or overdrawn, detectives reported in the criminal complaint.
An attorney listed in court papers as representing Truss told TribLive they do not represent her. Truss did not respond to phone calls, emails and social media messages seeking comment.
Related
• Treasurer of Hempfield Area PTO accused of pocketing $46K of group’s funds
• Westmoreland County detectives investigate finances of Hempfield Area parent-teacher organization
PTOs are independent, volunteer-run groups that facilitate fundraising and events for educators and students. Hempfield Area is not required to oversee their operation, Holtzman said.
“It’s not something that the district could possibly manage,” he said. “We can’t audit and manage the finances of all the booster organizations and all the fundraising groups affiliated with the district.”
Fort Allen Principal David Vezendy will continue to attend the PTO’s meetings, Holtzman said. Vezendy did not respond to a request for comment.
The next PTO meeting is scheduled for early April.
PTOs are not subject to the state’s Sunshine Act, which requires certain agencies to deliberate and take official action in open, public meetings, said Melissa Melewsky, attorney for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.
“In light of the allegations, they should welcome transparency,” Melewsky said via email Friday, “and the press is the best way to do that.”
Detectives interviewed PTO President Jason Ledbetter during their investigation, according to the criminal complaint. Ledbetter did not respond to messages sent via social media Friday requesting comment.
The PTO typically sponsors student events, dances and field trips, as well as resources for teachers, Holtzman said. The district will cover these expenses for the remainder of the school year.
“We’re going to support kids and our staff that typically benefit from the efforts, which are incredible efforts, that are made by our PTOs and our fundraising organizations and our booster clubs,” he said. “We’re going to support our children so that they don’t miss anything.”
The district does not keep a record of the PTO’s board members, Holtzman said. The organization’s page on the Hempfield school website does not list any officers.
Truss told police it was the PTO’s practice to make purchases for the organization and then be reimbursed through PTO checks. She said she would often make such purchases or obtain cash up front in anticipation of making them, according to the criminal complaint.
She told police some, but not all, of her expenses had corresponding receipts. She was not able to explain why the checks issued to her for reimbursement and deposited into her personal account were not preceded by corresponding debit and expense notations in the same amount, according to the criminal complaint.
Truss was released on $50,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 31 before Hempfield District Judge Mark Mansour.