Canada -
Principal charged in theft of nearly $90,000 from student funds
A veteran high school principal and decorated former national softball coach has been charged with stealing nearly $90,000 from a fund for student activities at a Toronto public high school he used to lead.
Terry Baytor was principal of Martingrove Collegiate Institute from 2002 until he retired from the Toronto District School Board in December 2009.
He set up an account, over which he had signing power, to take in money from student fees and fundraising events, to be used for miscellaneous expenses around the school, police said.
Officers allege that, starting in 2005, he only deposited about half the money raised into the fund, while the rest – about $72,500 – he kept for himself. He is further accused of paying himself $16,000 from the bank account.
The investigation began after he retired.
“Someone from the school noticed the discrepancies and contacted police,” said Constable Tony Vella.
Early this year, Mr. Baytor took a job as principal of Everest Academy, a recently-opened Vaughan private school that specializes in training athletes along with academic instruction.
Neither Mr. Baytor nor staff at Everest immediately responded to requests for comment.
The 58-year-old has enjoyed a long career in both education and sports.
According to Everest’s announcement of his appointment to the school, he spent 34 years as a teacher and administrator, 18 of them as a principal, before leaving the TDSB.
He also worked with the men’s national softball team for nearly two decades, coaching them to three gold medals at the Pan American Games and top place in the 1992 world championship. His jersey was retired in 2001, and he was later inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame.
Everest credits him with helping transform Vaughan Road Collegiate into a more elite academy, while those who worked with him at the TDSB said he promoted specialty courses at Martingrove, such as the school’s gifted program, as well as the school’s sports teams and drama performances.
“He was very much a student’s principal, very highly-regarded by both students and staff,” said John Campbell, the area’s trustee. “He was always there in the hallways, he would always attend events and he was very visible. He worked hard.”
In 2009, his salary was over $121,000, according to government disclosures of public sector salaries.
While the board couldn’t say exactly what the fund in question was used for at the school, it was marked for student-related expenses – field trips or athletic equipment, for example.
“It’s used for field trips and things that each parent council wants,” said spokeswoman Kelly Baker.
Mr. Baytor, a Brampton resident, has been charged with one count of theft over $5,000 and a count of fraud over $5,000. He is out on bail, and will appear in court on Dec. 22.
Principal charged in theft of nearly $90,000 from student funds
A veteran high school principal and decorated former national softball coach has been charged with stealing nearly $90,000 from a fund for student activities at a Toronto public high school he used to lead.
Terry Baytor was principal of Martingrove Collegiate Institute from 2002 until he retired from the Toronto District School Board in December 2009.
He set up an account, over which he had signing power, to take in money from student fees and fundraising events, to be used for miscellaneous expenses around the school, police said.
Officers allege that, starting in 2005, he only deposited about half the money raised into the fund, while the rest – about $72,500 – he kept for himself. He is further accused of paying himself $16,000 from the bank account.
The investigation began after he retired.
“Someone from the school noticed the discrepancies and contacted police,” said Constable Tony Vella.
Early this year, Mr. Baytor took a job as principal of Everest Academy, a recently-opened Vaughan private school that specializes in training athletes along with academic instruction.
Neither Mr. Baytor nor staff at Everest immediately responded to requests for comment.
The 58-year-old has enjoyed a long career in both education and sports.
According to Everest’s announcement of his appointment to the school, he spent 34 years as a teacher and administrator, 18 of them as a principal, before leaving the TDSB.
He also worked with the men’s national softball team for nearly two decades, coaching them to three gold medals at the Pan American Games and top place in the 1992 world championship. His jersey was retired in 2001, and he was later inducted into the Softball Canada Hall of Fame.
Everest credits him with helping transform Vaughan Road Collegiate into a more elite academy, while those who worked with him at the TDSB said he promoted specialty courses at Martingrove, such as the school’s gifted program, as well as the school’s sports teams and drama performances.
“He was very much a student’s principal, very highly-regarded by both students and staff,” said John Campbell, the area’s trustee. “He was always there in the hallways, he would always attend events and he was very visible. He worked hard.”
In 2009, his salary was over $121,000, according to government disclosures of public sector salaries.
While the board couldn’t say exactly what the fund in question was used for at the school, it was marked for student-related expenses – field trips or athletic equipment, for example.
“It’s used for field trips and things that each parent council wants,” said spokeswoman Kelly Baker.
Mr. Baytor, a Brampton resident, has been charged with one count of theft over $5,000 and a count of fraud over $5,000. He is out on bail, and will appear in court on Dec. 22.
