The former president of the Parent Teachers Organization (PTO) of the City of Summers has been arrested on suspicion of misappropriating thousands of dollars raised at the Scholastic Book Fair.
Marisa Marks, who was elected PTO chairman in May 2019, is said to have spent more than $12,000 on personal spending over the years.
The investigation began after a PTO member received a letter notifying him that his checking account was overdrawn, according to the arrest warrant.
According to the warrant, the member told police that he “immediately suspected something was wrong because the account was never supposed to be negative.”
As a result of the pandemic, the PTO suspended meetings and the school district held no meetings or events for several months. According to the warrant, when the new school year began in September 2020, Marks remained president as officers were given the opportunity to remain in their previous positions.
Witnesses told authorities that a Scholastic Book Fair was held at an elementary school in November 2021. All the money raised was entrusted to Marks, police said.
After much back and forth over non-delivery of bills and checks, Marks met with PTO members and ultimately told them he was using debit cards for personal funds and apologized, the warrant said. It is
Officials said Marks embezzled a total of $12,186 and $1,380 in bank charges. The arrest warrant says the money was used at multiple stores including Target, Five Below, Amazon, Stop & Shop, Costco and Dunkin’ Donuts.
Witnesses told police that Marks was the only person who had access to the PTO’s debit card.
Mark turned himself in to police on Tuesday and was released after posting $10,000 bail, state police said. Marks has been charged with first-degree theft and is scheduled to appear in court on June 14, police said.
