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Tues 26th April - Mon 2nd May 2016
Parents and children in desperate scramble to recoup‘stolen funds’ T
he AMPA (Parents’ Association) at Romulado Ballester primary school in Torrevieja has been forced to report that unauthorised withdrawals of funds had been made on the association’s account. So far, €10,600 has reportedly gone missing – money that had been gathered by AMPA for the payment of books and a forthcoming school trip for the children. The issue was declared in court last
week after the irregularities were discovered. AMPA claims that over the last year, unauthorised withdrawals of cash have been made and there are no receipts to show where this money has gone. According to reports the bank account is now ‘in the red’ and there is no money left to pay for the children’s trip. Around 70 parents took part in an Extraordinary General Meeting last week to elect a new committee as, after the alleged fraud was detected, it was decided to dissolve the existing committee while an administrator was brought in to check the accounts. After a few weeks' work, balancing expenditure and deposits and checking the bills, the investigation has proved that cash withdrawals of up to €8,300 had
AMPA is aware that the school management team has played no part in this matter and they assure everyone that they have given them their support. But the problem does not end there...
been made. In addition, also missing is the €2,300 collected by pupils from 5th and 6th class from selling raffle tickets in order to fund their end of year trip. The raffle money - collected in cash – should then have been paid into the AMPA bank account. However, it appears that this payment was never made. While the situation is being investigated internally, AMPA's former treasurer decided to report the alleged irregularities to the authorities.
support. But the problem does not end there. The disappearance of the money means that the AMPA is now unable to pay the bills they owe to a publishing company which provided text books for pupils at the beginning of the year – an amount in the region of €15,000.” AMPA sources said that they intend to negotiate with the publishing company to allow them to pay half the debt and CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
A parent told the Costa Blanca People, “The situation has caused very bad feeling at the school. AMPA is aware that the school management team has played no part in this matter and they assure everyone that they have given them their
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