Charter school board ex-president charged with stealing more than $27,000 from school

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested a Bradenton woman early Friday in connection to missing funds from Manatee School of the Arts and Sciences, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

Lori Bergeron, 43, was president of the charter school’s board when she cashed six school checks worth more than $27,000 between April 12 and June 30 of this year, according to the sheriff’s office.

According to the release, she exchanged the money for cashier’s checks and deposited them into her personal bank account.

The funds were discovered during a recent audit of the school’s finances. According to minutes from the charter school’s board of directors meeting on May 17, Bergeron was slated to continue as president of the board for the 2016-2017 school year.

Bergeron, who was charged with scheme to defraud over $20,000, is being held at the Manatee County jail on a $50,000 bond.

“The district was made aware of the financial issue at the charter school. Immediately, the district notified the Manatee County Sheriff’s office to request an investigation,” general counsel Mitchell Teitelbaum said in a statement. “ In addition, the district requested a full and complete financial audit of the charter school.”

Manatee School of the Arts and Sciences is a public charter school located at 3700 32nd St. W., Bradenton. The school district is considered a sponsor and money for the charter school designated by the state is doled out to the charter by the school district but the charter school board handles its own finances.

It is not affiliated with Manatee School For the Arts, another public charter school in Palmetto.

Education reporter Meghin Delaney contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Charter school board ex-president charged with stealing more than $27,000 from school."