For four years, United High School music students have organized fundraisers and events for trips to Walt Disney World in Florida. Parents said more than 100 students were due to go on her March trip, but were informed this week that the trip had been cancelled. Mack said. “These poor kids saved four years to go to Disney and it was robbed from them. The district was unaware of how much money had been lost, but was forced to cancel the trip, Coren said. The parents told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 they don’t believe the situation was an accident. “They weren’t looking at the book,” Mack said. “They were checking their bank statements because that money was gone. That money didn’t disappear overnight.” Coren said he was disappointed with the situation and said the school district will do everything in its power to keep students well, but at this time it is unlikely that planned trips will be cancelled. He was investigating the theft of funds from the school’s marching band booster organization.
For four years, United High School music students have organized fundraisers and events for trips to Walt Disney World in Florida. In March, she was due to travel with more than 100 students, according to her parents, but this week she was informed that the trip had been cancelled.
Parent Erin Mack said, “They just told me the trip was canceled because they ran out of money.” “These poor kids saved up for four years to go to Disney and they took it away.”
A joint school district official confirmed the trip was canceled and state police are currently investigating. Acting Superintendent Charles Coren told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that the money was raised through United Music Boosters and groups that operate outside the school district.
Koren said the district was unaware of how much money had been lost, but was forced to cancel the trip.
The parents told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 that they believe the situation was not an accident.
“There should be two or three people signing off on an account that size, and they should play it safe,” said parent Christie Normand.
“They hadn’t seen the book,” Mack said. “They were checking their bank statements because that much money wasn’t gone.
District music programs typically travel to Disney once every four years.
Coren said he was disappointed with the situation and said the school district was trying to do everything it could to keep the students in good spirits, but at this time it was unlikely that the planned trip would be saved.
In a statement, Pennsylvania State Police said Wednesday they were investigating the theft of funds from a school marching band booster organization.
