In a surprising turn of events, a former school director in Bradford County has been accused of embezzling a significant amount from a local educational foundation. Kelly White, aged 49, is facing nearly 130 criminal charges for allegedly stealing approximately $123,000 from the Wyalusing Area Education Foundation.
White, who had served as the treasurer for the foundation since 2019, decided to forgo her preliminary hearing, allowing the case to proceed to the county court of common pleas. Her resignation as a school director came on February 9, shortly after the allegations surfaced.
Uncovering the Scheme
The Wyalusing Area Education Foundation, dedicated to providing scholarships and grants, fell victim to the alleged thefts spanning from January 2019 to April. According to an arrest affidavit, White came forward after realizing that new accounting software would expose the discrepancies. She confessed first to Alexis Meunch, the foundation president, and subsequently to state police.
White admitted to taking funds repeatedly over six years, estimating the total embezzled amount to be between $90,000 and $100,000. “She knew Quick Books (the new accounting system) would have brought that discrepancy to their attention (and) she wanted to admit it,” Meunch stated to Trooper Joshua Fisher.
Motivations and Confession
White cited financial difficulties as a motive, telling law enforcement that she and her husband faced hard times. “She admitted to a prior bankruptcy before she moved back to the area,” Fisher noted. White described a cycle where the foundation’s funds became a tempting resource during financial strains, with intentions to repay but never managing to do so.
The affidavit further revealed her attempts to return some money by depositing small amounts back into the foundation’s account, albeit inconsistently. Despite her actions, she managed to maintain the facade by selectively producing financial documents that avoided revealing bank discrepancies.
The Path to Confession
Faced with the imminent exposure by the new accounting system, White viewed it as a sign to confess. She had previously disclosed the situation to her sister and husband, expressing a desire to take responsibility. Her parents lent her $35,000, of which she returned $26,000 to the foundation. Meunch verified this repayment, highlighting an outstanding amount of $96,340.
Among the irregularities found were ATM withdrawals and instances where White signed both signatures on checks, along with some cash from fundraisers not being deposited. White, however, disputed the latter claim.
Legal Proceedings and Foundation’s Response
White faces a range of charges including theft, unauthorized ATM withdrawals, and forgery. Her attorney, Max Lubin, has not provided any comments on the matter. The foundation, meanwhile, is collaborating with an insurance carrier to recover the lost funds and strengthen its financial oversight.
With revenue of $133,281 and net assets totaling $310,952 for the fiscal year ending June 2024, the foundation remains committed to ensuring accountability and financial integrity moving forward.
