110833861
Zara Sims, 42, who oversaw the student-activity fund at the Edward Bok Technical High School, formerly 1901 S. Ninth St., pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling from the endowment, police said through an affidavit of probable cause.
The former School District of Philadelphia employee, who lost her position at the defunct East Passyunk Crossing institution last year, received four years’ probation and an order to repay $6,011.85, which will go to South Philadelphia High School, 2101 S. Broad St., where many of the one-time Bok students attend, and $735 in court costs.
The affidavit states she failed to make deposits of at least $26,823 to the fund. It notes that Dr. Larry Melton, the shuttered site’s then-principal, noticed the missing money last year and talked with her about it. Once she learned the district was investigating, she deposited $17,000, later attempting to contribute $11,000 more in checks, but a bank denied them because of their age.
Meeting with detectives after her dismissal, she showed up with a certified check for $7,000, which a district source stated authorities used as evidence. Published reports state her ex-employer plans to report felony charges to the Public School Employees Retirement System for possible suspension of her pension benefits should a court find her guilty of at least a first-degree misdemeanor.
To report information, call South Detectives’ tip line at 215-685-1635 or visit www.phillypolice.com/forms.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
110833861
110833871
