The former principal of a small Vancouver elementary school, which mainly serves Indigenous and underprivileged children, is accused of stealing $170,000 intended for school operations and students.
Specifically, according to a lawsuit filed by the Vancouver School Board, Tricia Low — known as Tricia Rooney at the time of the alleged events — seized gift cards offered as a donation to help British primary school students.
The former director, who worked at the facility between 2017 and 2020 and was specifically responsible for preparing the financial reports, is said to have signed checks, which she then deposited on her personal accounts, in addition to diverting monies she paid for her own purposes School board has redeemed name to ensure school operations.
The school board says in its lawsuit, filed in court last Friday and relayed by local media on Wednesday, that it had suspicions in 2019 due to an unexplained deficit at the school.
The alleged facts have not yet been proven in court.
The school has about 200 students, according to the Vancouver Sun. About half are from indigenous communities and several children come from disadvantaged backgrounds, according to the daily.