$27,000 is a remarkable amount of school lunches.
Pamela McManus, 42, of Holbrook allegedly stole well over this much from Nokomis Elementary School’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), upon which she served as President from July 1st, 2021 to June 30th, 2024.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Ramond A. Tierney, who announced McManus’ arrest and subsequent arraignment this past week, an investigation determined that McManus had sole access to the PTA bank account through a Visa Debit Card.
“Parent Teacher Associations are an integral part of our school communities throughout Suffolk County,” DA Tierney said. “The allegations in this case represent a disturbing betrayal of trust, and my office will continue to hold accountable those who unlawfully abuse their positions for personal gain.”
The disgraced former Sachem School District Elementary PTA head’s bank account access even transcended her presidential tenure. When she turned over the account to the remaining PTA board members last October, numerous personal expenses were instantly detected.
Purchases were made from Amazon, Walmart, Target, Verizon Wireless, PSEG, Sephora and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Such paints a modern-day, smaller-scale but nevertheless morally askance portrait of a Long Island school district representative gone rogue with greed, a la the Roslyn School District scandal of the early 2000s.
Per reports, McManus is also alleged to have stolen cash directly from the PTA bank account through equally unauthorized withdrawals. These transactions are considered unlawful for occurring out of session, during summer and holiday breaks.
McManus surrendered to the DA’s office on June 5th. Her official charge is one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D Felony).
This offense is considered non-bail eligible under New York State law. She was released on her own recognizance, and is due back in court on July 10th.