Former Eau Gallie High bookkeeper accused of embezzling $120K

Brevard school district taking steps to prevent future fraud

(Getty Images)

VIERA, Fla. – A former Eau Gallie High bookkeeper is accused of embezzling about $120,000 from school accounts during a two-year period, Brevard Public Schools said in a news release.

Patricia Coleman had worked as a school bookkeeper since 1993, up until she resigned on Sept. 2, 2016, while officials were investigating the missing money.

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Coleman is accused of embezzling about $97,000 from various funds at Eau Gallie and about $23,000 from an account the high school principal administered for Cape Coast Conference athletics. The money in that account came from deposits for field trips, student fundraising or from cash collected at athletic events, the release said.

“The school district will cover the deficits in school accounts caused by the alleged embezzlement and subsequent resignation of the bookkeeper,” Pennie Zuercher, BPS chief financial officer, said. “Any additional reimbursement of missing funds will depend on restitution paid in the criminal case and ongoing efforts by the district to document the losses for a possible insurance claim.”

The district plans to take steps going forward to help eliminate the risk for embezzlement.

Those steps include centralizing portions of school accounting at district headquarters, hiring an armored car service, centralizing school accounts into one bank, financial training for Eau Gallie principal, surprise visits and interim audits of the school and development of a checklist for school principals.

Coleman is charged with grand theft and forgery.


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