We are currently waiting for comment on this story from Coach Barrett. Details may change and some new details may be added as information comes in.
Bonney Lake High School Football coach Chad Barrett resigned his employment with the Sumner School District Wednesday, following an investigation that found him responsible for up to $20,000 missing from ASB funds.
The money—which could amount between $16,000 to $20,000—was determined to be missing from two football program fundraisers: sales of discount cards and a letter-writing campaign solicit donations from businesses. School officials were quick to point out each of the fundraisers were school fundraisers not associated with the independently-operated Panthers Booster Club.
Parties who made donations to the football program during the 2011 fall season are being asked to contact the district’s Business Services at 253-891-6010.
Barrett resigned under a voluntary resignation agreement hashed out between the district, himself and his attorney around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In an official statement released by the school district, Barrett said funds he collected from ASB fundraisers are missing and unaccounted for, and that he was responsible for those funds.
“He acknowledged his actions had no legitimate professional purpose,” the statement read.
In speaking with the Seattle Times, Barrett maintained the funds were lost or stolen. It was not funneled into personal use, he said.
A discrepancy in funds was first noticed following the fall sports season, when a bookkeeper realized current funds were significantly less compared against previous years’ amounts.
Each of the past two years’ fundraisers overseen by Barrett had brought in approximately $17,000. Only $320 had been deposited following the Fall 2011 fundraiser.
“Right away, (Bonney Lake High) did the internal thing to find out what happened, then they turned it over to the district, and the district turned it over to an outside investigator,” Thomsen said.
The unaccounted funds are a problem for the whole district; ASB funds are school district funds, and listed in their budget, said Ann Cook, the district communications director.
The football fundraisers were determined to be the source of the discrepancy by Bonney Lake High School, Cook said. When the issue was turned over to Sumner School District for an internal audit, a district accountant looked over the books to ensure the funds hadn’t simply been recorded under a different line item. After the district determined there had been no apparent misrecording, they brought in Washington Schools Risk Management Pool, an insurance organization specializing in property and liability losses in school districts. The district additionally notified the state auditor of the fund discrepancy.
The investigators interviewed several district employees to determine any possible cause of the missing funds.
The exact amount of money unaccounted for is unknown due to the missing “Elite Gold” discount cards. An estimated $20,000 amount assumes all the missing cards were sold, which may not be the case, Cook said.
“I don’t know (what might have changed from past years),” Thomsen said. “It’s all speculation; Chad claims the cards were stolen or lost.
“Unfortunately, if you’re responsible for things and (money you’re responsible for) doesn’t come in, then you have the responsibility for that result.”
The terms of Barrett’s resignation evidently included a restitution clause for the missing funds; the exact amount of money he is responsible for repaying has not yet been calculated. It was a voluntary agreement, Thomsen said, and he wished Barrett the best of luck for the future.
“Honestly, I’m already past this; my mind has switched gears and its moving forward,” Thomsen said. “We’ve already posted the job opening on the WIAA site, and literally within minutes I was receiving calls and emails from people interested.
“We want to move it along; the team will be moving into important training very soon.”
Thomsen said he thinks the program will attract solid candidates, given a top roster and program, which was in no small part accomplished by Barrett’s coaching.
“We regret any perceived loss of trust caused by this incident and we are committed to answering any questions or concerns that might arise from students, families and community members that may be affected,” Superintendent Craig Spencer said.
The district is reviewing its training, policies and procedures related to fundraising activities. Presently, all coaches are trained annually in proper and ethical handling of donations and charitable purchases.
