A former parent-teacher association president at Venetia Valley TK-8 in San Rafael was arrested this month after roughly $7,000 went missing from PTA funds, according to investigators. Authorities say the money was taken from a safe inside a staff office and that the suspect allegedly wrote a PTA check to himself. He was booked and later released on bond, and officials say the missing cash has not been recovered.
As reported by The Mercury News, the Marin County Sheriff’s Office says the alleged theft occurred on Feb. 22 and that the school reported the missing funds on March 12. The paper identified the suspect as Carlos Merino Valladares, a Larkspur resident who served as PTA president for the current school year. Deputies believe he entered an employee’s office, removed money from a safe and wrote a check to himself. Valladares was arrested and released on bond, according to the outlet.
PTA Finances and What Is at Stake
The Venetia Valley PTA's federal tax filing shows the group had $165,829 in net assets and $68,514 in revenue for the 2023-24 fiscal year, with $65,836 in expenses. Those figures come from the PTA's Form 990-EZ, according to ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, which lists the organization's most recent filings.
School Response and PTA Leadership
Venetia Valley's website notes the PTA helps fund field trips, student clubs and staff appreciation, and it lists open PTA positions for the coming school year. The school's contact and PTA pages provide information for parents about leadership roles and fundraising activities, per Venetia Valley TK-8's site.
Investigation and Legal Review
In a statement to The Mercury News, Principal Armando Oseguera wrote, we want to assure you that we are taking this very seriously, and said the school planned a thorough review of PTA financial procedures and added safeguards. The Marin County District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case, and prosecutors will decide whether to file charges after detectives finish their investigation, officials said. Investigators told reporters the missing funds had not been recovered as of the latest reporting.
Why This Matters Locally
Parents and PTA volunteers rely on clear financial controls for cash and checks, and local leaders say this incident underscores the need for checks and balances at school volunteer groups. School officials say they will update procedures and encourage anyone with information to contact investigators handling the probe.
