A former Dallas Independent School District employee admits she stole from the school where she worked. The money she took was collected by students during fundraisers.
Forty-three-year-old Sandra Kellum worked at Lee McShan Elementary in Dallas for three years. She was an administrative assistant in the front office until she resigned in November.
In a warrant issued for her arrest, Kellum is accused of stealing $1,900 from a t-shirt sale and an unidentified amount from another fundraising project.
The single mother of three said she did it because she was having trouble paying her bills.
“It’s not an excuse because there are a lot of people who are falling on hard times and haven’t made this decision,” Kellum said. “It was something that I regretted then and I regret it now. And I have promised the district for restitution to pay every single penny back when I turn myself in.”
She is currently trying to sell her house to come up with the money, she said.
Kellum is charged with theft by a public servant, which is a third-degree felony. If she is found guilty she could face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000.
Parents at the school say they are disappointed
“We send them to school to learn good things and to teach them good stuff. But what she did is very wrong,” said Mabel Edeko.
