Check written in PTO theft case

The former treasurer of a parent-teacher organization at Scott Elementary accused of stealing money from the school, wrote a check for some of the money Friday, but she maintained her innocence.

Friday morning Peggy Pagliaro, the former treasurer and also a former Greeley-Evans School District 6 employee, appeared in court on bond with her attorney Shannon Lyons, who told the judge his client would write a check for $3,987.13 for restitution, but that Pagilaro is not admitting to anything.

Since the allegations Pagliaro paid the PTO $1,700.

Lyons went on to say his client does admit to "acquiring" the money, but what is in dispute is if Pagliaro "deprived" the PTO of the money.

Pagliaro had no comment about the case following the brief hearing.

Tammi Inskeep, president of the PTO, who first discovered, in October 2007, a bank statement showing a check from the organization written to Pagliaro, said she appreciates the attempt to pay with a written check but can't guarantee the funds until the check clears.

Inskeep confirmed the PTO received a check written from Pagliaro's husband's account.

"It's kind of a catch-22 that she said, 'I'm going to pay you back, but I'm not going to accept guilt,' " said Inskeep, who believes Pagliaro is not taking the charges seriously.

An audit of its finances last fall by the PTO executive committee revealed Pagliaro wrote several checks to herself, totaling roughly $8,000, according to Inskeep.

When first confronted regarding the checks, Inskeep said Pagliaro initially discounted the incident and said the checks were a mistake.

"We talked to other moms and their reaction is to see this case come to a conclusion," Inskeep said. "We hope the DA and Peggy see this as a serious theft and hope to see it taken seriously in court."

Since the charges came to light, Inskeep said the PTO has had to scramble to come up with money, go without in some cases, and it has lost volunteers.

According to the school district, Pagliaro had been a special education assistant at Greeley Central High School. She resigned Nov. 2, 2007. In 2006, Pagliaro was sued by a bank and was ordered to pay $17,000; that judgment remains unsatisfied, according to court records.

Pagliaro had been involved with the PTO for a number of years and served as its treasurer for at least four years, Inskeep said.

Since this has occurred, the PTO rewrote its bylaws, requiring four people to approve expenditures, and by adding measures to protect the group's money, including new software that allows any board member to view finances online.

What's next

Peggy Pagliaro, who is charged with stealing thousands from a parent teacher organization, is scheduled to appear in court for a disposition hearing at 11 a.m. on May 20th.