Jessica Zakrewski's lies were obvious in hindsight, her former friends told the court.
A former White Township Consolidated School District PTO treasurer was sentenced to a year of probation after stealing funds from the group. (NJ Advance Media file photo)
The well-attended school fundraisers that somehow couldn't break even. The excuses for missing meetings to give others access to the PTO debit account. The delays in presenting a full treasurer's report. All, they said, were part of three years of deception.
"We would spend hours planning and carrying out great activities and we thought we were doing it all in the best interest of the students," said Letitia McCrea, who was the White Township Consolidated School District PTO's vice president at the time. "Little did we know you were just thinking of yourself, taking what you could get and telling us lie upon lie."
Zakrewski, who was charged in 2014 with using her authority as treasurer to steal $6,000 from the group, was sentenced Monday to a year of probation.
The district consists of one elementary school with about 300 students ranging from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
Two of the PTO's former officers gave statements in court before the sentencing, accusing her of betrayal and asking for a probation term at least as long as the three years Zakrewski stole from the group.
A current phone listing for Zakrewski could not be found.
"How could you have done it?" asked Tracey Anderson, who as the group's secretary investigated and reported the thefts. "That money belonged to the children. That money was raised by every family that ever gave a dollar to a bake sale or any other fundraiser. That money was to give the teachers grants to buy things like microscopes or laptops. Money that was not in the school budget to give the children the extra things that they needed. The money was there to spend on having fun. To pay for dances, egg hunts and movie nights. It wasn't for you."
MORE: Treasurer allegedly steals $6K from White Twp. PTO
Anderson said Zakrewski used the funds -- obtained through a debit account to which only the treasurer had access -- for mostly everyday expenses: pool supplies, gas, shopping, cellular service.
Both said their trust in others has been shaken, and that they believed Zakrewski would do it again.
"You betrayed my trust and you did it to me for three years," Anderson said. "I believe you lied right to my face and through this investigation I have come to realize that you did it over and over again."
The Warren County Prosecutor's Office could not immediately provide more details on the sentencing.
The PTO page on the school district's website lists the treasurer position as vacant.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.